Last updated: July 18, 2022
Person
James Hatter
Quick Facts
Significance:
Nebraska Homesteader
Place of Birth:
Virginia
Date of Birth:
1861
Place of Death:
Cherry County, Nebraska
Date of Death:
June, 22 1948
Place of Burial:
North Buxton, Canada
James A. Hatter was born during slavery to Franklin Hatter and Rebecca McCord. His father was a free man, but his mother was enslaved by the Asquith family in Charles Town, Virginia. After the Civil War, James and his parents and some of his siblings moved to Buxton, Kent, Canada. This is where he met and became friends with a group of homesteaders that ultimately moved back across the border to claim land in Nebraska.
James first applied for land at the Homestead receiver’s office in Grand Island, Nebraska on January 25, 1893 and paid the sum of $18 filing fee for 160 acres, application #18406. James was charged $5.00 to advertise Final Proof Notice in March 1898 for four weeks. James settled on the land beginning June 22, 1893. According to two of his witnesses, John Larson and his brother-in-law, William P. Walker; James built a sod house 20X26, sod stable 16X24, well and cistern, framed granery 18X20, an outbuilding, and a 250 rod wire fence. James broke and cultivated 90 acres of land and produced crops every season since settling and noted his total value of improvements at $650.
James received his patent, final certificate # 11625, on October 20,1898. James Alphonso Hatter was admitted to the hospital in Valentine, Nebraska on May 23, 1948 and passed away on June 22, 1948.
Contributor: Joyceann Gray, SSG USA RET
Joyceann Gray
Photo Credit: J. Gray
Joyceann is the great grandniece of James L. Hatter and great granddaughter of William P. Walker. Once retired from the Army, she has devoted much time to family historical researching and writing. She is the author of; ‘Yes We Remember’ which is devoted to the historical accountings of her ancestors, and ‘DeWitty and Now We Speak’ which is a historical fiction about the women of DeWitty, Nebraska. Joyceann is a Contributing Writer of many Notable African Americans, and Ambassadors on BlackPast.org. She holds memberships in local genealogical societies and the Charles Town, WV Researchers. Joyceann was an integral part of the Descendants of DeWitty who not only helped raised money but facilitate the erecting of the Historical marker in honor of the Homesteaders of DeWitty along Hwy 83, near Brownlee, Nebraska, April 2015.