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- [S106] The Mountain Press, 21 Aug 2011.
Hatchers had farm in family 200 years
by RACHEL OSBORN, Staff Writer
WEARS VALLEY — Began in the late 1700s, the Hatcher farm has been in the family for over 200 years and has been owned by seven generations.
William and Polly Crowson Hatcher moved from Bedford, Va., to Sevier County in 1793 and acquired 800 acres of land in Wears Valley. They raised 11 children together on the farm.
William died in 1820 and Polly in 1838. Both are buried on the property in the family graveyard, along with numerous other relatives.
“They’re all in this graveyard,” Archie Hatcher, the farm’s current owner, said. “That was a long time ago. Tennessee wasn’t (even) a state at this time. There hasn’t been anybody alive in years who knew the original settlers.”
Following the couple’s death, the land was passed to the second generation owner, Reuben Hatcher. He, his wife Martha McGill and their 10 children farmed 450 acres of land, raising crops and hunting to survive.
After Reuben’s death in the mid-1800s, land ownership was transferred to his son, Reuben Jr. He, his wife Lucinda McFarland and their four children continued raising crops.
When Reuben Jr. died at the turn of the century, their son James became the fourth generation of the family to own the land. James, his wife Sarah Emert and their two children lived on the farm. During James’ life, the family’s farming operations basically stayed the same.
Following James’ death in the early 1900s, ownership was transferred to son Andrew Hatcher. Andrew, wife Sarah Clabo and their six children raised tobacco and grain crops on 81 acres of the original land. Using the new technology of the time, James increased his farming income.
After Andrew’s death in the mid-1900s the land again changed hands, going to son Lendell Hatcher. He inherited 40 acres of the original family land and is the sixth-generation owner. He, along with his wife Pearl, and five children worked the land.
Though Lendell didn’t pass away until 1994, his son Archie — great-great-great-great-grandson of the original settlers — acquired the land in 1985. Although Archie’s aunt owns a small section of the too, around 50 acres is all that remains of the original 800.
“That’s all that’s left in the family,” Archie said. “It’s been split, sold, divided and traded over the years.”
Archie, his wife Karen and their daughter Sloan currently raise around 30 cattle and grow hay. Though Archie used to raise tobacco and broiler chickens, he’s found that it’s no longer profitable.
“Traffic conditions and too many neighbors brought that to a close,” he said.
Although Archie has the land, none of the original buildings or structures are still standing.
“All of the old structures are gone,” Archie said. “I remember them. They fell down in the early 1960s. The oldest building here was probably built in the ’30s and ’40s. We still use them as farm buildings. There isn’t (anything) here we don’t use. If we didn’t use it, we’d tear it down.”
Archie and his wife still live in the house his father built in 1958.
“My dad built this house, the one I live in,” he said. “(I lived in the old house, but) I was too young to remember it. The old original house was tore down long ago. It was a real old house.”
Over the years, Archie has seen the business of farming significantly change. Farms have gone from a necessity needed to eat and survive, to a money-maker to a challenging industry. He believes that today’s economy is the most difficult for farmers.
“The hardest times are today’s times,” he said. “It takes a lot of land to farm. Farming income is going down. Taxes are going up. There’s outside development. There are a lot of government rules and regulations now. There’s nobody left (in Wears Valley) that makes a living farming. The people left here are more just hobby farmers.”
Even though Archie admits that farming is a lot of hard work, he can’t imagine himself doing anything else.
“I was just born with (the desire to farm),” he said. “It’s just in the blood. I farmed all of my life. I used to farm full-time, but don’t any more. I made my living that way until I was 47 years old. I’m 55 now and have a different full-time job. (But), I’ve always felt attached to the land.
“When I’m out here, I connect with the old I guess. You look around and think about old William, James and Reuben. They’ve turned the same ground that I am. Maybe I’m behind the times, but I’ve always been connected to the old ways.
The Hatcher family farm will next be passed to Archie’s daughter.
“I’m just very blessed to be born and raised here,” Archie said. “Any time I leave, I can’t wait to get back. I’ve always told people that a day away from the mountain view was a wasted day. We’re just living history here, as long as we can. Hopefully I’ll die and leave (the farm to her).”
To learn more about all of Sevier County’s century farms, visit the Sevier County Fair Sept. 5-10.
• rosborn@themountainpress.com
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