BIO: Benjamin R. HATFIELD, Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, page 194.
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  B. R. HATFIELD, Alexandria, Huntingdon county, Pa., was born in 
Porter township, September 16, 1860. His grandfather, Samuel Hatfield, 
was born in 1786 in Montgomery county, Pa. At an early age he went to 
Philadelphia and was there engaged in mercantile pursuits for a number 
of years. In 1838, with his sons Samuel and Benjamin R., he went to 
Huntingdon county, where he established his sons in the manufacture of 
the famous "Juniata charcoal iron," under the firm name of S. &. B. R. 
Hatfield. Samuel Hatfield, Sr., died in 1872, aged eighty-six years. 
His son Samuel was born in 1818; engaged in the iron business in 1838 
and retired from it in 1875. In 1892, with his wife and daughter Annie 
Elizabeth, he removed from his farm and iron works property to 
Alexandria, where he lived to the time of his decease, November 16, 
1894, at the age of seventy-six years. Samuel Hatfield was one of those 
quiet, unassuming men whose real value to the community is likely to be 
underestimated. While taking no conspicuous part in political affairs, 
he was a staunch Republican, had the interests of his neighbors and of 
the community in which he lived ever at heart, and did all in his power 
to promote their welfare. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church 
for a number of years. He married Eliza, daughter of Andrew and 
Elizabeth (Grove) Neff, having a family of five children, as follows: 
John N., of Alexandria, engaged in the manufacture and sale of fire 
clay, at Petersburg, Pa.; Samuel M., of Mapleton, Pa., manufacturer and 
shipper of glass sand; Annie Elizabeth, of Alexandria; Mary (Mrs. W. S. 
Stryker), Porter township; and Benjamin R.; the latter attended 
Williamsport Dickinson Seminary in 1880 and 1881, afterwards taking a 
course at the Iron City Business College, Pittsburg, Pa. He then 
returned home, and took charge of his father's business interests, mill 
and farm, still remaining in the same occupation. He was married in 
February, 1893, to Julia, daughter of Hon. P. M. Lytle, Huntingdon, Pa.