Hatch, Ozias Mather

Life Span

04/14/1814 to 03/12/1893

Life Summary

Full name

Ozias Mather Hatch

Place of Birth

Hillsborough, NH

Burial Place

Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, IL

Birth Date Certainty

Exact

Death Date Certainty

Exact

Gender

Male

Race

White

Sectional choice

North

Origins

Free State

Family

Dr. Reuben Hatch (father), Ozias Hatch Jr. (son), Pascal E. Hatch (son)

Occupation

Politician

Businessman

Relation to Slavery

White non-slaveholder

Political Parties

Republican

Other Affiliations

Abolitionists (Anti-Slavery Society)

Government

State legislature

Other state government

Note Cards

Ozias Mather Hatch (New York Times)

Obituary

OZIAS M. HATCH, who was a well-known figure in Illinois a third of a century ago, and who was twice Secretary of State, died at his home in Springfield, Ill., on Sunday, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He was born in New Hampshire in 1814 and removed to Boston in 1832, where he remained until 1836. He assisted in organizing the Republican party. In 1856 he was elected Secretary of State and four years later he was re-elected. His relations with President Lincoln and Gov. Yates were close.

“Obituary Notes,” New York Times, March 14, 1893, p. 5: 3.

Ozias Mather Hatch (Bateman, 1907)

Reference

HATCH, Ozias Mather, Secretary of the State of Illinois (1857-'65). was born at Hillsborough Center, N. H., April 11, 1814, and removed to Origgsville. 111., in 1886. In 1829 he began life as a clerk for a wholesale and retail grocer in Boston. From 1836 to 1841 he was engaged in store- keeping at Origgsville. In the latter year he was appointed Circuit Court Clerk of Pike County, holding the office seven years. In 1858 he again embarked in business at Meredosia, 111. In 1850 he was elected to the Legislature, serving one term. An earnest anti-slavery man, he was, in 1856, nominated by the newly organized Republican party for Secretary of State and elected, being re-elected in 1860. on the same ticket with Mr. Lincoln, of whom he was a warm personal friend and admirer. During the war he gave a zealous and effective support to Governor Yates' administration. In 1864 he declined a renonii- nation and retired from political life. He was an original and active member of the Lincoln Monument Association from its organization in 1865 to his death, and, in company with Gov. R. J. Oglesby, made a canvass of Eastern cities to collect funds for statuary to be placed on the monument. After retiring from office he was interested to some extent in the banking business at Griggs- ville, and was influential in securing the construction of the branch of the Wabash Railway from Naples to Ilannibal, Mo. He was, for over thirty-five years, a resident of Springfield, dying there, March 12, 1893.

Newton Bateman and Paul Selby, eds., Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois (Chicago: Munsell Publishing Company, 1905), 224.

Ozias Mather Hatch (Chicago Tribune)

Obituary

OZIAS M. HATCH IS DEAD.

He Was Secretary of State of Illinois from 1856 to 1864.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. March 13 – [Special.] –

Ozias M. Hatch died at noon today at his home in this city. Although he had been in feeble health, his death was unexpected and came after a brief illness. With the exception of Gen. Allan C. Fuller of Belvidere Mr. Hatch was the last survivor of the men who became famous in the administration of State offices during the troublous period of the Civil War. He was a genial companion and an able man, who was held in high esteem by a great circle of warm friends all over the State, including particularly those older citizens who were at the front curing the Civil War, and he will be sincerely mourned by all who knew him. The funeral will be held here at 2 p. m. Wednesday and will no doubt be largely attended by friends from different parts of the State.

[Mr. Hatch was born at Hillsborough, N. H., April 14, 1814. His father was Dr. Reuben Hatch, who came from New Hampshire and located in Pike County, Ill., in 1835. In 1811 O. N. Hatch was appointed clerk of the Circuit Court of Pike County by Judge Samuel D. Lockwood and held that office for seven years. From 1847 to 1851 he was engaged in mercantile business at Griggsville and in the latter year was elected to represent Pike County in the Legislature. In November, 1856, he was elected Secretary of State on the Republican ticket, when that party first came into power in Illinois, and was reelected in 1860 serving in all eight years and during the most trying period in the history of the State. Since his retirement from office he had lived quitely at Springfield. He was one of the original members of the National Lincoln Monument Association and had been one of the most active members of the Board of Trustees and Secretary of the association ever since its organization. Mr. Hatch is survived by his widow and two sons, Ozias Hatch Jr. and Pacal E. Hatch, the latter a student at Harvard University.]

“Ozias M. Hatch is Dead,” Chicago (IL) Tribune, March 13, 1893, p. 3: 5.

Date	Event
04/14/1814	Ozias Mather Hatch is born in Hillsborough, New Hampshire
01/01/1857 - 01/31/1865	Ozias Mather Hatch serves as Illinois Secretary of State
05/01/1865	Reaching his home state, President Lincoln's remains arrive in Chicago to a remarkable reception
03/12/1893	Ozias Mather Hatch dies in Springfield, Illinois

Date	Title
08/17/1858	Ozias Mather Hatch to Abraham Lincoln, August 17, 1858
08/17/1861	Ozias Mather Hatch to Abraham Lincoln, August 17, 1861

Date	Title
06/10/1856	Abraham Lincoln's Speech at Springfield, Illinois, June 10, 1856
11/15/1858	Norman Buel Judd to Abraham Lincoln, November 15, 1858
11/20/1858	Abraham Lincoln to Charles H. Ray, November 20, 1858
12/20/1860	New York Times,“A Visit to Mr. Lincoln,” December 20, 1860

Date	Title
08/11/1858	Thomas C. Sharp to Ozias Mather Hatch, August 11, 1858
08/16/1858	David Davis to Ozias Mather Hatch, August 16, 1858

Ozias Mather Hatch (New York Times)

Ozias Mather Hatch (Bateman, 1907)

Ozias Mather Hatch (Chicago Tribune)

Ozias M. Hatch, detail