Cutchiej  
 
 

Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western Historical Publishing Co., 1904.


     JOHN M. CUTCHIE is one of the deserving pioneers whose labors have been bestowed in a wise manner in the Okanogan country for some twenty or more years with the happy result that he now possesses considerable property as evidence of his thrift and industry.  He was born in Detroit, Michigan, on April 1, 1848, the son of Maxum and Matilda Cutchie, natives of Montreal, Canada, and Detroit, respectively.  The father came to Detroit when a small boy, being one of the first residents of that now great city.  With his wife he is now dwelling in Port Huron, Michigan, aged eighty-six.  In addition to our subject, two other children, George and Nora, were born to this worthy couple, who both live in Port Huron.  When our subject was eleven, the family removed from Detroit to Port Huron, and there he completed his education which was begun in Detroit.  In 1876 he came thence to Reno, Nevada, and then on to San Francisco.  The following February he came by steamer to Portland, and later did logging on the Columbia.  After this he was in Lewiston, and in 1878 came to Spokane.  He followed packing along the line of the Northern Pacific, and after a time in Seattle went to the Fraser river region.  He mined there, and also on the Thompson river near Kam Loops.  It was in 1885 that he came to the Okanogan country, and since that time he has devoted himself to the improvement and development of the resources of the country.  In 1892 Mr. Cutchie settled where we find him at the present time, about thirteen miles north from Loomis, on the Similkameen.  It is an estate of two hundred acres and well improved.  The land is on the bottom and raises the best of alfalfa, timothy and all productions idigenous to this latitude.  In addition to general farming, Mr.  Cutchie also raises and handles stock.
     On July 23, 1890, Mr. Cutchie maried Miss Sarah A., daughter of Daniel and Bridget (Dailey) Lenton, natives respectively of England and Ireland.  Both parents died when Mrs. Cutchie was small, and in 1888 she came to the Okanogan country to visit an only brother, Joseph L.  Being well pleased with the country she remained, and later was married.  To Mr. and Mrs. Cutchie one child, Claude Lenton Cutchie, was born on December 11, 1892.
     In early days Mr. Cutchie had to freight his supplies from Sprague, and it was hard work, as all the old pioneers found it, to haul loads without roads, and ferry them across the Columbia in canoes, swimming the horses.  Mr. and Mrs. Cutchie are highly respected citizens and have many friends in the surrounding country.