Litchfield enquirer., 1874-11-05
OBITUARY.

Died in New Preston, on the 18th nlt.,
 Deacon Joseph E, Hatch, aged 70.
 Perhaps no person conld have been call
 ed away from our midst more respected and beloved than Deacon Hatch, and something more than an ordinary notice l of his departure has seemed by his friends
 to be called for His history Ill the ex-
 ternals of it Is briefly told. Born i'll 1894 l in the town oi Ken, married i'll 1S3i to ] Miss Maria D. Sackett, of Warren, he
 spent most of his life ill New Preston as a
 farmer. He passed away as above stated
 on the 18th ult.. and his funeral was at
 tended on the following Sabbath. A ser
 mon was preached appropriate to the fu-
 neral of any truly christian man or wo-
 man, and little was said to indicate those distinctive traits which so strikingly offer ed in his life and character, To make up that deficiency the present writing is in- tended.
 Deacon Hatch was peculiar both as a man and as christian. He came from a family of more than ordinary talents, and the family name did not suffer in him.
 He had an active, and for his calling in life, we'll cultured and we'll stored mind.
 His reading was of the solid sort. He was from principle an industrious man.
 He had great respect for that part of the fourth commandment which says, ''Six days shalt thou labor" He was frugal and economical He knew the value of property, and he thought it his duty to lay up something for ''a rainy day" and he did it. He also loved to give of the products of his farm and of his industry to such as were in needy circumstances, and here is part of his life which cannot be written. In these acts of kindness and mercy he didn't let his left hand know what his right hand did. Perhaps no man was more ready than he to do neighbor a kindness. and whoever did him favor was sure to receive one in re- turn and one that was little moro than the one rendered. And the account must stand in this way If it took years to settle it. And in regard to his benefactions and in the mode of the bestowment of them, this was remarkable peculiarity. In do- ing you favor or in making present, however great, he would SO make out the case that you would almost be left with the impression that instead of feeling that you were really and truly under a great obligation to him, you had done him fla vor and he was under the obligation him. self. His benefactions were much less in his own sight than the reality. instead of being fourfold greater. Although he said much less about it than some others he was a man of true modesty and humility. He was a man too of unusual refinement and politeness of manner We have of ten been charmed 4uith Ais ease and grace and tact in a social gathering. He could speak to everybody and introduce every body to everybody and make each feel at ease and at home, as few have ever been able to do. There was vein of pleasantly in him and it often sparkled merrily and made him favorite in company In na- ture he was refined and gentle and could not but be a gentleman. He expressed himself as pleased with a discourse of his late pastor on courtesy" and was "glad to have our young friends advised upon the subject. He was man of simplici- ty. His eye was single, not simple and not easily imposed upon; not a man for jockeys to over-reach, but straightforward even keen sighted, and yet intending to be honest and just.
 But above all, Deacon Hatch was godiy man. He was always thought of and spoken of as Deacon Hatch The el- ement of godliness entered into any and every conception of his character or man. hood. Some men are in the diaconate who are not known among the ir fellows as Deacon so much as they are known and spoken of by their christian name, and that too in an abbreviated and not over re- spectful form. But bold must have been the man who could thus speak of Deacon Hatch. The man was felt to be so worthy of respect that such familiarity or disre- spect could not be tolerated anywhere. He was oue of the old time christian gen. tleman. Reverence and veneration were we'll developed in him. He was careful and thoughtful of others feelings. He had profound reverence for the Supe rior Being, and his public prayers were models m this respect, refecting truly his feelings, they were so profoundly reveren- tial. His religious opinions, ,thongh firm ly held, were expressed with difidence. He wasn't infaliibie and dogmatic and positive and dictatorial. His favorite phrase was, "we would recommend" He stood very near to his pastor. He used the office of deacon we'll. He was help ful and only helpful to the minister. Few who are not ministers understand so we'll as he did the difficulties, discouragements, and trials of this office. And were more as kind and charitable and helpful as he. longer and more fruitful of good would be our passionate. The writer will hold in everlasting rememberance the kindness. sympathy. and benefactions of Deacon Hatch. His memory is "blessed" He had many things to try him in life, but undoubtedly the greatest trial was the loss of that noble son he gave to his coun- try. From that blow he never fully re- covered. A daughter however was spared, and although the wife of Rev. John V. Griswold, and having other cares, still she
 has had the privilege, of doing much for her parents of late years. Mrs. Hatch has the sympathy and prayers of many iu