The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 492

WILLIAM HATTEN.

Farming and fruit raising have been a profitable source of income to William
Hatten, who is a prominent agriculturist of the  Tieton district. A native of
West Virginia, he was born in Wayne county on the 6th of February, 1851, and is
a son of Edmund and Mary (Hines) Hatten, also natives of that state. The
paternal grandfather, Phillip Hatten, who was born in  England and was a veteran
of the War of 1812, died in West Virginia. The parents of William Hatten, being
much impressed with the excellent opportunities offered by the middle west,
removed to Minnesota, in 1865, at the close of the Civil war, locating in McLeod
county. During the conflict the father had espoused the Union cause, taking his
place among the rank and file of the northern army in order to keep the Stars
and Stripes afloat oved all the republic. After spending some time in McLeod
county he took up a homestead near Fort Ripley, in Morrison county, Minnesota,
and there both parents subsequently passed away.

William Hatten was reared amid the refining influences of a good home,
receiving in his early life valuable lessons from his good parents. His book
knowledge was acquired in the public schools of his neighborhood and when old
enough he began to assist his father with the farm work. He subsequently
followed agricultural pursuits independently in Morrison county, Minnesota, but
in October, 1900, came to Yakima county, Washington, and for five years worked
for wages. In 1911, having acquired the means to do so by carefully saving his
earnings, he bought eighteen acres of rich land on the Tieton and of this four
acres are in orchard, the remainder being under the plow. He has made a number
of valuable improvements, has instituted good machinery and has erected
substantial buildings and a fine home, everything about the place indicating a
progressive rancher of the twentieth century. He is not afraid to try out new
ideas and has thoroughly studied climate and soil conditions here, so that he
has become one of the leaders in his occupation. His income is now steadily
increasing and his prosperity is assured.

In 1883 Mr. Hatten was united in marriage to Miss Ella May Straw, a native of
Morrison county, Minnesota, and a daughter of Calvin and Sophia Straw. By a
former marriage Mr. Hatten had two children: Elsie, deceased, and Luella, the
wife of Fred Spalding, of Sunnyside, by whom she has one child. The children of
the second marriage are: Libby, who married Joseph Quadt, a rancher in the
Tieton district; Sophie, who married Wallie Jennie, a rancher of Island county,
Washington by whom she has four sons; Howard, who operates a sawmill on the
Tieton and who married Zoe Slavin; Harold, who married Helen Knoll and is at
home, assisting in the work of the ranch; and Mila May, also at home. Mr. and
Mrs. Hatten and their family are well known in their neighborhood and enjoy the
highest respect. They have many friends in Yakima county, all of whom speak of
them in terms of appreciation.

In his political views Mr. Hatten is a prohibitionist, believing thoroughly in
the enforcement of this measure as a means of bettering humanity. He has deeply
studied economic and social conditions and is thoroughly versed in the issues of
the day but is not an office seeker, preferring to give his undivided attention
to his private interests. There is great credit due him for what he has
achieved, as he began life without special advantages and now is numbered among
the substantial residents of his neighborhood. He is therefore entitled to the
honorable appellation of a self-made man, having demonstrated in his life's
course energy, honesty, foresight, ability and adaptation-qualities upon which
his success has been built.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.