Object ID:
1982.10.1
Collection:
Hatten Lumber-Small Collection
Object Name:
Stamp
Description:
Signature stamp for William Hatten of Hatten Lumber Co. Rectangular block of wood with signature carved into rubber on the bottom. Signature reads, "Wm. H. Hatten".
Year Range from:
1895
Year Range to:
1937
Material:
Wood
VE Exhibit Label 1:
William Hatten was born in New Lisbon, NY in1856. His family moved to Wisconsin around 1868. He learned the lumber business from J.M Rounds Lumber Co. in Manawa. He and
James Meiklejohn eventually bought out the business and renamed it the Little Wolf River Company.
In 1889, Meiklejohn and Hatten bought an existing paper and gristmill in New London. They enlarged the mill and turned into a lumber mill. They purchased and drove logs down the Wolf and Embarrass Rivers. They also purchased logs delivered by farmers from around the area. In 1894, after James Mieklejohn's death the mill became known as Hatten Lumber Company.
Soon, the company started shipping logs over the railroads. They continued to float logs down the river to New London until 1916. The mill ran until July 1938 getting their timber by rail and trucks.
William Hatten unsuccessfully ran for Unites States Senate twice and Governor once. He did serve two terms as a Wisconsin State Senator from 1898-1904. He drafted the first railroad regulation legislation, which became a pattern for similar reforms enacted in other states throughout the nation. He was a member of the board of Trustees of Ripon College and of Lawrence College in Appleton. In 1910, Hatten was appointed to the State Library Commission and in 1915, to the State Board of Public Affairs.
William Hatten died in New London in 1937 of natural causes. He never married. At the time of his death, he was a wealthy man. He left no will and his estate was at the center of a battle among his surviving family members for many years.
James Meiklejohn eventually bought out the business and renamed it the Little Wolf River Company.
In 1889, Meiklejohn and Hatten bought an existing paper and gristmill in New London. They enlarged the mill and turned into a lumber mill. They purchased and drove logs down the Wolf and Embarrass Rivers. They also purchased logs delivered by farmers from around the area. In 1894, after James Mieklejohn's death the mill became known as Hatten Lumber Company.
Soon, the company started shipping logs over the railroads. They continued to float logs down the river to New London until 1916. The mill ran until July 1938 getting their timber by rail and trucks.
William Hatten unsuccessfully ran for Unites States Senate twice and Governor once. He did serve two terms as a Wisconsin State Senator from 1898-1904. He drafted the first railroad regulation legislation, which became a pattern for similar reforms enacted in other states throughout the nation. He was a member of the board of Trustees of Ripon College and of Lawrence College in Appleton. In 1910, Hatten was appointed to the State Library Commission and in 1915, to the State Board of Public Affairs.
William Hatten died in New London in 1937 of natural causes. He never married. At the time of his death, he was a wealthy man. He left no will and his estate was at the center of a battle among his surviving family members for many years.
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