Santa
Clara County
Biographies
SEWELL HATCHER
A man of decided push, energy and
foresight, Sewell Hatcher, a well-known resident of San Jose, has won for
himself a fine reputation for business ability, and has gained a place of
prominence and influence in mining circles. The descendant of an old and honored
family of Virginia, he was born August 27, 1871, in Glasgow, Ky., a son of
Jerry Hatcher. His Grandfather Hatcher served in the Revolutionary war, and
afterward removed from Virginia, his native state, to Kentucky, becoming a
pioneer settler.
Born and bred in Christian county,
Ky., Jerry Hatcher learned the carpenter’s trade when young, and subsequently
engaged in business on his own account as a contractor and builder. Following
the star of Empire westward, he crossed the plains to California with the gold
hunters of 1849, and for a few years was here successfully employed in mining.
Going then to Honolulu, he worked at his trade, and while there remodeled the
king’s palace. Returning then to Kentucky, he settled in business, and remained
in his native state several years. Coming back to California in 1872, he spent
a year in prospecting, and then returned to Kentucky, where he followed
contracting and building until 1900. In that year he made another trip to the
Pacific coast, visiting San Jose, but subsequently went back to his old
Kentucky home, where he resided until his death, in 1902. He married Elizabeth
Waldrop who was born in Kentucky, and died in her native state, in 1895. She
was a daughter of Archie Waldrop, a farmer, who came from Virginia stock, and
who served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Of the union of Jerry and Elizabeth
(Waldrop) Hatcher, nine children were born, namely: W. R., a contractor, living
in Glasgow, Ky.; Lela, wife of L. H. DeVasher, of
Louisville, Ky.; Jerry, a resident of Providence, R. I.; C. M., of Boston,
Mass.; S. P., engaged in the mining business in San Jose; Sewell, the subject
of this brief sketch; J. B., of San Francisco, special agent for an insurance
company; E. C., of Toledo, Ohio; and Mattie H., of Louisville, Ky.
After completing his studies in the
common schools of Glasgow, Ky., Sewell Hatcher continued his education at the
state normal school, after which he entered a drug store, where for three years
he studied pharmacy. Coming to San Jose in 1895, he embarked in the real estate
business with his brother C. M. Hatcher, becoming junior
member of the firm of C. M. Hatcher & Co. Subsequently buying out his
brother’s interest, he continued the business alone until 1902. Selling a half
interest in that year to Mitchell Phelps, he became junior member of the firm
of Phelps & Hatcher, which existed until November, 1902, when he sold out
his entire interest in the firm to his partner.
Having thus disposed of his
business, Mr. Hatcher went east, visiting many of the larger cities in that
part of the Union, and being successfully engaged in promoting mining companies
in California. He had previously, in 1900, become actively identified with the
Big Butte Mining Company, which is operating placer claims at Berdan, using hydraulic machinery and is still connected
with it. Since than he and his brother have bought interests in the North
America mine in Sierra county, and he is likewise interested in the Norwegian
mine at Tuolumne county, a rich quartz mine, which is already equipped with a
stamp mill, and is in successful operation. Politically Mr. Hatcher is a
steadfast Democrat, and fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, having united with the
order in Rhode Island.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1374. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.