Benjamin Bryson Hiatt (1924)

HIATT, JEFFERIES, KIVITT, MORGAN, CLARK

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/4/2014 at 11:49:09

Earlham Echo – Earlham, Iowa
October 23, 1924

Rev. B. B. Hiatt, former pastor here and at Bear Creek, loved by many local people as the father of the Friends organization in this community, passed away last Friday at his home in Stuart, aged 77 years. The Bear Creek congregation attended his funeral at Stuart Sunday morning almost in a body, dismissing their service on this account.

Many local people attended. The service was conducted by Rev. Howard Cope, pastor of the Friends Church at Marshalltown, at the Stuart Friends Church, assisted by the pastor Anna Albery.

Benjamin Hiatt first became known here in 1877 when he moved from Indiana to the present Devere Jackson place, farming there and also serving as local Friends pastor. Later he moved to a residence in town west of the Meeting House in its then location on the S. C. Moreland corner. He held a series of revival meetings at Bear Creek for seven consecutive winters and left the ineffaceable impression of his righteousness on the community. He went from here to North Branch, Kansas for two years before settling in the Stuart neighborhood. He was widely known and loved.

Benjamin B. Hiatt, son of Eiel and Mary Hiatt, was born at Westfield, Indiana, March 19th, 1837.

On July 5th, 1857 he was united in marriage to Mary E. Jefferies at Westfield, Ind. To this union were born six children, Austin, Sarah Ellen Kivitt, Alfred Orian, and Mary Eva Morgan, all deceased, and Jared Alvin of Los Angeles, Cal., and Myrta Viola Clark of Stuart.

He was a birthright member of the Friends church and early in life felt the call of God to the ministry. In the early seventies his gift was recognized by the church and he was recorded by East Branch Monthly Meeting of Carmed Quarterly Meeting in Western Yearly Meeting.

After spending two winters in Evangelistic work within the limits of Iowa Yearly Meeting he with his family in the year 1877, moved to and settled at Hartland, Marshall County, Iowa, from there to Earlham and later to Stuart, where amid the busy activities of his life he found plenty of time and opportunity for the ministry of the world. In 1884 he accepted his first Pastoral charge at Woolsey and Richland and was the seventh minister in Iowa Yearly Meeting to accept this distinctive service. He later served as Pastor at North Branch, Kansas, Casey, Canby, Motor, Ackworth and Smyrna, Iowa, Spring Bank, Neb., Hortonville and Pleasant View, Ind., and Stuart, where he served his last Pastoral charge and where he has since resided. His companion preceded him to the better world some 12 years, having died the 4th of November, 1912. He is survived by one brother, Larkin Hiatt, Indiana; two children, Jared Alvin Hiatt of Los Angeles, Cal., and Myrta Viola Clark, of this city; also 14 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.

He fell asleep in Jesus October 17, 1924, aged 87 years, 6 months and 28 days.