HATCH, ANTHONY FROST AND BERTHA ADELINE

by Eugene Garrett, Maxine Garrett Childerston, and Gladys Garrett Maseberg

Entry F187 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

The Hatch Family at the Ranch, 1915. Elzie, Adeline, Anthony,
Iva Moore (guest) ane Rob and Florence.

The Hatchs' were pioneers of Hooker
County, having come to Mullen, Nebraska by
immigrant train from Kansas, about 1900.

Anthony Frost Hatch was born in Pea-
cham, Vermont on December 21, 1860, to
Henry Merrill and Margaret Hatch.

Bertha Adeline was born in Tyner, Indiana
on October 28, 1866, to Isaiah and Theresa
Wilson.

The records show that the Henry Hatch
family moved to Kansas in the 1870's, about
the same time as the Isaiah Wilsons'.

"Am and Addie", as they were affectiona-
tely known, worked as "hands" at the same
place, and for the same family. This was the
custom, as they could make a few cents a day.
This was how they met.

Am and Addie were married in 1888. They
farmed ten years or so in Kansas, then
because of drought, they came to Nebraska.
There were some very dry years in Kansas.

Their first home in Mullen was the small
house, two houses east of the Mullen Grade
School. Mr. Hatch was a prominent figure in
public improvements, and donated the land
where the grade school now s\ds, and as
recorded in the recent publication of the
Cedarview Cemetery, "A.F. Hatch platted
and donated a piece of land for a cemetery
in the spring of 1904". This was the first
addition of the cemetery.

Six children were born to Am and Addie:
Edna Chol Hatch (Garrett, Walter); Robert
Delbert Hatch; Elzie Milton Hatch, all three
born at Mahaska, Kansas. Florence Mae
Hatch and Anthony Frost Hatch, Jr. (Tony)
both born at Narka, Kansas. Ruby Leola
Hathc, born at Mullen, Nebraska,
1906.

Ruby Leola died at six months of age with
pneumonia. Florence Mae died May 1, 1916
at nineteen years of age with appendicitis.

Anthony, Adeline, Edna and husband,
Walter, Florence and Ruby are buried in the
Cedarview Cemetery at Mullen, Nebraska.

In a few years the Hatchs' moved to a place
south of the Dismal River, yet in Hooker
County. They established the ranch, west up
the valley from the Shimmins' place, and
lived there many years. They had many
neighbors, among them were Arthur Moores',
A.J. Tracys', Fred Downings', Tom Maneys',
Frank Herriman, the Shimmins', Clyde Wil-
sons', and a bachelor named Buckmaster.
They also visited Tom Neals', Mike Connels',
Bert Graggs' and many others.

Am and Addie were known as good neigh-
bors. There are many accounts of them
helping people. Am and Addie didn't have
modern conveniences. Pioneer families were
of necessity self-sufficient. Everyone had
gardens, chickens for eggs and meat, milk
cows, and they butchered hogs, and rendered
their own lard. The women baked bread,
made their butter and cottage cheese. Their
milk and butter were kept fresh in a trough
at the well house.

After a full life, and many years, they left
the ranch, and the Tony Hatch family
operated it. Am and Addie moved to Mullen
and lived in the north east part of town,
known as the Nellie Isom place. Later they
moved to Tryon, Nebraska where they spent
the remaining years of their life. They
celebrated their fiftieth Wedding Anniversa-
ry at their home in Tryon in 1938, and their
sixtieth quietly in 1948.

Anthony Frost passed away November 10,
1950. Bertha Adeline passed away a short
time later, December 9, 1950.

Among the tribulations they endured was
the loss of their two daughters, Ruby and
Florence. With modern medical skills both
would have lived. Ruby at six months of age
died with pneumonia. Florence was teaching
school, staying at the Steve Clifford home
west of Tryon. When she became ill with
appendicitis, doctors operated on her on the
kitchen table, and she died May 1, 1916.
Florence was to have been married to Mal-
colm Wright as soon as school was out, and
she was buried in her wedding dress.

We grandchildren have fond memories of
our grandparents, and respect them for
having been pioneers.