The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-08-25
DIR. ". {. HATCHER
HAS PASSED AWAY
Distinguished Minister Stricken
AZ Ripe old Age at Fork
Union Home.
ACTIVE COLLEGE WORKER
Served as Pastor OF Grace Street
Baptist Church for Quarter
OF Century.

Dr. william EldridBe Hatcher. pres
ident Of Fork UniOn Academy ana FOR.
merly pastor Of the Grace street Ban
list church. IN this city, dled after
suHren StIOie OF PARALYSIS yester-
day morning at his home in Fork
Union lie was in the sevsnty-ciehth
yeur Of his age. Up to within n short
time OF bis death. Or Hatcher was
81 apparently good health ana Friduy
ieYerins made "a short address from
the porch OF his home, "Careby Iiall."
to social gathering OF his neigh
bors
His death comes IS pronounced
rhock 70 fricnds ga this city. DIR
Hatcher was In Richmond one month
ago when he came TO conduct tho
funeral or Judge Samuel 3 Witt. ana
was then strong and vigorous, despite
Ills advanced years
T. D. Hatcher and family, OF Balti-
more; Miss Elizabeth hatcher ana Miss
Virginia peMott. daughter and grand
daughter OF DR. Hatcher, We're at his
bedside when death camc. MIS-. c. l.,
DeMottr second daughter, resides IN
lynch5uTg. while Miss ORC I. Natch-
er and Miss Edith Hatcher. teachers In
l3ryn Mswr College. are studying in
Canada and Europe.
1t IS probable that tho funeral SER
vices Will be held Tuesday afternoon
Richmond friends will attend
Burn in Bedford County.
Or. Hatcher was born in Bedford
County, Va, July g. 1881. His parents
then lived in tho house which had
been the birthplace OF Rev. j. 3.
letter
During his early life he was too
fran 10 ensage in heavy work on the
farm and his youth was spent largely
In reading such books as he could
set hold or At the age OF eighteen
he was able to teach school. and in
1864 he entered Richmond College. to
remain there until the spring Of 1858,
when he received his bachelors de-
gree The graduating ossny which he
read on tho occasion OF commencement
forcshadowed tho entertaining style
which was 20 make the future preach
CT a favorite with his CONGREGATIONS
and with mis- readers as literary
man.
Preached in Manchester.
Immediately on his graduation Or.
Hatcher was called to the pastorate
OF Inc Banhridge street Baptist
Church in Manchester whore he re-
mainod for eight wears. After tho
wa Franklin Square Church, OF sal
tiil' - rtqUysted the services al the
young minister and he spont two
years in tho Mai yiand city. Tho call
of his native state, however. WAS too
potent long to DO resisted. and the
scar 1865 saw DR. Hatcher back Ia
Nirsinla as pastor Of Che Firs, Dap-
ust Church IN Petersburg. lie re-
manned there for six and one-half
years, resignlng Tint place TO accept
Z pastorate IA Richmond.
In 1876. began Dr Hatcher's active
connection win the religious Interests
OF this city That year he became pas
Tor OF the Grace Street Baptts, Church
which position he retained FOR twenty
AiN years Ills work ga Richmond was
most successful Large amounts of
money were raised Tor al purposes tan
neW ministers were sent cut. and f,vo
new chlrches the offspring Of thc
Grace street Church. were organized
hr. Hatcher LETT Tie pastoratc to enter
the nrld for Richmond ColioSe in IA
THAT institution
The last years Of DIT Hatchera life
were given TO the upbulding OF FORK
Union Academy at Fork Union. "a.
To hls efforts was due tho founding
of tho scnool and undcr Ills direction
II grew into a prosperous institution
- Vas during his Manchester pas-
torate that DR. Hatcher was married,