Biographical Sketch of

Mrs. Amelia Hyatt

Transcribed by Robert Schieber

Source: Memorial and Biographical Record and Illustrated Compendium of Biography of Citizens of Columbia, 
Sauk and Adams Counties, Wisconsin, published 1901 by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1901, Pages 618 - 619


Mrs. Amelia Hyatt, nee Seward, of New Haven township, Adams county, Wisconsin is a worthy representative of 
an old an honored family of this state, and is one of its pioneer teachers.  She was born in Almon, Allegany 
county, New York, November 12, 1838, a daughter of Enos and Mary (Hopkins) Seward.  Her maternal grandfather 
was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and was killed by the Indians.  He possessed long, curly, red hair, 
and his death was ascertained by finding his scalp in the possession of the Indians.  His father, then an old 
man, conducted twenty women and children on foot through the forests from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, as their 
husbands and fathers were all in the war and the Indians had become very troublesome.  A brother of Mrs. Hyatt's 
paternal grandmother was one of the first settlers of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, and the town was named in his 
honor.  He was a trapper and fur dealer.  Her father, Enos Seward, was a near relative of William H. Seward, 
President Lincoln's secretary of state.  The record of the Seward family can be traced back to 1760.  They were 
pioneer settlers of Allegany county, New York, where they made their first improvements, and assisted in 
organizing the school districts and establishing churches, etc.

Mrs. Hyatt was educated in the common schools of New York and Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, having come to this state 
in 1852.  At the age of fifteen years she commenced teaching the first district school in what is now know as the 
Vromah district of Jackson township, Adams county, conducting the same in a building twelve feet square, intended 
for a smoke house.  She received a dollar and a quarter per week and "boarded round" among the scholars.  She 
continued teaching for four years, and among her scholars were Mrs. Frazier Oxford, Janie Johnson and Bill Johnson.  
Her sister, Amanda, taught the first school in the Ward district of New Haven township, Adams county.

On the 31st of August, 1858, Miss Amelia Seward gave her hand in marriage to W. F. Hyatt, of New Haven township, 
who was born September 29, 1832, in Ascott, Ontario, Canada, and came to Wisconsin in 1856.  His father, Abraham 
C. Hyatt, was born in Connecticut, but at an early day went to Canada, traveling on horseback.  W. F. Hyatt worked 
in the pineries and at other occupations until 1864, when he purchased eighty acres of rich and arable land in New 
Haven township, Adams county, to which he afterward added a forty-acre tract, and upon which he made many useful 
and valuable improvements.  In October, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and 
remained in the service until the close of the war, participating in many hard-fought engagements and in the 
Weldon railroad raid.  He was finally taken ill and sent to a hospital in Washington, D.C., from which he was 
discharged when hostilities ceased.  On his return home he resumed farming, and was accounted one of the most 
successful agriculturists of his community.  He was a man of high moral worth, was reared in the Universalist 
faith, and was greatly attached to his family.  He ever took a commendable interest in public affairs.  He died 
May 3, 1890, and his death was widely and deeply mourned.  Mrs. Hyatt now successfully carries on the home farm 
and has displayed good business and executive ability in the management of her affairs since her husband's death.

In the family were the following children:  Nora is the wife of Charles Hartson, a farmer and business man of New 
Rockford, North Dakota. Orilla, wife of H. Tyler, died August 24, 1890, and was buried in Plainville, Wisconsin.  
Irvin L. died in infancy.  Eda is the wife Dell Foot, a farmer of Jackson township, Adams county.  Katie is the 
wife of Willis Turner, of Oxford, Wisconsin.  A. Maxie, born February 16, 1874, was educated in the common and 
high schools of Augusta, and now has charge of his mother's farm.  He is an industrious and temperate young man, 
and highly respected by all who know him.  He was married, May 31, 1899, to Lulu Ross.  Edna is the wife of M. 
Holian, a farmer of Dell Prairie township, Adams county.


Transcribed by Robert Schieber






This site is maintained by Joan and was last updated March 2005

Click here to send Joan an e-mail


Back to the Adams homepage