Transcribed from Goodspeed’s History of  Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present; Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketches of from Twenty-Five to Thirty Counties of East Tennessee, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Original Observations, Reminiscences, etc., etc. (Chicago and Nashville:  The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887), pp. 962-987.  See footnote below for on-line access.

G. R. HATCHER, proprietor of the Hatcher House, the leading hotel of Cleveland, was born in North Carolina, July 1, 1834. He is the only child of Charles F. and Nannie (PETTIT) HATCHER. The father was born in Virginia. At the age of sixteen he began slave trading, carrying them from Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee, to New Orleans. He continued this business until the emancipation. He amassed an extensive fortune which he afterward lost. He came to Polk County, in 1838, and died in 1865, at the age of sixty-six. The mother was born, raised and married in North Carolina, and is now in her eighty-fifth year. The subject of our sketch was reared on a farm, and received a good education. In 1862 he entered the Confederate Army, of the Fourth Georgia Cavalry, and remained in active service until the close of the war. In 1865 he came to Cleveland penniless, but, receiving $400 from a friend, he began merchandising. For several years he had a flourishing trade. In 1870 he embarked in the hotel business. The house was small, but by judicious management, he was, in 1883, able to build the house he now occupies, on the old stand. It contains thirty-one rooms, is commodious and pleasant, and receives an extensive patronage. Mr. Hatcher has become well known to the traveling public, to whom he is always attentive and courteous. He is a Mason and a Democrat. In 1861 he married Martha VEST, of Polk County, who bore him one son. After her death he wedded Elizabeth WILLIAMS of New York. To this union two sons and two daughters have been born. Mr. and Mrs. HATCHER are active members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

FamilySearch Tree profile:  https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/GNVY-YDV

This biography was transcribed by Sherry Pollard. We thank her for transcribing all the Goodspeed’s biographical sketches.

Click here to read and download a digitized version of the original volume free at the Internet Archive. A reprint version is available for viewing and downloading free from FamilySearch.  You will require a free FamilySearch login to browse records.

If you have corrections or wish to provide more information about the individual, please contact us (link in menu).