Charles Harvey Hatfield [3513]

  General Notes:

Charles and Polly came to Schuyler County in 1826. Charles had a reputation as a large burly man; was a school teacher. Some reports describe his occupation as a cooper.

"In November 1826, Abraham LeMaster and his son-in-law, Charles Hatfield, crossed the Illinois River at Beard's Ferry, and traveled in a northeasterly direction to what is now Bainbridge township, halting at Willis O'Neal's vacant cabin, in which the two families took up winter quarters. In the spring LeMaster purchased section 20 and its improvements, raised a crop but was compelled to leave there on account of the millions of mosquitoes. He lived on the prairies for several years before returning to his place.

Mr. Hatfield first located on the prairie north of Rushville, where he lived about five years, then returned to Bainbridge, where he has ever since resided. His house is on section 20 and he and his wife are still happy together, having lived a wedded life for sixty years.

Hugh E., his son and his daughter, the wife of John Dodds, are living in the county."

Excerpts from the Combined History of Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois. 1882.
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At Bit of History about Illinois and it's Beginnings:

The territory of Illinois was organized into a county by the legislature of Virginia on the 12th of December 1778 and John Todd was appointed Lieutenant Commander by Patrick Henry, the Governor of the state of Virginia. Illinois continued to form a part of the state of Virginia until 1784, when the country, being a part of the "Northwest Territories" was ceded by the state of Virginia to the United States.

Upon execution of this deed, the Federal Government proceeded to establish a form of government for the settlers in the territories, except that the entire matter was referred to a committee, of which Thomas Jefferson was Chairman. A report of this committee was eventually adopted by the Congress for the establishment of a temporary government. The major provisions of this arrangement were:
1. The territory shall remain a part United States.
2. Shall be subject to the laws promulgated by Congress.
3. Shall not interfere with Congress (whatever that meant).
4. Shall pay all taxes.
5. No property taxes.
6. The territorial government shall be "republican".
7. All taxes shall be no more or less than in any other state.
8. Then established a procedure for becoming a state.
9. Prohibited slavery and indentured servitude. (This clause was defeated in Congress.)
Per the procedures outlined in the report from Congress, the Northwest Territory was divided into "counties", Illinois being one county of the Indiana Territory - until 1809 when Congress further divided Illinois into two counties; St. Clair and Randolph.

(History of Illinois by Ninian Edwards published 1870)

Charles married Mary Polly Lemaster [3514] [MRIN: 1238], daughter of Abraham Lemaster [4694] and Orpha Erwin [4695], on 24 Aug 1822 in Scott County, Indiana. (Mary Polly Lemaster [3514] was born on 29 Dec 1805 in Henry County, Kentucky and died on 6 Apr 1894 in Schuyler County, Illinois.)