Yolo County
Biographies
GEORGE W.
HIATT
Although practically retired from the active cares of life Gorge W. Hiatt still takes a keen interest in all public affairs and gives his best efforts toward the advancement and prosperity of Woodland, Yolo county, where he has made his home for so many years. He is a native of Lincoln county, Ky., his birth having occurred in the vicinity of Stanford August 11, 1827. His father, E. N. Hiatt, a native of Kentucky, was the son of a Virginian emigrant, a farmer of that state. In 1842 he located in Montgomery county, Mo., and followed farming until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-four years. He married Mary B. Hill, a native of Tennessee, where her father, Samuel Hill, located upon his removal from his native state, Virginia. He afterward settled in Lincoln county, Ky., where he engaged as a farmer until his death. Mrs. Hiatt survived her husband many years, finally locating in Sutter, Cal., where her death occurred at the age of eighty-nine years. Their eight children are all living, those besides George W., who is the eldest, being as follows: B. S. Jackson Hiatt, an extensive farmer of Sutter county, Cal.; E. Monroe, a farmer and stockman of Mendocino county, Cal.; Martha S., the widow of W. A. Smith, of Sutter county; John F. M., a farmer of Sonoma county; Minerva, the wife of Robert Tharp, of Sutter county; and Mary J., the wife of Captain Beach, of Sutter county.
Until he was fifteen years old George W. Hiatt remained in Kentucky, a limited education being received in the subscription schools, whose sessions were held in the primitive log houses, with rude slab furnishings, common to the early days. After his removal to Missouri in 1842 with his parents he received some education in the schools of that state, which was then in even a more primitive condition than Kentucky. But the citizens were made up from the best pioneer element of all the states of the middle west and it was not long before they had introduced a system into their schools which was followed throughout the larger portion of the United States. Mr. Hiatt remained at home until attaining his majority, when, in Montgomery county, he was united in marriage with Amanda Ledford, a native of Ralls county, Mo., and the daughter of William Ledford, who removed from Kentucky to Missouri, where he entered and improved land, and engaged in the raising of corn and cattle. Mr. Hiatt then established a home of his own in Missouri, and nine years later, in 1857, followed the westward trend of civilization by locating in California, leaving the Missouri river May 10 and traveling by ox-teams via the Platte, Green river, Bear river, Humboldt river, Sublett’s cut-off, Susanville, Butte creek and thence to Marysville, which was reached after three months. Immediately following his arrival he located on Grand Island, Yolo county, on what afterward proved to be the Hagar grant, and which he was compelled to give up after eight years’ residence. He then removed to Sutter county and in the vicinity of Cranmore purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he improved and cultivated, putting up a handsome residence, barns and outbuildings. After a period of five years he sold out and in 1871 located in Woodland, where he purchased a home. He then entered into partnership with J. B. Tisdale, and purchased land in Sutter county on the Sacramento river, where they began raising grain, hogs, sheep, horses, cattle and mules. Later they purchased adjoining land until they owned twenty-two hundred acres, which they held in their possession for more than twenty years. In 1892 they dissolved partnership, Mr. Hiatt disposing of his interests to his partner, Mr. Tisdale, who remained on the place. Since that time Mr. Hiatt has been retired from the more active cares which had engrossed his attention for so many years and is enjoying a deserved rest.
In addition to giving attention to his farming and stock-raising pursuits, Mr. Hiatt has been one of the most prominent men of Woodland in municipal affairs and its upbuilding and progress. He is a Democrat in the political convictions and through the influence of this party was elected in 1877 a member of the city board of trustees, and later served for two years as president of the same. In 1892 he was again elected a member of the board, serving with Dr. Jackson, Dr. Ross, James Duncan and W. G. Hunt on a non-partisan platform, their object being to build a new system of water works for Woodland. This was accomplished by the purchase of the old plant and its rebuilding, and at the same time they put in a new sewer system and erected a city hall building, for the accomplishment of which $130,00 had been voted by the people. To accomplish all their plans on so small an amount of money required a great deal of thought as well as executive ability, and at the time the board held an almost continuous session. In addition to improvements mentioned they also succeeded in accomplishing much for the betterment of public works, and those connected with these movements won the confidence and respect of the citizens of Woodland while serving in a public capacity. For four years, from 1889 to 1893, Mr. Hiatt served as public administrator.
In August, 1902, Mr. Hiatt’s wife died, being then over seventy years of age. Of their five children Mary Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of J. B. Tisdale, of Sutter county; William E. is a farmer near Blacks Station; George M. Died in Missouri when two and a half years old; Alice is the wife of T. S. Spaulding, a grocer of Woodland; and Laura is the wife of C. E. Byrns, a farmer in the vicinity of Woodland. The two last named were born in Yolo county, Cal. Mr. Hiatt was a devoted member of the Christian Church for many years.
Transcribed by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: "History of the State of
California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento
Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, Pages
540-543.
The Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, 1906.
© 2017 Joyce Rugeroni.
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Nugget Library's Yolo County Biographies