The oldest boy of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Hutto was Claude Elton, born October 24, 1896. His life and work is given in his obituary.
SERMON BY DR. PARKINSON
Claude Elton Hutto, son of Mr. And Mrs. A. J. Hutto, was born at Westmareland, Kansas. October 24, 1896. He died on Easter Sunday morning, April 20, 1924, at his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, after an illness of but a few days. He spent his childhood in Manhattan, Kansas and grew to manhood here. He was a graduate of the Kansas State Agriculture College in the class of 1920. He joined the church in early youth when not more than ten years old. He was always an active worker and leader in the church life of the young people. Serving in every way he could, and being at one time president of our Epworth League. On March 26, he was married to Mrs. Ruth Eden. He leaves behind him his mother and father, his wife, a step daughter, six years old, a daughter three, a sister, Mrs. J. R. Church of Fort Worth, Texas, and three brothers, Dale H. of Hollywood, Calif.; Loren H. of Fort Shafter; and max how is at home with his parents. There is also his grandmother, Mrs. Hilliard, whom so many of us knew while the home was here in Manhattan.
The same devotion that Claude showed to the genuine values of life while he was here, he took with him to his western home. In the choir there and in the spiritual interest of the church he was a faithful leader and helper. When our church was carrying forward its great program for what we called the Centenary Celebration, he was one of our minutemen. On such occasion he showed the gifts and graces that would have served him well in the ministry to which he had determined during the last month of his life to devote himself.
When his country needed men to defend her principles and to help write democratic justice into the theories of government everywhere this young man offered himself. At the time of his death he held a commission as lieutenant in the Reserve Forces of the United States.
He was a man of manly character and highest ideals. Those who knew him best loved him most. Though young in years he had lived a full life, seeking the highest attainments and devoting himself to the things which are of good report. Though he will be missed he cannot be forgotten.
“But as it is written, eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, and the deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:9
When one whose life has completed the major portion of man’s allotted time passes to his reward there is a comfort for the heart in that the life was full and finished. But when a man in the first full flush of his human power is called away from earth there is a question in our hearts that can be answered only by our faith. This is our comfort now. This young man had full Christian faith in his heart, and lifted it in his life; his mother and his father, his wife, his sister, his brothers, and the friends among whom he lived have that faith consoling and sustaining them now.
The second daughter, Garnet Leona, born Aug. 28, 1895 graduated from high school and from K. S. A. C. and got her degree in physical training at Sargent. She taught one year at Kansas State College, met and married Jack Root Church in 1917. After the World War they spent a year or more in Europe. Their children are Anna Virginia, born in 1918; Mary Ellen, born Sept. 20, 1922. Their home is in New York, Manhattan Island; Virginia is a student at Elmira College for girls.
The first child born to Newton and Mary Jane Miller Hutto on Kansas soil was Alvin Justin, the sixth son, born July 28, 1867 on his grandfather Miller’s homestead. He had the calm even temperament of his grandfather. He was accommodating, honest and obliging; almost too generous for his own financial success. He learned the Bakers trade and followed it for some time. He married Ellen Hilliard a very successful teacher. Intelligent. Capable and Full of original ideas and wit, yet with all, deeply religious; qualities that made an ideal home for the rearing of a family of four fine boys and two lovely fills that came to bless their home. The oldest one of which passed on after a brief illness. Gladys was a beautiful character and a very promising child.