Hatfield, E. P.

HATCHFIELD, KUHN, BLATCHLEY

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/20/2007 at 07:51:41

Jackson Sentinel
December 22, 1931

Funeral Rites Held Sunday for E. P. Hatfield

Remains of Respected Citizen and Former Alderman
Laid to Rest in Union Cemetery

Thursday afternoon at 4:15 o’clock, E. P. Hatfield, a highly respected and long-time resident of this city and community for many years, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. N. H. Blatchley on N. Summit street, death following an illness of only one week of heart trouble and complications. Mr. Hatfield had been in failing health for some time but his condition was not considered serious until a few days previous to his death.

In the passing of Mr. Hatfield, Maquoketa has lost one of her loyal pioneer citizens; one who not only took interest in the welfare of the old home town, but who was ever ready to take part in promoting that welfare.

For several terms he represented his ward in the city council and his record as a public official is indeed an enviable one. Ernest in his convictions, “Gene” as he was familiarly known, conscientiously strove to make the city better, bigger and a grander place in which to live, and for this reason a citizenship mourns his death.

For many years he was a member of our fire department, an organization in which he took keen interest and special pride, and no honor conferred pleased him more than to be identified as a member and officer of the Fire Kings.

Mr. Hatfield was an honored member of all of the Masonic bodies and for the past several years had been the faithful caretaker of the temple. He honored the teachings of his order by ever striving to live up to bodies will sadly miss his counsel and them, and these various fraternal presence.

The writer well remembers, as “Gene” said to us one day, “I believe that ‘Crossing the Bar’ is the most beautiful gem ever said or written,” He has now crossed the bar into that beautiful land of somewhere, and his useful life has been living testimony to civic, home and fraternal duty.

Eugene P. Hatfield, son of Eli and Amanda Thayer Hatfield, was born on a farm south of Maquoketa, April 22, 1851. When a young man he followed the barber trade at Boone, until his marriage to Fannie Kuhn on August 31, 1879, when they came to Maquoketa to make their home. They resided on S. Main street for 25 years during which time he engaged in the barber business, and in 1899 they moved to the farm on N. Summit street which is now the home of his only daughter, Mrs. N. H. Blatchley. Two children were born to this union, one passing away in infancy.

Because of Mrs. Hatfield’s failing health, they moved from the farm in 1920, and became residents of Maquoketa, where Mrs. Hatfield died in September, 1925. Since that time, his grand daughter, Miss Leah Blatchley, has made her home with him and cared for him, until his last illness when he was removed to his old home on N. Summit street.

Surviving besides the daughter are three grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. E R. Blatchley, Miss Leah Blatchley, and one sister, Mrs. Carrie Klotz of this city; also several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service was held at two o’clock Sunday at the Congregational church, the Rev. Spooner, pastor of the DeWitt Congregational church, officiating. Interment was made in the Union cemetery, south of this city.