Lucas County IA Archives Biographies.....Hatcher, E. J. 1837 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 29, 2011, 12:36 am

Source: See below
Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1896)

E. J. HATCHER.—This gentleman is entitled to distinction as one of the pioneer
merchants of Russell, Iowa. He has witnessed the growth of Russell from a small
hamlet to a prosperous town containing 600 people, and has not only been a
witness to this growth but also has been an active participant in bringing it
about, and it is appropriate that in this connection more than a passing notice
be made of him.

   E. J. Hatcher was born in Belmont, Ohio, April 29, 1837, son of Mahlan and
Nancy (Hatcher) Hatcher, and the sixth born in their family of nine
children,—six sons and three daughters. Six of this number are still living,
namely: Mrs. H. H. Day, Chariton, Iowa; Albert, for the past fifteen years at
the head of a millinery establishment at Chariton, Iowa; E. J., whose name
graces this article; Sarah, wife of M. H. Cloas, Beaver, Pennsylvania; Ruth,
wife of David Webster, a stock-raiser in the State of Washington; and William, a
foundryman of Chariton. Mahlan Hatcher was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in
1802. His father also was named Mahlan. The elder Mahlan Hatcher was a native of
the Empire State, but the greater part of his life was spent in Belmont county,
Ohio. He moved to Iowa in 1868, where his wife died. He died in Chariton, this
State.

   The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm and has all his life been more
or less interested in agricultural pursuits. He started out on his own
responsibility at the age of seventeen, and when he was twenty-two came West to
Iowa, crossing the Mississippi at Burlington and coming direct to the western
part of Lucas county, where he secured work on a farm and where he remained a
year. Then he came to the east end of the county and settled three miles
northwest of Russell, where he purchased 200 acres of land, the purchase,
however, not being made until after he had lived on this farm three years. It
was in 1860 that he moved here and on the place at that time was a little frame
house, 16x24 feet, a story and a half. Here he and his bride began housekeeping.
In the purchase of this 200 acres he was assisted by his father, and
subsequently as prosperity attended his efforts he was enabled to purchase 160
acres more. To the management and care of this farm he still gives his personal
attention. For a number of years he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits in
Russell. For eleven years he occupied the building now used by Mr. Clark and
since 1892 has been in his present commodious quarters. This building, 40x70
feet, is of brick, two stories and basement, with ware-rooms adjoining it. He
erected it in 1892 and opened its doors for business in October of that year.
His store is one of the best equipped in the county. He carries a full line of
general merchandise, including hardware and queensware, and for the past six
years has also handled farming implements for the Milwaukee Harvester Company
and Walter A. Wood, and from a small beginning his business has grown to be a
large and lucrative one.

   January 8, 1861, Mr. Hatcher was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Berry,
a native of Belmont county, Ohio, and a daughter of John Berry, also a native of
that county. Mrs. Henrietta Hatcher departed this life in 1880, and a monument
in Chariton cemetery marks her last resting place. She was a devoted Christian
and at the time of her death was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
November 8, 1882, Mr. Hatcher married Miss Mattie Rosemond, a native of Guernsey
county, Ohio, and a daughter of James Rosemond. The Rosemond family removed to
Scott county, Iowa, about 1856. By his first wife the subject of our sketch had
six children, four daughters and two sons, three of whom are living, namely:
Anna B., wife of Franklin Yountsey, a farmer of Benton township, this county,
Mrs. Yountsey being a musician of some note; and Holly and Hallie, twins, the
former at home and the latter in the store with his father. Holly and Hallie
received their commercial education in a business college at Indianola. Three of
the children died in early childhood—Jinky, Mamie and Henrietta.

   Mr. Hatcher cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln and has ever
since acted with the Republican party, taking an intelligent and active interest
in political matters, but never seeking official position for himself. He and
his family are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a
liberal supporter. In every way a public-spirited and generous citizen, he has
by both his influence and means done much to promote the general welfare of
Russell. His residence, which is located one block south and two blocks west of
his store, is one of the most attractive and delightful homes in this prosperous
town.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

A MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF IOWA

ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1896


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