Hatch, William N.

HATCH

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/29/2010 at 01:24:55

More than a third of a century has come and gone since William N. Hatch arrived in Pottawattamie county and became identified with its farming interests. He had previously lived in Mills county for a few years and in 1873 arrived in this county, where the years have witnessed his steady progress in business life until he has today gained the plane of affluence. His farming interests embrace three hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land on section 36, York township, and he is well known as a successful stock raiser and feeder, at the same time carefully cultivating the crops which are best adapted to the soil and climate.

Mr. Hatch has always lived in the Mississippi valley, his birth having occurred in Menard county, Illinois, December 11, 1848. There he was reared on a farm and to a limited extent attended school but is largely self-educated, acquiring his knowledge to a great extent through reading, observation and experience since attaining his majority. He remained with his father up to the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war, being, however, but sixteen years of age when in 1864 he offered his services to the government and joined Company E of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry. He then went south and did scouting duty in Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas, serving until the close of the war when he was mustered out at San Antonio, Texas, and honorably discharged at Camp Butler in Springfield, Illinois, January 6, 1886.

When the country no longer needed his aid, the preservation of the Union being now an established fact, Mr. Hatch returned to the home farm, where he remained for a few years. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Hanna Sampson, whom he wedded in Menard county, Illinois, October 10, 1867. She was born and reared, however, in Davis county, Iowa. Following their marriage the young couple lived upon a rented farm in Davis county for three years and then returned to Menard county, Illinois, where Mr. Hatch carried on general agricultural pursuits until his removal to Mills county, Iowa, in 1871. A year and a half later he became a resident of Pottawattamie county and invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land of which eighty acres had been placed under the plow, while the remainder was raw prairie. There were also some buildings upon the place and he at once took up the task of further developing and improving the farm. He prospered in his undertakings and added to his possessions from time to time until he now owns three hundred and forty acres of valuable land, of which one hundred and sixty acres is in the home place one hundred and twenty acres just across the road in Washington township, and sixty acres on section 3-6, York township. Upon the home farm stands a comfortable dwelling and two good barns. He also has a good orchard and the farm presents a neat and thrifty appearance with its substantial buildings, its well kept fences, its richly cultivated fields and its good stock. Mr. Hatch raises, feeds and fattens stock, annually shipping about one carload of hogs and three or four carloads of cattle, for which he receives a good price on the market, this adding materially to his yearly income.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hatch were born the following children, those living being: T. J., a resident of McClelland, Iowa; Newton, who assists his father on the home farm; Mary, the wife of Dr. Means, of Holyoke, Colorado; Gertie, the wife of J. O. Griffith, of Winona county, Iowa; Emma, the wife of Fred Reser, a farmer of York township; Jennie, the wife of Harry O'Donnell, of Janesville, Wisconsin; Cassie, the wife of Charles Bonham, living near Pollard, Washington; Louise, Frances and Inez, all at home. Of the three children who have passed away Nellie reached womanhood, was married and died in 1900; Birdie died when about two years of age; and E. W. Hatch passed away July 18, 1907, at the age of thirty-six years.

Mr. Hatch is a stalwart republican who cast his first ballot for General Grant in 1868 and his last presidential vote for Theodore Roosevelt. He has never desired public office as a reward for party fealty and the only political office he has ever filled was that of road boss. He has ever been deeply interested in the cause of education and has done effective work in its interests while serving for a number of years on the school board. He has found in his business life ample opportunity for the exercise of his industry and energy his dominant qualities. For forty years he has lived in Iowa and its history is therefore largely familiar to him, while in the county of his residence he has been connected with many events which have left their impress upon public progress. His life has been honorable, his actions manly and sincere, and the principles which have governed his conduct are those which ever command confidence and good will.