Eli Hatfield

HATFIELD THAYER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/27/2010 at 22:12:04

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Eli Hatfield
By Rex Hatfield

Eili and Anna (Thayer) Hatfield left their home in Catturgas County, New York in 1844 to go west and find land to farm and raise a family. Their first son, Alfonzo Wood, was born before they left New York. Their other five children were all born in Iowa. They were Alfonzo, born April 30, 1844; Rufus Scott, born August 6, 1847; Eugene P, born April 22, 1851; Ellabell, 1854-1860, Charles Edward, born February 18, 1858; and Caroline B, born September 22, 1861.

Alfonzo married Adelaide Eliza Willey, daughter of Benjamin and Pamelia (Seymour) on September 17, 1864 in DeWitt, Iowa. They moved to Woodbury County soon thereafter to farm. Alfonzo served as the mayor of Correctionville, where they retired to. Their sons, Willey N, born August 17, 1867, and Eugene, bore 1871/2, both in Iowa, married twin sisters, Ione M and isora, daughters of Martin and Harriet (Herrick) Mercer. Willey and Ione had one son who died in infancy. Eugene and Isora had a son, Leo D, born May 30, 1893, and a daughter, Beulah W, born December 15, 1894 both in Pierson. Leo married Helen Fitch in 1914 and died in 1920 childless. Beulah married Homer C Dice in 1916 and has two sons, Rex Edward and Dale. Alfonzo, died August 17, 1828 and Adelaide, died July 17, 1929. Willey died March 8, 1952 and Ione died October 6, 1943. All of them died in Correctionville. Eugene died in Montana in 1898/9.

Rufus married Martha Ann Crowl, daughter of Thomas B and Amy (Knapp) Crowl, in Kieth Port Seminary in December, 1868. They moved in with Alfonzo until they would start their own farm. They had eight children: George Hubert, born November 29, 1875; Orson Jay, born February 6, 1877; Josephine May, born January 20, 1880; Ralph R, born April 1884; Minnie Hall, born August 8, 1885; Lawrence E, born April 1886; Alphonso Lee, born March 13, 1889; and Rufus Scott, Jr, born September 30, 1893.

George married Libbie Irene Scott, November 24, 1898, in Pierson. They had one duaghter, Vera Leone, born January 3, 1901. She married Virgil Gerkin, January 8, 1923, in Sioux City. They have two sons, James Hatfield, born July 3, 1925, and Thomas Scott, born May 30, 1932. James married Marjorie Skordahl, June 30, 1947, and they have two children, Stephen James, born August 4, 1948, and Molly Joan, born March 11, 1952. They both live in Tulsa, Stephen with his wife, Joan, and son, Benjamin James. Tom married Laura Treptow, July 10, 1957, and they have two sons, Scott Thomas and Craig Alan. George died January 2, 1947, and Libbie, died May 11, 1962.

Orson married Anna Bydee and they had no children. Josie married Charles Barber and they had three children, Minnie, Harold and Inez. They lived in Parker, South Dakota. Ralph married Myrtle Burright in 1905, but they had no children. Minne married George Coon, May 18, 1901, in Ida Grove. They had four children, Dale, Kenneth, Wayne and Darwin. Lawrence married and had one son, Lowell, who died young. Alphonso married Bessie Wright, December 18, 1912. They had one son, Claire, born November 5, 1920. Claire married Audrey Westfall and they have two daughters. Alphonso, died October 30, 1925, and Bessie died August 21, 1981. Rufus, Jr, married Margaret Clark, February 14, 1917. They have a daughter, Frances.

Charles, the youngest brother, moved to Sioux City after his marriage to Anna G Henderson, daughter of Andrew Gillespie and Sarah Ann (Barrow) Henderson on January 21, 1886, in Maquoketa, Iowa. They had two sons, Paul Morrison, born October 30, 1888; and Rex Henderson, born May 10, 1892, both in Sioux City. Paul married Elizabeth Flournoy, July 14, 1921, and they had one son, Richard, born November 2, 1922. Elizabeth died August 10, 1947, and Paul, died January 10, 1965, leaving his second wife, Pearl.

Rex first married Meave Genevieve Ayers, daughter of John T and Lillian (Lloyd) Ayers, September 14, 1912. They had two sons, Donald Ayers, born August 24, 1913; and Jack Henderson, born January 4, 1915. Rex remarried on June 16, 1921 to Ruth Willoughby, daughter of George and Mary Maxwell (Duey) Willoughby. They had one son, Robert Eugene, born August 28, 1929. Don maried Ardyce Frasier, daughter of Earl and Luella (Maxwell) Frasier on September 6, 1937. Don and Ardie’s two children, Donald James, September 21, 1938, and Sharon Kay, born March 3, 1941. Don and his wife, Hester, have two children, John and Julie. Kay and her husband, Roger Thill, have three children. Laurie, who was born August 15, 1960, was married to Nicholas Anthony on September 6, 1980, and they have two sons, Christopher and Chad. Ardie passed away on December 25, 1978 and Don on January 29, 1983.

Jack married Elizabeth Terry, daughter of Charles Oscar and Esther Elizabeth (McCaskill) Terry on November 26, 1941. They have two children, Jack, Jr, and Elizabeth Terry. Jack, Jr married Sandra McGinnis and they have two children, Christopher and Jennifer. Bob married Susan Williams Strange, daughter of Keith and Victorine (Williams) Strange to August 16, 1958. They have two children, Heidi Kathryn, born March 13, 1959; and Rex Perrin, born July 23, 1962. Heidi married Stephan A Fagerquist, May 15, 1982. He is the son of Harry W and Carole Alice (Clifford) Fagerquist, Jr. They currently live in Gaeta, Italy.

Rex and Ruth adopted a girl in 1929. She was born April 16, 1928 in Nashville, Tennessee and they named her Ruth. Ruth married Bob Palmquist, and they have three chidlren. Steven Robert, born August 14, 1950; Barbara Ruth, born April 19, 1954; and David Rex, born March 20, 1964. Steve is now married to Mary Hurst, and they have four children, Aaron, Rebecca, Anna, and Elizabeth. Barbara is married to Ken Eveleth, and they have two children, Stephanie and Jared. Ruth is now married to Edwin Eveleth.

Rex’s first wife, Genevieve, died in 1920. He died September 15, 1979. His father died May 18, 1921 and his mother died February 19, 1953. Most of the Hatifield’s descendants live in or near Woodbury County.