“THE HATFIELD FAMILY. No history of LaPorte county would be complete without mention of the Hatfield family, for from an early day its members have been valued and esteemed residents of this part of the state and have borne an active part in promoting material upbuilding and in upholding the educational and moral status of the community. John Hatfield, now deceased, was born in Hardin County, Ohio, on the 3d of March, 1822. Samuel Hatfield, his father, was probably a native of Ohio was there married the first time. By that union he had five children.
His first wife died in Ohio and after his second marriage he came to LaPorte county, Indiana, in 1838, locating in Rolling Prairie, where his death occurred. He was one of the pioneers of the county, interested in its early development and he cooperated in many measures for the good. Mary Zane, the young girl who carried powder in her apron from the store house to the fort under the fire of Indians in order to assist the soldiers in the war of 1812, was the great-grandmother of John Hatfield. John Hatfield was the third son of his father’s first marriage.
In 1838, when a youth of sixteen years, he came to LaPorte county, finding a district which was largely unimproved. Much of the land was still uncultivated and although pioneer conditions existed on every hand Mr. Hatfield settled here and assisted materially in the upbuilding and growth of this portion of the state. Mr. Hatfield worked by the month as a farm hand in Wills township and this gained a start in business life. In October, 1848, he married Miss Charlotte Sweet, who was born in Jennings county. Indiana, December 22, 1826. She was a daughter of George and Polly (Magness) Sweet. Her father was born in Canada and when a young man came to Indiana, where he married and followed the occupation of farming. His wife was a native of North Carolina and was one of the heirs of the large Magness estate in Shelby county, North Carolina, being the second child in a family of seven children, one son and six daughters. Her death occurred on the 6th of December, 1902.
After his marriage John Hatfield located in Kankakee township, where he resided for more than fifty years. Unto him and his wife were born six children: Eliza J., who was born December 22, 1849, became the wife of O. F. Stewart in June, 1871, and they had three children, Clifford, Bert and Mabel. Burnett B. was born June 2, 1851, and was educated in the blind asylum in Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was graduated in 1875. Amie F., born September 12, 1853, was married September 20, 1893, to W. H. Collins, who died on the 16th of March, 1903. Noah, born June 27, 1854, married Dora Allison in February, 1879. Anna Lendora, born March 25, 1857, is the wife of J. H. Caldwell and their marriage occurred July 30, 1884, has been blessed with two daughters, Gladys and Annabel. Willis, born January 13, 1861, married Nora Warrick on the 21st of April, 1890.”
Source - A twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of LaPorte County Indiana, (The Hatfield Family), Rev. E. D. Daniels, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago & New York, 1904, Pg 795
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Cec Barton-Murrah - 176 Lake Rd Huntsville, TX 77320 (936) 594-4000
Researching LaPorte Co., IN connections: Hatfield, Zane, Bolter, Lowe