My Genealogy Hound

Ralph Hathaway, a prosperous planter and saw-mill man of Crittenden County, is a native of North Carolina, born in 1836, and is the fifth of six children born to John and Lucy (May) Hathaway, natives of North Carolina, who moved to Shelby County, Tenn., about 1845, where they lived till their death. They were both earnest Christian workers, and members of the Baptist Church. Ralph Hathaway reached his majority in Shelby County, Tenn., and in 1856 commenced business for himself on a farm in that county, where he remained for four years, coming to Crittenden County in the spring of 1860. Here he purchased a lot of wood land and made improvements on it for two years, when he sold it, and for four years tilled a rented farm on the river in the same county. In 1867 he purchased land and commenced to open it up, and in 1872 commenced merchandising at Mound City. He sold his farm in 1876, and when he went out of the merchandising business two years later, he purchased the farm upon which he now lives, consisting of a good body of land in an excellent state of cultivation; also a gin and saw-mill attachments. He makes his home on his farm, but his family lives near Barton, Tenn. He served in the Confederate army during 1863 and 1864, and when the war ended he returned to his farm work. He was married to Eveline Carlton, a native of Tennessee, in 1856, and by this union were born seven children, four of whom are still living: Viola, Laura, Lelia and Wellington. Viola is the wife of W. O. Christie, of Dyersburg, Tenn. Mrs. Hathaway is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hathaway is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and is a Democrat in politics.