Henry D. Hatfield
Encyclopedia
Henry Drury Hatfield was a Republican
politician
from Logan County, West Virginia
. He served a term as the 14th Governor of the state, in addition to one term in the United States Senate
. Hatfield was nephew to Devil Anse Hatfield
, leader of the Hatfield clan
.
Hatfield was born in Logan County
(present-day Mingo County, West Virginia
) on September 15, 1875. He graduated from Franklin College
in New Athens, Ohio
. He later obtained medical degrees from what is now known as the University of Louisville
and later from New York University
. In 1895, he married South Carolina "Carrie" Bronson
.
He was appointed as surgeon
for the Norfolk and Western Railway
(1895 - 1913) and surgeon in chief of State Hospital #1 in Welch, West Virginia
(1899 - 1913). He entered local politics first as commissioner of district roads of McDowell County
(1900 - 1905), eventually becoming member of the State senate (1908 - 1912), and serving as president of the senate in 1911.
He was elected as Governor of West Virginia in 1912. His term was marked by his staunch support of labor unions and worker's rights. At the time, West Virginia governors could not serve more than one term in office, and so following the expiration of his term in 1917, he entered the United States Army
as a Major
in the Medical Corps
, serving as chief of the Surgical Service at Base Hospital No. 36 in Detroit, Michigan
.
He was discharged in 1919 and returned to West Virginia. In 1928, he was elected to the United States Senate as a Republican, and served from March 4, 1929 to January 3, 1935. He was defeated in a bid for reelection in 1934.
After leaving the Senate, Hatfield settled in Huntington, West Virginia
and established a private medical practice, where he worked until his death in 1962.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Logan County, West Virginia
Logan County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 37,710 people, 14,880 households, and 10,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile . There were 16,807 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
. He served a term as the 14th Governor of the state, in addition to one term in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. Hatfield was nephew to Devil Anse Hatfield
Devil Anse Hatfield
William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield was the patriarch of the Hatfield clan in the infamous Hatfield–McCoy feud which has since formed a part of American folklore. Devil Anse himself survived the feud, and agreed to end the feud in 1891.Hatfield was born in Logan, West Virginia, the son of...
, leader of the Hatfield clan
Hatfield-McCoy feud
The Hatfield–McCoy feud involved two families of the West Virginia–Kentucky back country along the Tug Fork, off the Big Sandy River. The Hatfields of West Virginia were led by William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield while the McCoys of Kentucky under the leadership of Randolph "Ole Ran'l" McCoy....
.
Hatfield was born in Logan County
Logan County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 37,710 people, 14,880 households, and 10,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile . There were 16,807 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
(present-day Mingo County, West Virginia
Mingo County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,253 people, 11,303 households, and 8,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 people per square mile . There were 12,898 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile...
) on September 15, 1875. He graduated from Franklin College
Franklin College (New Athens, Ohio)
Franklin College was a college in New Athens, Ohio, founded by abolitionist John Walker, a Presbyterian minister. The college was called Alma college from 1818 until 1825, when the name was changed to Franklin College. The college ceased operation in 1919, and became associated with Muskingum...
in New Athens, Ohio
New Athens, Ohio
New Athens is a village in Harrison County, Ohio, United States. The population was 342 at the 2000 census.During Morgan's Raid, a decisive Union victory in the Civil War in 1863, Confederate Brid. Gen...
. He later obtained medical degrees from what is now known as the University of Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
and later from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. In 1895, he married South Carolina "Carrie" Bronson
South Carolina "Carrie" Bronson Hatfield
South Carolina "Carrie" Bronson Hatfield was the wife of former Governor of West Virginia Henry D. Hatfield and served as that state's First Lady, 1913-1917. She was born September 9, 1876, at Warfield, Kentucky. In 1895, she married Henry D. Hatfield. As first lady, she hosted social gatherings...
.
He was appointed as surgeon
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
for the Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
(1895 - 1913) and surgeon in chief of State Hospital #1 in Welch, West Virginia
Welch, West Virginia
Welch is a city located in McDowell County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The population was 2,406 at the 2010 census. Incorporated as a city in 1893, it is the county seat of McDowell County.-History:...
(1899 - 1913). He entered local politics first as commissioner of district roads of McDowell County
McDowell County, West Virginia
McDowell County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The land that became McDowell was originally part of Tazewell County, Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,113. Its county seat is Welch. McDowell county is the southern-most county in the state, geographically...
(1900 - 1905), eventually becoming member of the State senate (1908 - 1912), and serving as president of the senate in 1911.
He was elected as Governor of West Virginia in 1912. His term was marked by his staunch support of labor unions and worker's rights. At the time, West Virginia governors could not serve more than one term in office, and so following the expiration of his term in 1917, he entered the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
as a Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the Medical Corps
Medical Corps (United States Army)
The Medical Corps of the U.S. Army is a staff corps of the U.S. Army Medical Department consisting of commissioned medical officers – physicians with either an MD or a DO degree, at least one year of post-graduate clinical training, and a state medical license.The MC traces its earliest origins...
, serving as chief of the Surgical Service at Base Hospital No. 36 in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
.
He was discharged in 1919 and returned to West Virginia. In 1928, he was elected to the United States Senate as a Republican, and served from March 4, 1929 to January 3, 1935. He was defeated in a bid for reelection in 1934.
After leaving the Senate, Hatfield settled in Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
and established a private medical practice, where he worked until his death in 1962.