Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.
Elizabeth MacHatton, daughter of Joseph Alexander and Lucretia Anne (Maxwell) MacHatton. The MacHattons, a Scotch family whose known lineage dates back to the early fourteenth century, came to America long before the Revolutionary War. The first of he family to settle in Crawford County were Alexander MacHatton and his brother, Hugh MacHatton. Both were United Presbyterian ministers, classicists in education, and though independent in politics, both were identified with the Republican party.
Alexander MacHatton was born in Scott County, Kentucky February 12, 1817, the son of Samuel MacHatton of Pennsylvania and Sarah Alexander MacHatton of Kentucky. His paternal grandfather was a colonel in the Revolutionary War, he was educated at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana, and at a theological seminary in Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1852 he married Elizabeth Smith Lomax of Wayne County, Indiana, daughter of Abel Lomax and Elizabeth Ladd Lomax. The Lomax's were English, descendants of William Lomax, who settled in Rockingham County, North Carolina in 1700. Elizabeth MacHatton's father represented Wayne County in Indiana's first State Legislature and served successively for nine years, three years as Senator.
Hugh MacHatton, younger brother of Alexander MacHatton, was born in Green County, Ohio, as was also his wife, Elizabeth Collins MacHatton. He graduated from Center College in Kentucky and from Theological Seminary, Xenia, Ohio. He came to Crawford County in 1873 and was for eighteen years pastor of the Duncanville United Presbyterian Church.
The Hugh MacHatton family consisted of three daughters: Belle (Mrs. John A. McComb) who resides in Chicago; Mary (Mrs. Francis E. Hyslop), in Haverford, Pa.; and Martha (Mrs. Alva D. Carr) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. All three girls were graduates of Indiana University.
Alexander and Elizabeth MacHatton were the parents of four sons: Abel Lomax (1856-1941), Samuel Heber (1858-1887); Joseph Alexander (1850-1941) and William Henry (1862-1941), all but William were born in Marion, Indiana. Alexander came to Crawford County in 1861. That same year the United Presbyterian Church in Morea, which he served as pastor for sixteen years, was erected, on the land which he donated to the church. This church building is still used by the congregation.
Joseph Alexander MacHatton, my Father, came to Crawford County when about one year of age, the family locating at Morea, Ill. where he attended District School and continued his education at Indiana University in Bloomington. In 1884 he married Lucretia Anne Maxwell, youngest daughter of George H. and Mary (McKamy) Maxwell of Honey Creek Township, Crawford County, and to this union were born six children: Victor Merle, who died in early manhood, Ralph Alexander, Elizabeth Ladd, Samuel Hugh, Jane Lomax and Maxine Maxwell. Ralph Alexander passed away on September 28, 1953, survived by his wife, Elaine Tramblie MacHatton and their two children, Joseph Edward and Carol Anne. In 1923, Maxine MacHatton married Victor A. Galbraith or Edmonton, Alberta. They have two sons, Alex McNicol and Douglas Graham, their home in Downers Grover, Ill. Elizabeth MacHatton, Associate Editor of the American Educator, and lives in Chicago; Jane is in public health work and lives in Trenton, Michigan; and Samuel, who lives in Waconda, Illinois.
Father practiced law for nearly fifty years and was one of the best known legal attorneys, a colorful figure, with unusual wit, ability and an outstanding orator in southern Illinois.
The Crawford County Bar paid high tribute to Father in he Circuit Court room on Robinson at the Memorial Services held on Monday afternoon at the first session of Court following his death on January 13, 1941, aged 80 years, 7 months and 26 days, where appropriate remarks concerning his service in the Courts of Crawford County by Judge Joe Hill, Circuit Judge, and Ray Wesner, Judge of the County Court, together with the other members of the bar who paid tribute of respect for the unusual talents of Father and they ordered a Resolution be entered in the permanent records of the Courts, which in brief expressed the appreciation and esteem hey held for the deceased. In his long career in our county, almost fifty years, he was a colorful figure in the courts, was an excellent lawyer and a most talented orator and had all the highest qualities, ideals and true ethics of the legal profession, and possessed a command of the English language. His repartee will never be forgotten by the members of the Crawford County Bar. Mother passed away in 1918 and Father in 1941, both buried in the New Cemetery at Robinson.