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Surnames: Hatfield, Dilworth, O'Neal, Shippore, Ogden, Russ, Kirkpatrick, Steward,
Egbert, Donaldson, Glass, Ehret, King
Classification: Bible
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Message Board Post:
Memorial Record of Northeastern Indiana. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1896, pp.
217-220.
VICTOR MURRAY HATFIELD, merchant, Ossian, Indiana, is a representative of an honored
pioneer family in Wells county, a family that has had much to do in every way with the
development of the industrial, educational and religious growth of the section of country
in which they have lived and operated. The value of the work preformed (sic) by those
heroic pioneers, and the realization of their toils, dangers and self-sacrifices is not
generally understood or appreciated long after they have passed away. Those of
Indiana's sons and daughters of to-day who are living in affluence in the homes
established by pioneer parents and grandparents sixty years ago, do not, neither can they,
realize all, or even in part, the hardships they bore, the trials they endured and the
dangers they incurred. They led the way, blazing with their axes a trail through an almost
impenetrable forest that others who followed could more easily find the way. To feel
gratitude for and to honor the pioneer i!
s no less a duty than for the heroes of the Revolutionary war, for the former made it
possible for States, empires in themselves, with increasing millions of population to
enjoy the principles of liberty and government which the latter struggled for years to
found.
Hiram Hatfield, with whom this sketch has particularly to do, was a grandson of Adam
Hatfield, a native of England and founder of this family in America, who came to this
country and settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, previous to the opening of
hostilities between the Colonies and the mother country that led to our independence. In
the above county, in 1772, he was united in marriage with Margaret Dilworth.
John Hatfield, father of Adam, was also a native of England. He was twice married, his
first wife, Dorotha O'Neal, bearing him the following children: Adam, Andrew, John and
Sarah, all of whom came to America. The second wife of John Hatfield, Sr., Elizabeth
Shippore, died without issue. This John Hatfield went to India, where he engaged in trade
and banking, in time becoming immensely wealthy, and it is supposed his large estate was
left to his relatives at his death, but was never administered on to his direct lawful
heirs.
The children of Adam Hatfield, founder of the family in America, were: Elizabeth, John,
Mary, Benjamin, Sarah, Margaret, Robert, Nancy, Joseph and Adam. In 1795 Adam Hatfield
with his large family moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he died the following year. The
family then returned to Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and in 1815 Mrs. Hatfield, with her
sons, Robert, Joseph and Adam, removed to Wayne county, Ohio, settling near Wooster. In
1838 Adam Hatfield, Jr., and family settled in Jefferson township, three miles north of
Murray, on a tract of land containing 480 acres, which he had previously entered. Here he
entered into preparations for settlement; a rude log cabin was erected, a small clearing
was made and thus was life begun.
Adam Hatfield was more or less prominent in affairs all his life. He was one of the first
officials of Jefferson township. Although of limited education, he was a gentleman of
great usefulness, possessed great force of character, and was a recognized leader in the
community, doing much to mold and direct the Christian and moral sentiments of the people.
In political complexion he was a Whig and bitterly opposed to slavery. A Presbyterian in
religious belief, he and his good wife may properly be termed the parents of that faith in
Wells county. In their humble home was held the first religious services of that faith in
the county, Rev. Isaac A. Ogden of the Miami (Ohio) Presbytery officiating. The first
church was organized by a committee of the Presbytery, and Rev. John H. Russ was the first
pastor. In 1840 occurred the death of Mrs. Adam Hatfield, whose maiden name was Martha
Kirkpatrick. She was a woman of great force of character, well fitted by nature to bear
the lot of!
a pioneer husband. Her remains no\v lie in the Murray cemetery, having been removed from
the old Henry Miller cemetery, where they were first interred. Mr. Hatfield afterward
married Mrs. Elizabeth Steward, with whom he passed the remainder of his days. He died in
1848, aged fifty-five years.
Hiram Hatfield, father of Victor Murray, passed the years of his boyhood amid the pioneer
scenes of early Indiana. His advantages for obtaining an education were decidedly limited,
being confined to a private school taught by Miss Margaret Hatfield in a log cabin that
stood on the Hatfield farm. Miss Hatfield, from tuitions, received a salary of
seventy-five cents a week and boarded around among her pupils. Notwithstanding
disadvantages Mr. Hatfield in time became a practical scholar.
