Christison Connections to the Hutchinson Family and Ranch

Hutchinson House in 1982 (Photo by Ken Christison)

 I've had several people ask exactly how my Christison family is related to the Hutchinson family since the Colorado Experience episode on the ranch aired. (Click on this link to view the show The Hutchinson Homestead and Ranch.)The answer is there is no family relation. But there are a few connections that explain my interest in the Hutchinson Ranch.

Wilburn and Elizabeth Christison (from the Betty Regnier Collection)

My great-great-grandparents, Wilburn and Elizabeth Christison, arrived in the mining camp of Cash Creek in 1861 after crossing Kansas with team of oxen and a covered wagon along with their six children. 

Joseph Hutchinson took a job in Cash Creek in 1866 as the superintendent of the Bailey and Gaff mining company. Joseph was twelve years younger than Wilburn Christison. In 1868, Hutchinson joined Bailey and Gaff in a cattle company with the headquarters at the Hutchinson ranch near Poncha Springs. 

Wilburn Christison also moved his family down the Arkansas Valley. There is a mention of him living in Adobe Park in 1867. And Arthur Hutchinson wrote that "Christison was on the present Hutchinson ranch for a short time."

The McPherson cabin moved from Cash Creek

When the Hutchinsons settled on the ranch, they disassembled the cabin Annabelle's parents had at Cash Creek and moved it to the ranch. I was fascinated to see this cabin and have a better idea of what my great-great-grandparents' cabin may have been like at Cash Creek.

According to Joseph Hutchinson's ledgers in the book, Under The Angel of Shavano, he paid Leslie Christison (Wilburn's oldest son) $67 for work done in mining.

And, in September of 1875, Hutchinson bought two steers from Walker Sprague and Ernest Christison (Wilburn's second son).

Wilburn Christison and Joseph Hutchinson were both active in the Democratic party. Wilburn was elected the Lake County Judge and later the Park County Judge. Joseph Hutchinson served in the Colorado Territorial Legislature.

And they both died in 1882. Wilburn passed away at the age of 54 on February 7, 1882 in Fairplay after a bout of pneumonia. And Joseph Hutchinson passed away on May 16, 1882 from a brain tumor at the age of 42. 

Dec. 23, 1882 Mountain Mail (Colorado Historic Newspapers)

Wilburn's widow, Elizabeth Christison, moved back to Poncha Springs with her two youngest sons following his death. I discovered that when I found this newspaper article on the Poncha Springs school honor roll that includes my great-grandfather, Lewis Christision, and his brother Charlie. Also listed are Arthur, Bailey and Harold Hutchinson.
Did Elizabeth live in the Christison cabin? The cabin Arthur mentioned was on land near the Hutchinson ranch that Annabelle bought in 1916, included in today's Hutchinson ranch. I don't know. It is also possible Ernest Christison lived in the cabin at one time with his family.

Site of the Christison Cabin. Dr. Wendell Hutchinson with Connie Christison, John Gresham and Gayle Christison

In 1982, I wrote a research paper for my high school Colorado history class on my outlaw relative, Ernest Christison. My parents and my boyfriend, John Gresham, went to visit Dr. Wendell Hutchinson, who wrote Under The Angel of Shavano with George Everett. He took us to several places talking about the history. And he showed us the location of "the Christison cabin." What a wonderful memory it is to recall visiting with Dr. Hutchinson! His stories and taking us to places related to the Christison history made my interest in my family history and Colorado history come alive.

I spoke with Dr. Hutchinson one more time when I decided to write a book about Ernest Christison and Ed Watkins. I was told he could hear better over the phone at that time, so we had a telephone conversation. I wish I could talk to him again now that I know so much more from my research.

In 2018, I met his son, Art Hutchinson, and we visited about our family histories and more. 

Gayle Gresham and Art Hutchinson