Jonathan Edgar Hyatt 1853-1910 (11000)

Land near Owingsville, Fletcher County, Kentucky
near where Jonathan Hyatt was born.

Jonathan Edgar Hyatt was born to William Thatcher Hyatt and Lavina Jane (Hedges) Hyatt on the 13th of May 1853 in Fleming County, Kentucky. His birth record shows that he had a twin sister, Sarah. This record names both his parents, including his mother's maiden name, and gives his birth date and place:

Unfortunately, his twin, Sarah, must have died young, since she does not appear with the family in the 1860 Federal Census. Jonathan Edgar can be found with his family in that census:

Jonathan E. Hyatt shown in his parent's household in Fleming County, Kentucky for the 1860 Census.
He was eight years of age.

The 1870 Federal Census also shows him in his parent's household, at eighteen years of age:

"Jno E. Hyatt" as found in his parents household in Fleming County, Kentucky for the 1870 Census.

He married Matilda Jane Hawkins on the 28th of August in 1879, in Bath County Kentucky:

Their marriage certificate reads:

"State of Kentucky, Bath County

"It is hereby certified, that under and by virtue of the within License, I did, on the 28th day of August 1879, at the house of Hansford Hawkins in said county, celebrate the rites of Matrimony between the within named J. E. Hiatt and Matilda Hawkins and that Charlie Wallingford, W. N. Hiatt were present and witnessed the celebration. Given under my hand, this 28th day of August 1879. J. H. Wallingford,

Minister, C. A. Baptist Church"

There is some confusion about his middle name. He appears as Edgar in the 1880 Census, and he is listed as Edgar Hyatt on his son James' Social Security Application. However, James gave his father's name as Edward Hyatt on his marriage license. It is possible that the clerk misheard the name Edgar, and recorded Edward by mistake. At any rate, it seems that he was sometimes called by his middle name, Edgar, instead of his first name.

In the 1880 Census he appears in his parent's household at twenty-seven years of age, with his seventeen year old wife. The census taker listed him as Edgar Hiatt:

"Edgar Hiatt" is still in the household of his parents. His new wife, Matilda, can be seen listed just below him.
She is identified as the daughter-in-law of the head of household, William Hiatt.

Jonathan and Matilda Hyatt had the following children:

1) Lavina Hyatt b. Feb 1881 Bath, KY

2) George William Hyatt b. 22 May 1884 Bath, KY

3) Robert Hyatt b. 13 Jul 1887 Bath, KY; m. Mary Thompson

4) Rhoda Hyatt b. Sep 1890 Bath, KY; m. John Frank Igo

5) Edgar Hansford Hyatt b. 29 Jul 1893 Bath, KY

6) Jefferson Evert Hyatt b. 16 Nov 1896 Bath, KY; d. Feb 1969 Douglas, Cochese, AZ; m. Iva M. Hyatt

7) James Travis Hyatt b. 16 Jul 1899 Bath, KY; d. 25 Jun 1969 Morgantown, Monongalia, WV; m. Letha Victoria Fortney

In 1887, Jonathan obtained a minister license, that allowed him to legally perform marriages. It says:

Minister's Bond

We, Johnathan E. Hiatt, a Minister of the Christian Church Regular in Bath County in the State of Kentucky, and T. W. Crouch his security, do covenant to and with the Commonwealth of Kentucky, that the said Johnathan E. Hiatt will not violate the laws of Kentucky concerning marriage.

Witness our hands and seals, this 6th day of April 1887.

Signed, Johna E. Hiatt, T. W. Crouch, Albert W. W. Penny, Clk.

He worked as a minister for many years in the Restoration Church in Owingsville, at a church founded by the famous John "Racoon" Smith himself, called the Owingsville Church of Christ. This was an ecumenical church, popular at the time in Kentucky, which worked to unite all Christian denominations in a simplified form of doctrine and services in keeping with the original church in Biblical times. Jonathan's wife, Matilda's maternal grandparents had been married by "Racoon" Smith in 1825, so Restoration roots go back several generations on that side of the family. The 1900 and 1910 Federal Censuses show his occupation as "Minister of the G" [Gospel] and "Country Preacher" respectively.

In the 1900 Federal Census, the family is living near Owingsville, Bath County, Kentucky.

"Jonathan Hyatt" can be found in his own household at last, with wife Matilda and seven children
 in the 1900 Census in Owingsville, Bath County, Kentucky.

Jonathan last appears in the Federal Census on the 18th of April 1910, in Bath County, KY.

"Jonathan E. Hiatt" as listed with wife and children in the 1910 Census in Wyoming, Bath County, Kentucky.

Jonathan E. Hiatt was born near Hillsboro, Fleming County, Kentucky and died near Wyoming, Bath County, Kentucky. These towns are about seven miles apart on the Hillsboro-Wyoming Road. Wyoming is located on the western bank of the Licking River, and the river divides Bath and Fleming Counties. 

This shows that Jonathan stayed near his extended family his entire life. He was among the first of the Hiatt family to do so. Previous generations of Hiatts had traveled from across the Atlantic from England to Pennsylvania, into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, down to North Carolina, back up to Virginia, into Ohio and finally through several counties in Kentucky. The frantic migration pattern would return for future generations, but for this one generation there was a son who stayed.

I suspect that Jonathan may have died in 1910, because there are no death records for that year in Bath County, Kentucky. By January 1911 they had started keeping consistent records on the state level, and there are death certificates for every year thereafter. Also, his wife, Matilda, had remarried and been widowed again by the 1920 Census when she appears living with her daughter as Matilda Brooks, widow. No burial place has yet been located for Jonathan.

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Note to future researchers--There is a Mortuary Record for a J. J. Hyatt, white, male, married, died 25 Apr 1910, born 1852, 58 years old, Laborer, born in KY, died of Pneumonia in City Hospital. It was recorded in Jefferson County KY, which is half way across KY from Bath County. J. J. Hyatt is enumerated as being in the hospital mortuary in Jefferson County Kentucky at the time of the 1910 Census. This is not likely our Jonathan Edgar Hiatt. There is a large family of Hyatts in Jefferson County, and it is difficult to imagine why Jonathan would be taken so far from home when he was ill.