In 1850 he was married to Miss Martha A. Egbert, who passed to the better world after two
years of happy wedded life. In 1853 Mr. Hatfield was again married, Miss Catherine K.,
daughter of Robert and Ann Donaldson, becoming his wife. In 1852 Mr. Hatfield sold his
farm and engaged in the mercantile business at Murray, which he successfully carried on
for sixteen years. In 1867 he purchased a stock in Ossian, where he built up an immense
trade, necessitating the building, in 1880, of a large two-story brick structure to
accommodate his business, which later assumed proportions easily making it the largest
mercantile establishment in the county.
Mr. Hatfield's life had always been an exemplary one. He was honest to the core, and
kind and obliging to a fault. His obligations he successfully took care of in all ordinary
times, but when the cyclone of disaster swept the country in 1893, it became impossible
for him to realize on his securities and outstanding accounts, and he was engulfed with
the tide. This could not be other than a heavy blow to a man of his temperament and fine
sense of honor. No possible blame could be attached to him, and none was, but the wreck of
his fortune, which he had been a life-time in getting together, was more than his
sensitive nature could stand, and he succumbed to the shock, lingering until November 30,
1893, when he peacefully passed to that sleep which only has an awakening on the eternal
shores of a better world. To him and his devoted wife were born five children: Anna M.,
Victor M., James C. E., Jennie and Robert A.
In 1861 Mr. Hatfield responded to the call of the President for men to preserve the Union,
and enlisted in the Twelfth Indiana, and was honorably discharged at the expiration of his
term of service. To do so required the sacrifice at his hands of closing his store, but
that counted as nothing to his patriotic, loyal soul, and he would willingly have
sacrificed all, even life, for the good of his country. He was a lifelong member of the
Presbyterian Church, of which for many years he was a Ruling Elder. Soundly orthodox in
his beliefs, he gave liberally of his means for the support of the gospel, and was the
champion of every good cause that had as an object the elevation of men to a higher
standard of moral and Christian living. He has left the heritage of a good name to his
descendants, a name untarnished by even a suspicion of bad intent or wrong doing; a name
that will long live throughout Wells and adjoining counties without a peer for unvarying
integrity and stability o!
f character.
Victor M. Hatfield, the worthy representative of a worthy sire, was born at Murray
February 24, 1859. Until he had attained the age of fifteen years he attended the common
schools and laid well the foundation of a higher education, which he entered upon at
Elder's Ridge Academy, at Elder's Ridge, Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where he
studied one year. He then, in 1876, entered the Wooster University, taking a two-years
course, and in 1878 returned to Ossian, his father giving him an interest in the
merchandise business at that time carried on under the name of Hatfield & Glass, and
later the interest of Mr. Glass was purchased, and the firm became Hatfield & Son.
The failure of 1893 very little disconcerted Mr. Hatfield, the junior member of the firm.
He possessed the material that made him equal to the emergency. With his hand at the helm
he soon guided affairs back into healthful normal conditions, and fully restored the house
of “Hatfield & Son" to its old-time standing. His two brothers, James C. and
Robert A., are associated with him, and have been ever since the reconstruction of the
business. They are both young men possessed of a vast amount of energy and business
ability, and have rendered valuable aid in placing affairs in the present prosperous
condition.
Mr. Hatfield is a Republican in political preferment, and is an active worker in the
interest of his party; and is a member of Ossian Lodge, No. 149, A. F. & A. M.
His marriage to Miss Stella, the cultured daughter of Paul T. and Rosanna (Ehret) King,
was solemnized June 17, 1880. Three children were born of this union: Adelaide, born June
15, 1882; Anna Claire, born September. 26, 1885; and Vere, born July 1, 1888. Mr. Hatfield
was called upon to mourn the death of his beloved wife, the sad event occurring February
2, 1895. She was a woman of rare attainments in culture of mind and grace of person, being
greatly beloved by all who knew her. The refined elegance of her beautiful life left an
influence for good that will not soon be forgotten.
Her life carried sunshine with it, and her pleasing personality diffused gladness wherever
she went. She was a Christian -- a devout follower of the lowly Nazarene, whose standards
of righteousness were her standards, and to which she attained as nearly as is possible in
this life. She was president of the local branch of the W. C. T. U., and always a leader
in the missionary work of the Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member.