Willis M. Hatch and Mary Lamb

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Husband Willis M. Hatch ^{1 2}

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           Born:  - Venango Co, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1890
         Buried: 

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         Father: Lucien Hatch (1808-Aft 1890) 1 2
         Mother: Varnera Bly (1811-Aft 1890) 2

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       Marriage: 28 Mar 1871 1

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Wife Mary Lamb ¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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         Father: Samuel Lamb (      -Aft 1877) 1
         Mother: Unknown (      -Aft 1877)

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Willis M. Hatch

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At the age of about fifteen he left the farm and enlisted in the United States navy. Up to this time he had not had so much as three months' schooling, and perhaps no youth ever went out from under the parental roof so profoundly ignorant both of books and of the world. On this account the strict regulations of the navy fell like an iron-rule on his young yet daring spirit. He had been taught by his parents the observance of the Christian Sabbath, and when, as one of the first duties enjoined upon him, he was ordered to assist upon this day in getting his vessel off of a rock upon which she had stranded, he walked boldly up to the chief officer and informed him that he had been reared in a Christian family and in the Sunday-school, and most emphatically declared that he "would not work on the Lord's day!"
An indescribable smile of mingled surprise, sympathy and pity played over the face of the officer, and, sending for the regulations, he quietly read them to the youthful new-comer, who, concluding that obedience was the better part of wisdom, gracefully yielded and went to work.
The severe discipline, however, of this branch of the War Department proved a most excellent school for young Hatch. His honest, sprightly, daring spirit rendered him a favorite among both officers and men, and after having filled for nearly a year a position in the Paymaster's department, he returned home and learned the blacksmith's trade as a means of procuring an education, the great importance of which he had now learned to appreciate.
After two years attendance upon Westminster College, he took a course in the Iron City Commercial College, Pittsburgh. This was followed by one in the Northwestern State Normal School, at Edinboro. Here his health failed, and for the two following years he successfully engaged in the lumber and oil business.
After his marriage, he spent four years more in Westminster College, read law with D. B. and E. T. Kurtz, of New Castle, and was admitted to practice in September, 1875.
While a law-student there, he was taken up as the prohibition candidate for mayor of New Castle, and came within eleven votes of being elected.
In April, 1876, he returned to New Wilmington, purchased the farm of his father-in-law, built a house for his father, and cared for the aged heads of both families.

Residing in Georgia in 1890.

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General Notes: Wife - Mary Lamb

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She was one of a family of twelve children, and was deprived of the privileges of education enjoyed by many. She, however, by her own exertions, fitted herself for a teacher, and for eight years occupied a prominent position in the profession in Venango County, Pennsylvania.

1 Editor, History of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1877), Pg 200.

2 Editor, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Brown, Runk, & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 1085.