Raphe (Doc) Norval Hatfield [A3859]
b.1846 28 Mar - Cincinnati, In
d.1934 20 Feb - Stillwell, Ok
----- Parents -----
Mordica Ale Hatfield [A3839]
Millie Richardson [A3840]
----- Siblings -----
Nancy Hatfield [A3841]
Daniel Boone Hatfield [A3843]
Martha Hatfield [A3850]
Mary Hatfield [A3852]
Sirelda Hatfield [A3854]
Andrew Hatfield [A3856]
Raphe (Doc) Norval Hatfield [A3859]
Nelson Hatfield [A3907]
Cynthia Jane Hatfield [A3909]
Sarah Ann Hatfield [A3911]
Amanda Hatfield [A3913]
Elizabeth Hatfield [A3915]
Christi Ann Hatfield [A3918]
Rachael Arene Hatfield [A3920]
----- Marriages -----
m01. 1867 04 Mar - Green Co, Indiana + Rebecca Long (2 Children)
m02. 1876 10 Sep - Greene Co, Indiana + Sarah Elizabeth Spinks (8 Children)
----- Children -----
Henry Mordica Hatfield [A3861]
John Andrew Dunnigan Hatfield [A3863]
Eve Ellen Hatfield [A3866]
Josie Lee Hatfield [A3895]
Martin R Hatfield [A3897]
Evelyn Hatfield [A3899]
David Hatfield [A3900]
Amos Hatfield [A3901]
Rosa Ethel Hatfield [A3903]
Minnie Ann Hatfield [A3905]
buried in Zion Cemetery, Stillwell, Ok - Rafe (Doc) Norvell Hatfield was
born March 28 in 1846 not 1835 as he liked to tell people. At his death,
he was not 98 years old as most people believed but only 87 years old.
The actual birthdate was taken from the Family Bible records of his
father Mordica Ale Hatfield. His tombstone is also incorrect, it also
reads born 1835 and should say 1846.
Rafe (Doc) Norvell Hatfield did not fight in the Civil War as he was
too young. However, he did work as a gardner for Abraham Lincoln before
he became President of the United States. There is a newspaper article
memtioned in a letter stating that an article appeared in the Tulsa Daily
World on February 11, 1934 mentioning that Rafe Hatfield stated several
things about Abraham Lincold. I do not have a copy of this article. One
of the newspaper articles written about Rafe (Doc) Hatfield of which I do
have a copy is as follows
(Special to the Phoenix)
February 25, 1934 - "Domineering" of Mrs. Lincoln Chief Memory Left by
Gardner
98-YEAR-OLD "UNCLE DOC" HATFIELD MADE LAST TRIP TO TOWN ON HIS HERO'S
BIRTHDAY
Stillwell, Feb. 24--A new grave made Tuesday in the Little Zion
Community Cemetery near here marks the end of the long long trail for
"Uncle Doc" Hatfield who as a young man worked in Abraham Lincoln's
household as his gardner.
For the past 25 years, since he first came here "Uncle Doc" had been
a familiar figure on the stsreets here until Lincoln's Birthday this
month when he made his last trip to town. On the same day he went to his
bed and passed away Monday night, February 19. Illness and grief for his
wife who died five months ago combined to remove from the walks of men
one of the remaining few who know "Honest Abe".
MRS LINCOLN AGGRESSIVE
Rafe Norvell Hatfield was born in Tennessee, March 28, 1835, and
moved to Indiana when he was nine years old. From that state he went to
Illinois when a young man and met Lincoln on the streets of Springfield
and asked him for a job. Securing the place of gardener in the Lincoln
home. He worked there for over a year. Until his death, he was always
ready to tell about "Easy Goin" Abe and his nervous excited wife, Mary.
Hatfield was always amused at the way she dominated Mr. Lincoln
about the home. She seemed to be very aggressive at all times and was a
follower of style to greater extent than her husband.
"Abe liked to take his ease when he returned from a hard day's grind
at the office and would stretch out on the floor, pillowed against an
overturned chair. Mrs. Lincoln often bawled him out for this as well as
for calling our "Come In" instead of going to the door when anyone
knocked", Uncle Doc would relate.
GOT MAD AND QUIT
"You are as bad about dogs as Abe Lincoln ever was" Hatfield would
often tell Al Stevens, his son-in-law with whom he lived. When Stevens
would be out caring for his fox-hounds. "Abe was mighty fond of dogs and
would have kept a large pack instead of only one had Mrs. Lincoln
permitted. He would continue "Mrs. Lincoln got Abe told many times for
slipping off and going Fox hunting", Uncle Doc would laugh. "Mrs. Lincoln
always tried to be bossing somebody and when Abe would give me something
to do as he wanted it done, she would come out when had gone to work, and
make me do it her way", Uncle Doc has said. "One day, I got mad and quit
I was so tired of her "Bossing", but I didn't stay quit long", Hatfield
said. "Abe followed me up and persuaded me to come back, saying "Don't
pay any attention to a woman's nagging, its their nature".
Uncle Doc Hatfield's most vivid experience of the Civil War in which
he served for a few months in the Union Ranks was when he was captured by
a band of ____________ stripped off the clothes and shoes from him and
his five companions and turned them loose in a deep snow without anything
on but thier underwear.
VOTED REPUBLICAN TICKET
After the War, Hatfield went to Texas and from there to Arkansas
from which state he came to stillwell 25 years ago. All of his life he
voted a straight Republican Ticket to help the party that gave his
beloved Lincoln the Presidency.
His funeral services were conducted at Zion School House last
Tuesday afternoon by Rev. Leonard Stewart, Pastor of the Central
Missionary Baptist Church in Stillwell. He was a member of teh Baptist
Church in Stillwell.
Hatfield was married twice, the first time to Miss Becky Long and
the second time, 57 years ago, to Miss Sarah Spinks. Surviving him are
five children, John Hatfield, Amos Hatfield, and Mrs. Al Stevens of
Stillwell, Henry Hatfield of Colorado and Mrs. Eva Morrison of Salina,
Oklahoma.