Leroy S. Hatley

    Leroy S. Hatley, fifth son and sixth child of William and Martha (Giles) Hatley, natives of North Carolina and of Scotch and English extraction, was born April 7, 1837, in Washington Township, Morgan County, Indiana. His parents came to Indiana from North Carolina, where they were married, and located in Morgan County, where the father died July 3, 1847. The mother died April 15, 1855. The father entered a farm of 220 acres, which he farmed during the last few years of his life.

    Leroy S. Hatley, when nineteen years of age, went into the employ of J. M. & S. M. Mitchell, worked on their farm for three years, and afterward  worked for P.M. Parks until April, 1861. He then enlisted in the three months' service in Company K, Seventh Indiana Infantry, under Capt. Jeff K. Scott. He participated in the battles at Philippi, Bealington, Laurel Hill and Carrick's Ford, and at the expiration of this term of service he returned to his home. On July 7, 1862 he enlisted in Company H, Seventieth Indiana Volunteers, under Capt. A. D. Cunning, and participated in the following engagements: Russellville, Resaca, Marietta and Atlanta. He marched with Sherman to the sea, and took an active part at Bentonville, and then on with Sherman to Washington. After the battle at Atlanta, he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, which position he filled until June 8, 1865, when he received an honorable discharge at Washington. After the war closed, he returned home, and for two years farmed, removing then to Illinois, where for two years he was again engaged in agricultural pursuits, after which he returned to Morgan County, locating in Martinsville shortly afterward. he owns 129 acres of excellent farm land in the county, the cultivation of which he superintends., He was for two years Assessor of Washington Township, also served the same length of time as Township Trustee. he was Deputy Sheriff for one year, and for some time City Marshal.

    March 20, 1872, he married Kate Watkins, daughter of John A. Watkins, a pioneer of Morgan County. Mr. Hatley is a member of the K. of P., Anniversary Lodge, No. 89, an active Republican, and he and wife are members of the Christian Church. They have had three children -Oscar (deceased), Bessie and Maudie.

Source: Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884.