Remebering Lydia Storer Hatcher, my grandmother.

When she was really amused, her laugh frequently became almost out of control, contagious, bordering on the hysterical. As a very young boy I had moved from Chicago to Little Rock, Arkansas with my parents.  Two years later, we came back up "north" for a visit.  During the time that we were gone I had changed a good bit, and had developed a southern accent.   When I went to see my grandmother she couldn't understand me and apparently thought that what I said was so funny that she began to laugh and couldn't stop.

A story about her that I remember was that she was in a large theater in Chicago seated in one of the front rows where Al Jolson was performing.  At the end of his act Grandma's laughter carried her away.  The stage curtains closed, she continued to laugh.  The curtain parted slightly Al Jolson's head appeared and he thanked her warmly.

Grandma was interested in genealogy.  She made several lists and pedigree charts that were left to me which led to my
interest in searching for my roots.  These leads of hers help get me on the wrong family line.  It seems she tried to connect Joseph Storer, Sr. who died during the Revolution (1777) with a Samuel Storer ( see Genealogy ).

                                                                          Fred Gordon Hatcher

He was born to Isaiah and Elizabeth Gordon Hatcher April 2. 1866 in New Lexington, Perry Co, Ohio, Elizabeth died shortly afterward on May 8, 1866. He was their only child.  His father, Isaiah, married Neira Chandler December 1869, their children were:Morris Chandler, Charles, Kate, William, and Neira.  Fred was four years old when Morris was born.

The family moved to Zanesville for a short time before settling in Cleveland  OH.  It was while in Cleveland that Fred met-his-wife to be, Lydia Mae Storer.  The family moved again in 1886, this time to Chicago; Fred was 20 years old.  It was about this time in his life we assume that he began his career in advertising.

Fred returned to Cleveland to apply for a marriage license August 22, 1889, they were married in the front parlor of the Storer home.  Following the festivities they took the night boat for Detroit. They made their home in Chicago. (From a news clip in the J.D.Johnson Family Bible.)

Fred was a founding member of The Hatcher and Young Advertising Agency where he was active and president for 25 years.

Their only child, Malcolm Storer Hatcher, was born on July 14, 1890. In 1901 they moved to 203 Prairie Aveue, Wheaton; located 25 miles west of Chicago. It was a commuter town.  This move was no surprise to the family; I learned from my Grandmother.  It was no secret that grandpa had always wanted to get back to the land. He had been raised a city boy, but perhaps the commute every day and life in Chicago affected his decision.

This place on Prairie Avenue I remember well.  It was located on the last street on the North side of town.  It was a strip of land two blocks long and had very deep lots that ended against a farm beyond.  Probably what Grandpa had was all that remained of a large farm.  There was an apple orchard with very old looking trees said to have been planted by Johnny Appleseed, which was entirely possible according to the stories of Johnny that I have read.  They were great for climbing as well as eating.

A rather new looking carriage shed was located just behind the house; inside  was a shiny, handsome carriage, which didn't appear to have been, used much.  Grandpa set out a new orchard, berry patch and there were beehives.  He loved working in all of this.
On one of my visits he had me helping him in the orchard while he was pruning the apple trees.  This was his get-away place.

The house was very big ,from the full attic, two floors for  living, then down in the cellar was a large cistern connected to the rain gutters, a hand pump then was used to pump the water up to fill a large metal tank in the attic from which water was piped to the rooms below.

None of this was out of the ordinary.  Most every home in town had gardens, kept one or more horses, had a buggy, saved rain water, but times were changing and now there were more automobiles than buggies.

The floor plan of the house was typical of the time: a wide wrap around front porch, the front door opened to the front hall, to the front parlor, back parlor, dining room  kitchen and pantry.  There was a room where grandma had a large loom and
worked on her hobies.  The attic was finished off so it was a great place to play when we did come to visit.  We lived fifteen miles away.

Grandpa took up the cello, studied in Chicago and became accomplished on it  My Mother often accompanied him at the piano.  He greatly enjoyed playing in musical groups with his friends

Following an operation, he died at Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago on July 17,1926, he had been ill for several weeks.  The cause of death was due to a brain tumor.  My recollection was that he had been kicked in the head by a horse, but that may not have been the cause.  As was the custom he was laid out in the front parlor where many family and friends were received; having to see my Grandfather this way deeply affected me, I was nine.

.July 20 the funeral service was held in the residence conducted  by the Rev. Almer Pennewell of Gary Memorial M.E. Church.