The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1884-08-02


N, Q, Sunday States, July 90
Colonel Frank II. Hatch died yes
teFday at noon, at his residence il
Gretna. His health had been failing
for sometime. His usual method o.
resuscitatiom by foreign travel hat
been denied to him this year by ad
yancing debility, accompanied by bis
accomplished daughter, whose charm
ing letters have afforded so much
pleasure and instruction to the readers
of the States, Col. Hatch for the ten
past years devoted his summers to ex,
cursiops TO remote countries in which
they would sojourn for long periods,
closely studying the habits Of peo-
pies and accumulating large stores of
valuable knowledge which rendered
them both most agreeable companions
on their return to their old home and
friends.
Frank II, Hatch was born in the
State of Vermont about seventy-two
years ago. Before attaining full man
hood he immigrated to this city, late
in the thirties, and secured an humble
position in the wholesale grocery store
of the old, long-established firm, the
Campbells, on Tchoupitoulas street.
His employers were shrewd, thrifty
Scotchmen, under whose discipline
and training yonng Hatch rapidly ae-
quired the knowledge, habits and sys-
TENS of thorough, sagacious and en-.
terprising merchant. In few years
he became a member of the firm and
its leading manager, The large capi-
tai and business of this firm required
Hatch to take part in the commercial
enterprises and controversies of the
day. Always a warm Democrat,
bold thinker and courageous actor, he
assumed q prominent share in the
combats against the banks and finan-
cial rings which in those days we're so
largely controlled by political party,
and for political end, hostile to those
of the Democratic party. It was a
perilous enterprise in young mer-
chant to involve himself and his house
in such controversies, but Hatch was
always sturdy combatant, and though
frequently beaten in elections and in
law suits against banking corpora
tions, he was never snbdued, and
maintained unsullied the reputation
and standing of his house, and was a
dangerous adversary. Having ac-
quired handsome independence, his
love of country, life of study and
reading, and his recent marriage to a
most accomplished and elegant lady, |
induced his removal from this city to |
the piney woods Of st. Helena, where |
he erected cottage and laid out q |
little homestead in the most seques-
tered and least frequented locality Of
that dreary and desolate region now
known as Darlington. Here he spent
several years in seclusion, but in great
happiness and cententment, with his
cbarming wife and young family, His
active inquiring mind, however, could
not be kept inert and unemployed,
bnt was absorbed in worthy philoso-
phical themes during times Of political
excitement. Into these he was con-
'iderably drawn, and assuming lead
,rship Of the Democracy Of his parish
vas returned to the Legislature the
lext term and to the State Conyen-
ion Of 1852. This convention has
lways been regarded as one Of the
blcst which had ever met ID this
state. In this body he performed q
'romincnt part, and proved one Of its
blest members, The State Gonyen-
ion having been located al Baton
Rouge, Col Hatci resumed bis warm
interest and active part in the politi-
Al movements of the period, ppr-
based an interest in the Baton Rouge
the State organ, and was
or some time the conductor Of that
cry ellicient and brilliant paper. III
be contest for the Presidential sue
ession Of Pierce, Mr.. Hatch took an
ctiye part with MI. Slidell and others,
gaipsi Douglas, who vas champiopcd
" Mr. Sonle, Governor Moutop and
lher Democratic chioftains, and as
eleQate 10 the Cincinnati Convention
I 1885, he contributed largely 10 the
access Of NJ. Bucbanag ~ that So
eFely fought contest He was he
loxer 81 tlie nomination of Joiin u
10 that eogyentien. on
Be- snstallelion If M. Buchanan. Nj.
LATCH WY eslled from the conalFy "
Ike chulqe Of the Cnstomhonse % tbs ,
iiy, and the leadeFsliF q The slidell