John W. Hatfield
1825-January 14, 1914
Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 14, 1910, page 1, col. 7, cont. at page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
JOHN HATFIELD GOES BEYOND
DEATH COMES AT 7:15 THIS MORNING
WAS OLDEST MALE RESIDENT
Member of Frank Graves' Post--
Took Pleasure in Narrating
Stories of Ye Olden Times
John W. Hatfield, the oldest male resident of Niles, died this morning at 7:15 o'clock at his home, 507 Grant street, West Niles, aged 85 years. Mr. Hatfield was ill but three weeks. Old age is ascribed as the cause of death. He was a member of Frank Graves' Post, G.A.R. Of the children there are five daughters and two sons. The funeral will occur from the Evangelical church, Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. D.O. Ruth to conduct the services. Interment will be at Silver Brook cemetery. The pallbearers selected are all members of Frank Graves' Post, G.A.R. as follows: H.C. Beswick, Henry Austin, Henry Burge, James McComber, Hillis Smith and Wm. Lamberton.
The remains will lie in state all of tomorrow and Sunday forenoon at the home.
John W. Hatfield was an excellent example of what the regular life of a mechanic may lead to. At the age of 83 he celebrated the seventy-second anniversary of his active connection with the trade of brick and stone masonry. He was a veteran of the civil war, during which he served with gallantry and bravery, in Co. M, First Michigan calvary, four years. He was a constable of the Fourth ward for 25 years.
Mr. Hatfield was born in Melford, Delaware, in January, 1825, and came to Niles in 1832. He had always voted the democratic ticket, having voted in 62 state elections and 14 national elections. He had lived during the lifetime of every president of the United States, except Washington. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, when Mr. Hatfield was a year and a half old.
Upon his arrival here with his parents, who came with ox teams, the site of the present city of Niles was then practically an unbroken wilderness, and Mr. Hatfield had shot deer within what now marks the city limits. He was probably the oldest active mason in Michigan, and was very spry and active, not withstanding advanced age.
The Black Hawk war was concluded the year Mr. Hatfield arrived here and he well remembered the famous Indian Chief Black Hawk. Mr. Hatfield was ever fond of reciting history, and only a short time ago, in conversation with a representative of this paper, he recalled a trip by stage in 1833 from Detroit to Tecumseh, a distance of 56 miles, and thence to Niles, 130 miles. He said that though a road to Chicago around the head of the lake was laid down on the map, 90 miles, yet there was not only no conveyance over the road but it was almost impassable except by horsemen. He said that in those days keel boats plied up and down the St. Joseph river and that the voyage from here to St. Joseph on the river, making some fifty miles in its windings, required nearly two days.
From St. Joseph passengers were enabled to reach Chicago by schooner.
Mr. Hatfield said that two years after his arrival here, or in 1834, a census taken by the territorial government showed a population in Michigan of 87,273, and that in January, 1835, the territorial council provided for a convention to frame the state constitution. This, he said, consisted of 89 delegates, who were elected in April of that year, and the convention met in Detroit in May and completed its labors in June. Then came a year's delay growing out of the dispute with Ohio regarding the boundry line which evolved the famous Toledo war, a resort to force by Gov. Mason to prevent Ohio surveyors from trespassing on territory claimed by Michigan. The difficulty was patched up by Michigan giving up her claim and accepting the upper peninsula in compensation, and in June, 1836, congress passed an act admitting Michigan to the union.
The interview continued with Mr. Hatfield as follows:
"Distinctly I remember that Andrew Jackson was occupying the presidential chair in the United States when I arrived in Niles in 1832, and he was re-elected in that year.
"The memory of his administration was forcibly stamped upon our own state in the ten counties named after the president, vice-presidents and his cabinet. There are Jackson county, named for the president; Calhoun and VanBuren, after the vice presidents, Livingston, after Edward Livingston, secretary of state; Inham[sic], after Samuel D. Ingham, secretary of the treasury; Eaton and Cass, after John H. Eaton and Lewis Cass, secretaries of war; Branch, after John Branch, secretary of the navy; Barry, after William T. Barry, postmaster-general, and Berrien, after John M. Berrien, attorney-general.
Niles Daily Sun, Friday, January 14, 1910, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
JOHN HATFIELD DEAD
Veteran Mason Had Lived in Niles Since 1832
John W. Hatfield passed away at 7:30 o'clock this morning after a long illness.
The deceased bore the distinction of being the oldest resident of Niles, that is, of continuous residence in this city.
Mr. Hatfield came to Niles in 1832.
He always voted the democratic ticket and had cast his ballot in 62 state elections and 14 national elections. He lived during the lifetime of every president of the United Sates, except Washington and John Adams. Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826 when Mr. Hatfield was a year and half old.
When Mr. Hatfield arrived here with his parents, the site of the present city of Niles was practically an unbroken wilderness, and he shot deer within what are now the city limits.
The Black Hawk war was concluded the year he arrived here, and he well remembered the famous Indian Chief Black hawk.
Two years after his arrival a census taken by the territorial government showed a population in Michigan of 87,273.
Mr. Hatfield held the office of constable of the Fourth ward of Niles for about 40 years.
The year after he arrived here (1833), Chicago was named, it having then a population of 600 inhabitants.
He was a mason by trade and recently celebrated his seventy-third anniversary of his active connection with the trade.
He had been twice married and is survived by seven children.
The remains will lie in state at the late home in West Niles Saturday and Sunday morning, but will not be exposed to view at the services which will be held in the Evangelical church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev. D.O. Ruth officiating.
The interment will take place at Silver Brook cemetery and will be under the auspices of the G.A.R.
Niles Daily Sun, Friday, January 14, 1910, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
The late John Hatfield was one of the most enthusiastic organizers and workers of the Evangelical Church in West Niles. He did most of the Mason work and is said to have donated his services. Many a time he has shoveled the snow off the walks in front of the church just because of a deep interest in its welfare. Mr. Hatfield took great pride in the fact that he was a constable of his ward many years, said to be about forty. He did not seek the office for what there was in it as he seldom was called upon to perform official duties but he esteemed it as honor, even up to the last year of his life, and a friend said today of him. "It would have broken his heart if he hadn't been nominated and elected last year."
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 28,1907, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
John Hatfield, the oldest resident of Niles, is the only survivor of the trio of men remarkable for the fact that, although upwards of 70 years of age, were still actively engaged in the field of skilled labor, and who were often referred to in the public prints because of that fact. These men who were neighbors for sixty years were Edwards Phelps, brick and stone mason, D.D. Robinson, blacksmith, and John Hatfield, brick mason and builder.