Mary Elizabeth McCutchan

Biographical sketch of William Hugh Hazlet (1862-1936)

from pp.292-284 of

History of Decatur County, Iowa, and Its People

by J.M. Howell and Heman C Smith

(Supervising editors)

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago. 1915.

Volume II

WILLIAM HUGH HAZLET

William Hugh Hazlet, of Eden township, is one of the best known breeders of Red Polled cattle in the middle west and has shipped thoroughbred cattle to twelve states of the LTnion. He also carries on general farming and the two branches of his business yield him a handsome yearly income. A native of Iroquois county, Illinois, he was born on the 2nd of April, 1862, of the marriage of Hugh D. and Margaret A. (Graham) Hazlet. Further mention of his parents is given elsewhere in this work. [[see below]]

William H. Hazlet attended school in his native state until 187(), when he accompanied his parents to Decatur county, Iowa. He con- tinued his education in the school of district No. 1, Eden township, this county, and he remained under the parental roof and gave his father the benefit of his labor until he was nineteen years of age. He then began farming for himself upon the home place and following his marriage, which occurred when he was twenty-one years old, erected a residence upon the homestead. In addition to farming that place he operated a farm of two hundred acres, which he rented from John Albaugh and which is situated a half mile south of the home- stead. Seven years later Mr. Hazlet purchased the one hundred and twenty acre farm where John Frost now resides, and planted the large orchard on the place and the fine evergreen windbrake on three sides of the orchard. After two years he sold that property and removed to Center township, where he rented two hundred and eighty acres owned by John W. Gardner. In 1901 he purchased his present home farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres on section 12, Eden township, and two years later took up his residence thereon. He subsequently added an eighty acre tract to the property. He not only operates his two hundred and fifty-five acres but also rents from one hundred to one hundred and fifty acres additional land, most of which is devoted to pasture. His herd of Red Polled cattle is known throughout the cattle world of the middle west and he has shipped cattle for breeding purposes to twelve states of the Union. He also buys stockers from the Missouri river markets which he feeds and sells. He likewise ships several carloads of hogs annually.

Mr. Hazlet was married in 1883 to Miss Mary E. McCutcheon, who was born October 18, 1863, and is a daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Nelson) McCutcheon, pioneer settlers of this county. Her parents were natives respectively of Floyd county, Indiana, and of Madison county, that state, and the father was born on the 27th of October, 1833, while the mother's birth occurred on the 18th of February, 1842. They were married March 17, 1859, in Cambria, Wayne county, Iowa, where they remained until 1865. In that year they emigrated with their family to this county and located two miles south of f the county farm in Eden township. There the father purchased land, to the cultivation of which he devoted his time and attention. He passed away in that township April 3, 1891. His wife subsequently removed to Leon and there her demise occurred September 13, 1906.

Mr. Hazlet was a democrat for many years but now votes for the man regardless of his party allegiance. For several terms he served as clerk of the Eden township school board. He and his family all belong to the Church of Christ of Eden township, in the erection of whose house of worship he assisted, hauling the lumber which was used in the structure. He takes a deep interest in the furtherance of the work of that organization and contributes generously to its support. He studies carefully the various problems that confront the farmer and stock-raiser and is at all times ready to profit by the results of experimentation in those fields. He has gained more than usual success in his chosen occupation, has won an enviable reputation as a breeder of thoroughbred cattle and has accumulated more than a competence. He is not only esteemed for his business ability but is also highly respected because of his sterling integrity.

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Information about Hugh Daughtery Hazlet and Margaret Ann Graham, from the biographical sketch of Wm Hugh Hazlet's brother James, in the same book.

[He] was born in Indiana on the 21st of January, 1822, of English and Scotch ancestry and [she] was a native of Ireland. In 1852 she emigrated to this country and on the 15th of December, 1857, was married at Oxford, Indiana. Hugh D. Hazlet was a farmer by occupation and owned land in Illinois, which he sold on his removal to Decatur county, Iowa. He purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Eden township, this county, and was one of the most successful of the early residents of that township. He helped to organize the Church of Christ in his township and the congregation for some time met in the old schoolhouse, as they had no church edifice. Politically he belonged to the greenback party and later to the democratic party. He passed away on the 16th of January, 1887, but his wife is still living upon the homestead at the age of eighty years. She is yet active and in full possession of her mental faculties and is highly honored by all who know her.

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William Hugh Hazlet's later life