The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-31

occupying The position of clerk Of the
steamer Jacob TRADER, of which the CON
modore himself was captain. In 1859 he
was promoted TO the captaincy of the
| steamer Franklin Steele, the first boat
built by the commodore for the Minneso
| ia river trade, but then plying between
La Crosse and ST. Paul Afterwards, as
the commodore added to his boats and
extended the line down the river to St
Louis, he was captain of the Nose Me
/ ClelIan. City of st. Paul and other favor
lite boats.
Along about 1869 he left the service of
the commodore and formed partnership
with son of John Robinson, of Winona,
in line of tow boats. The venture was
premature and proved losing invest
ment Subsequently Capt. Hatcher
| located in Winona and engaged in the
commission business. but here, too. mis-
| fortune followed him.
| Some time about 1868 he was married
to an estimable lady of Winona, by whom
he had three children, but two of them
with the mother sleep the sleep that knows
no awakening in the ceInetary at Win
ona, where, too, his remains will be con
signed, Benton d.. the little son of thirt
ecu who occupied the bed with his father
when he died. being the only one now
| left of the once happy family The death
of the children and the mother, the latter
occurring some six years ago, was ter
rible blow to Captain Hatcher who was
| u most devoted husband and father-a
blow from which he never recovered.
Since his death his whole soul, his life
even, seemed to be bound up in his son
Benton, the two being more like compan
ions of nearly equal age, than father and
son. his thoughts, business plans and
hopes being shared with the boy. who in
his manly cara,ter, happily illustrates the
the benefits of the excellent example ever
before him as his guide.
Capt. Hatcher resumed service with
Com. Davidson some twenty years ago in
the highly honorable and responsible
position of confidential secretary and
adviser. When it became necessary last
fall for Col. Haines TO retire from the
managementsof the Opera house and go
south for the benefit of his health, Com.
Davidson plaeedsCapt. Hatcher in charge
viii oh he held at the time of his death.
1t is striking commentary on the I'M
certainty of human life, that Col. Haines
who was very low when he gave up the
management of the Opera house and went
south-so low that his friends feared he
never would return-is alive and in i'm
health, while who succeeded him has been
called to cross the great river of death.
The father and mother of Capt. Hat
cher died at Cordova, H., where they
had removed from Kentucky, some Ten
years ago. Two brothers and two sisters
survive him. The brothers are N. B.
Hatcher, widely and popularity known
among river men as Pole Hatcher at pre-
sent in command of the steamboat Gem
City of Com. Davidson's st. Paul and st.
Louis line; the other is Benton Hatcher,
of Iowa. Both the sisters are married
one residing Mt Cordova. Ill, and the
other in Iowa.
Capt. Hatcher. as was also his wife,
was commitment of the Con gregational
church. and in his daily walk in public
and private life he lived up to to the pre-
cepts taught IN the good book upon
which it is founded. He was also u
thirty three degree mason and honored
the order and society at large. by the
strict integrity which marked all his bus
ness and purity of his private life, A
true. good man is lost to the world in his
death. and his-loss will be most sincerely
mournedb by all who knew him.
His remains will be inferred by the side
of those OF his wife and children at Win
lona, The funeral will probably take
place~in that city Monday, under the
auspices sofsthe Masonic fraternity. though
the funeral arrangements cannot be com
pleted until returns received from the
brothers and sisters.
The final DISPOSE ton of the surviving
son cannot be positively stated as yet,
but Com Davidson is. greatly attached to
him aud desires to have his future care
In conversation with the GLOBE rcpresen
tative yesterday. he said: He is a very
bright, loyal hearted boy. and he shall
never want fora cent while | have one
With such feeling predominating it is
probable the wish of the commodore will
be gfatifed