Reuben Hatch came to Norwich at an early age with his father, Joseph (Captain) Hatch. Captain Hatch along with his older brother, John were among the first settlers of Norwich. 
 
 

        The early years of Mr. Hatch’s life were spent in attending the primitive schools of his native town, and this was supplemented by his entrance, in 1826, as a student at Dartmouth College, from which institution he was graduated with honors in 1830; among his classmates were President Smith, the Hon. W. H. Duncan and John H. Noyes, of Onedia community fame. 

        After his graduation Mr. Hatch returned to Windsor and engaged in mercantile pursuits, being the proprietor of a general store; by frugal and industrious habits, coupled with sound business judgment, he accumulated a fortune and became one of the prominent and influential men of the town. 

        He was often urged by his friends to allow his name to be used for some leading county or state office, but only twice would he appear as a possible candidate; then he was unanimously elected to represent the town in the state legislature for 1853 and 1854, and was chosen senator from Windsor County in 1857 and 1858. 

        After having retired from business pursuits, Mr. Hatch removed to Burlington in 1861, and being an intimate personal friend of Governor Smith, he interested himself in the Vermont Central, Vermont and Canada, and other railroads, and with the late Joseph Clark, Lawrence Brainern, John Smith and others, did much in shaping the legislation that has given Vermont one of the fines lines of railroads in the country. 

        He took an active part in local and state affairs, being elected in 1870 a member of the board of aldermen, which office he held until 1876, when he resigned in order to accept the responsible position of mayor. At that time the city had a bonded debt of $409,312.13 and a tax of two dollars and fifty cents on the hundred, and it was largely through his judicious and persistent efforts that the tax in 1882 was but one dollar on the hundred. When he vacated the office of mayor in 1883, the bonded debt of the city had been reduced to $42,679.71, and the sinking fund of the city increased $43,824.26; the long term in which he was the incumbent of the office shows the esteem in which he was held by his fellow citizens. 

        Few men in the state enjoyed a wider acquaintance than he, his kind heart and amiable disposition making him popular with all classes; as a business man he proved his ability to become an executive and leader, and his public record was untarnished in every respect. 

        After giving up public life Mr. Hatch was a familiar figure on the streets of Burlington, making his headquarters at the Algonquin Club, of which he was vice president in 1891 and chosen to act in the capacity the following year, and it was in that organization he spent many pleasant afternoons for several years prior to his death. Like many me who reach the ripe of age of eighty-seven years, he enjoyed "living in the past," and related many stories of his boyhood days with the "boys," as he termed them; his mental faculties were well preserved for one of his age, and being a good story teller, his society was always sought by his friends. 

        On April 5, 1832, Mr. Hatch was united in marriage to Miss Florence Forbes, a daughter of General Abner Forbes, of Windsor, Vermont, where Mrs. Hatch was born and where her father lived all his life. Of the children born to General Forbes, only one is now living, Gustavus Forbes, of Newton Center, Vermont. 

        Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hatch: Pattie F., wife of D. C. Linsley, deceased; Josephine H., wife of Rodney S. Wires, deceased; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Isaac Green, now deceased; and William D., who died in infancy.

        Mr. Hatch died May 21,1898; his last days were not associated with pain or severe sickness, but he passed away with nothing but the natural wearing out of the body, weighted down with more than fourscore years of useful life. The domestic life of Mr. Hatch was a pleasant one, he being a devoted husband and a kind, indulgent father.  His wife passed away October 13, 1883. 

Biographic sketch from the "Genealogical and Family History of the State of Vermont";
edited by Hon. Hiram Carleton, Lewis Publishing Company, 1903. 

Genealogical information supplemented by "History of Norwich, Vermont"; Goddard & Partridge, 1905; also this submitter’s personal family research of Norwich, Vermont Vital Records.

Submitted by Harriet M. Chase