Biography of William J. Hatfield - McDowell Co. WV The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 540 WILLIAM J. HATFIELD is giving a vigorous and effective administration as sheriff of McDowell County and is one of the popular citizens of Welch, the county seat. He was born on a farm on the Tug River, in Pike County, Ken- tucky, and the date of his nativity was August 28, 1883. He is a son of Matthew E. and Alice (Davis) Hatfield, the former of whom was born in Pike County, in 1849, and the latter of whom was born in the year 1864, their home being now at Rose Siding, Pike County, Kentucky. For many years Matthew E. Hatfield was actively identified with lumbering operations on the Tug Eiver, and took many rafts of logs down the river to the markets. He has been active also as a farmer. On his farm in Pipe County, Kentucky, the New Thacker Coal Mining Company is now operating mines. He is a stalwart republican and is a member of the Baptist Church, his wife being a member of the Presbyterian Church. She was born at St. Joseph, Missouri. Of their eiglit children the eldest and the youngest are deceased. The public schools afforded William J. Hatfield his early education, which was supplemented by a course in the National Business College at Roanoke, Virginia. There- after he was associated with commercial interests at Blue- field, West Virginia, until 1903, when he came to McDowell County and became a successful dealer in real estate, be- sides which he is interested in three drug stores - one at Welch, one at Iaeger and the third at Wilcoe, this county. He has held various official positions in the City of Welch, including that of deputy sheriff. In 1916 he was elected county assessor, and in 1920 he was chosen sheriff of the county, in which office he is fully justifying the popular vote that made him the incumbent. He is affiliated with both York and Scottish Rite bodies of the Masonic frater- nity and Beni-Kedem Temple of Charleston, West Vir- ginia, as well as with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose. He holds an interest in the Welch Insurance Agency, of which he is president and is a leader in the local ranks of the republican party. In 1907 was solemnized the marriage of Sheriff Hatfield and Miss Pearl Johnson, who was born at Glen Lyn, West Virginia, a daughter of J. L. Johnson. Submitted by Valerie Crook **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************