>From Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana, published 1903, pp 138-140.

ISAAC NEWTON HATFIELD, M.D.

The subject of this sketch has attained an enviable position in the medical world, gaining distinguished repute which comes only through ability and skill, the legitimate reward of faithful and persistent effort. Progressive in the broadest sense of the term, he keeps abreast the times in all matters pertaining to his noble calling and his advanced methods and thorough understanding have brought him not only eminent professional success but liberal financial rewards as well. Dr. Isaac NEWTON HATFIELD is a lineal descendant of John HATFIELD, a noted banker and business man of England who figured prominently in the commercial and financial affairs of the East Indies about the middle of the eighteenth century. For particulars concerning the HATFIELD genealogy the reader is respectfully referred to the sketch of James Clement HATFIELD, in which the family history is given at some length. Adam HATFIELD, son of the above John, came to America about the year 1772 and settled in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, subsequently moving to Cincinnati, Ohio, where his death occurred. Among his children was a son by the name of Joseph who as early as 1839 came to Wells County, Indiana, and located in Jefferson township where he cleared a farm and became a leading man of affairs. This was his home until his death, June 29, 1876, at the age of eighty-five years. He was twice married. By his first wife, Phebe Peppard, he had nine children: Margaret, Isaac, Elizabeth, Robert, Mary, Rebecca, John, David and Phoebe. By his second wife, Mary A. Marshall, he had two sons, Gilmore and Robison. The son John married Ann Harter and to this couple was born, on the 18th day of August, 1856, the subject of this biography.

Isaac NEWTON HATFIELD first saw the light of day in what is now Union township and received his early training in close touch with nature on his father's farm. During the summer months his employments were such as are common to country boys and after the harvests were gathered and the work of the year done he attended the public school in the neighborhood. To these early years, under the tutelage of parents whose ambition was to engraft upon the minds of the children such principles as would insure honor and usefulness, the Doctor is largely indebted for that integrity of character and well defined purpose that have pre-eminently distinguished him in his life work. After finishing the common school course he entered the graded school of Bluffton where he pursued his studies with great assiduity, obtaining a knowledge of some of the higher branches of learning. Actuated by a laudable desire to add to his educational discipline, he subsequently became a student of the Northern Indiana Normal University of Valparaiso and after spending two years in that institution entered Hanover College where he prosecuted his intellectual work about the same length of time. By reason of ill health he was obliged to quit his studies before completing the prescribed course, after which he traveled quite extensively throughout the west with the object in view of recuperating his physical energies. In this way he not only satisfied his desire for seeing something of the vast extent of our country and learning of its wonderful resources, but added largely to his experience and increased those powers of mind which have since been often drawn upon in the requirements of the profession in which he has achieved such signal honors. While acquiring his literary education the Doctor taught two terms of school in his native county and had he seen fit to continue in that useful work he doubtless would have become distinguished as an educator. But there comes a time in every young man's life when the desire for a permanent calling rises superior to every other consideration and to this the subject was no exception. Having selected medicine as the profession best suited to his taste, he at once addressed himself to a preparatory course of discipline, after which, in 1881, he entered the medical department of the Iowa University, at Iowa City. He prosecuted his studies and investigations in that institution until completing the course in 1884, meantime during the summer of the previous years doing special work in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Chicago. Immediately after graduating, Dr. Hatfield began the practice of his profession at Osakee, Jefferson county, Kansas, but after a residence of two and a half years at that place he was led to seek another location on account of his health, which had broken down under the unfavorable influence of the climate and stress of professional duty. In 1887 he returned to his native county and opened an office at Bluffton, where he has since remained, meantime building up the large and lucrative practice which he now commands.

Dr. Hatfield brought to his calling a mind well trained by severe intellectual and professional discipline and with an ambition to excel has steadily advanced until he is now easily the peer of any man in a city noted for the high order of its medical talent. He has ever been a student and so absorbing is his industry that he knows not what it is to eat the bread of idleness. In him are combined the essential qualities and characteristics of the ideal family physician, the kindly presence, the gentle touch, the courteous demeanor, which at once enlists the sympathy both of patient and friends and without which the most skillful treatment ofttimes proves unavailing. Equally proficient in medicine and surgery, his success in many critical cases and delicate operations early brought him prominently to the notice of the public and now in addition to his home practice, which includes a wide range, he is frequently called to distant places to treat diseases which baffle the skill of the ordinary physician. In order the more thoroughly to acquaint himself in the latest discoveries in medicinal science and to become familiar with the most approved methods of modern practice, Dr. Hatfield, in the year 1892-3, took a post-graduate course in the Polyclinic College, Chicago, where, under the direction of some of the most distinguished professors of the land, he fitted himself for still greater usefulness as a healer of humanity. While in Kansas he was a member of the medical association of that state and since locating at Bluffton he has been identified with the Wells County Medical Society and the Medical Society of Indiana, having served as president of the former.

While a student in the Iowa University Dr. Hatfield became acquainted with a young lady of culture and refinement by the name of Cora B. Watson, between whom and himself a warm attachment soon sprang up, which, ripening into love, eventually led to marriage. The ceremony which made the two husband and wife was solemnized on the 4th day of June, 1884, and the union has been blessed with one child, a daughter, Miss Nina, whose birth occurred September 10, 1887. Mrs. Hatfield was born at West Liberty, Iowa, and is the daughter of Albert Watson, an enterprising and successful farmer of that state.

While interested in all movements for the public good and taking a pardonable pride in the growth and welfare of Bluffton and Wells County, the Doctor has little time to devote to affairs outside his own profession. He is an exceedingly busy man, consequently has entertained no ambition for political distinction nor has he ever been an aspirant for office of any kind. In politics he is a Republican, but beyond voting for his party nominees he has little to do with the distraction of partisan strife. As stated in a preceding paragraph, the Doctor's financial success has been commensurate with his professional advancement and he is now in independent circumstances. He has a comfortable and attractive home on West Cherry street, where, after the busy cares of the day are over, he finds in an almost ideal domestic circle that rest and recreation which only a busy, energetic man of his mental and social character knows so well how to appreciate and enjoy. In addition to the members of his immediate household Dr. Hatfield has opened his home to his wife's nephew, an orphan boy, whom he is rearing and educating with the same attention he would bestow upon a child of his own. Religiously the Doctor and family are Presbyterians; socially they are favorites in the best society circles of the city. The foregoing is but a feeble attempt to outline the career of this intelligent, broad minded and pre-eminently honorable man. Belonging to one of the oldest, best known and most respectable families of Wells County, his course in life has been such as to add to its honorable reputation and doubtless he will leave to his descendants the same spotless name for which his ancestors were distinguished. He is now in the prime of manhood, physically and intellectually, with many years of usefulness yet before him, and it is a compliment worthily bestowed to state that there are few who can compete with him in all that goes to make up the polished, courteous and praiseworthy gentlemen.