Bios: Jacob Grill Hatt, 1835-: Lower Heidelberg Twp, Berks Co, PA

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From:  Morton L Montgomery, "Historical and Biographical Annals of Berks
County, Pennsylvania.  Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1909.  p 948.

Surnames mentioned:
Behm, Bohmer, Grill, Hain, Hatt, Heverling, Hoffman, Kegerise, Kleinginna,
Matz, Miller, Ruth, Stiely, Wenrich, Wertz

Note: Surnames of related families have been capitalized, but are lower case
in the original.

JACOB GRILL HATT, a representative citizen of Lower Heidelberg township,
Berks county, where he owns much land, is now living retired at his home
near Fritztown, after many years spent at hard work.  Mr. Hatt was born Dec.
15, 1835, on his father's farm in Spring township, Berks county, son of
Jacob and Catherine (GRILL) HATT.

Conrath HATH (HATT), Sr., the great-grandfather of Jacob G., and the
ancestor of this family in America, came from Switzerland about the middle
of the 18th century, and soon after arriving in this country settled in
Cumru township, Berks county, where he purchased land, a property which he
continued to operate until his death in 1789.  His will, which was probated
in that year, mentions these children:  Henry, who had a son Henry; Philip;
Conrath, Jr.; Margaretha, who bore her mother's name; Maria Elizabeth; Anna
Maria; Juliana; and Catherine, who was the wife of John KLEINGINNA, of Cumru
township.

Philip HATT, grandfather of Jacob G., was born in Cumru township, where his
death occurred in 1824.  He owned his own farm, which he operated all of his
life, and in his will, which was probated Sept. 3, 1824, the following
children were mentioned:  Philip (1788-1856) m. Magdalena BOHMER (1796-1847)
and died intestate; Daniel m. Susan HEVERLING, and had these
children--Richard, Elizabeth (m. Adam BEHM), John (1814-1882), Daniel
(1815-1893), Catherine (m. A. KEGERISE) and Polly (m. a HOFFMAN); Susanna;
Catherine; John; Conrad; Jacob, the father of Jacob G.; William, born April
17, 1802, died June 26, 1868; and Elizabeth.

Jacob HATT, father of Jacob G., was born May 12, 1800, and died Aug. 5,
1876.  He was a lifelong farmer in Spring township, where he owned a fine
property of 130 acres, now in the possession of his grandson, Jacob HATT,
and was also a stave-maker and cooper.  Genial and affable in manner, Mr.
Hatt was very popular in his community, and was esteemed by all who knew
him.  Mr. Hatt married Catherine GRILL, born Oct. 29, 1802, who died Nov.
26, 1866, and to them were born these children:  Louisa (m. Abraham MATZ);
Samuel, a farmer of Spring township; Kitty (m. Henry WERTZ); John, a farmer,
who died in Lower Heidelberg township; Jacob G.; Catherine (m. Daniel RUTH);
Sally (m. Henry MATZ); Betz (m. Fred HAIN); Polly (m. William RUTH); and
Levi, who died unmarried.

Jacob G. HATT attended the old pay schools of his day, which were in charge
of German teachers, and was reared upon his father's farm in Spring
township, where he began farming for himself at the age of 24 years.  In
1864 he purchased a farm of 30 acres in the Blue Marsh, where he lived for
six years, and this he then sold to remove to the old Sauder farm in Lower
Heidelberg township, which he tenanted for ten years.  In the spring of 1882
he purchased a tract of 120 acres near Fritztown, where his son, William
HATT, now lives, and he also purchased a small property of 18 acres on which
he lives engaged in truck farming, attending the Reading market from one to
three times a week.  In addition Mr. Hatt owns about 37 acres of woodland.
In political matters Mr. Hatt is a stanch Democrat.  He and his wife are
members of St. John's Reformed Church of which he was elder for two years.
Mr. Hatt is a successful man, and his success has been won honestly, his
reputation as a business man of integrity and fair dealing being an eviable
one.  He is well known to the people of his vicinity as a public-spirited
citizen and Christian gentleman.

In 1858 Mr. Hatt married Rebecca MILLER, born Jan. 23, 1836, daughter of
Peter and Sarah (STIELY) MILLER, of Cumru township, and to this union there
were born eight children, of whom the only survivor is William G., who is
married to Annie WENRICH and has five children:  Elsie, Jacob, Leah, William
and Elmer.  Three of Mr. Hatt's other children died within three weeks, of
diphtheria, his eldest son, Adam also succumbing to that disease, when 19
years old.