My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM I. HAZLETT, the fourth of a family of ten children born to William P. and Zerelda (Haggard) Hazlett, is a native of Christian county, Ill., and was born March 14, 1853. His father was born in Virginia, but moved to Illinois when a young man and there married. His mother was born in Kentucky and was a daughter of Harman and Sarah Haggard, who emigrated to Illinois at a comparatively early day.

The subject of this notice was reared in Christian and Sangamon counties, Ill. He grew up on his father’s farm, receiving a good common-school education and being trained to habits of industry and usefulness common to his calling. He resided on the farm with his parents till 1874, when, having married, he started to farming for himself, which occupation he followed until the year 1879, then moved into the city of Springfield and engaged in the mercantile business, clerking for one Mr. John M. Forden for three years. Then he worked in the watch factory at that place for another year, then rented a farm near Springfield for one year, after which he decided to seek a home in the West and came in 1884 to Nebraska and settled in Saline county. The following year he moved to Phelps county, securing as a homestead the northeast quarter of section 32, township 5, range 19 west, which he filed on as a homestead. He has improved this, now having one hundred and twenty-five acres under cultivation and comfortable buildings. Since proving up on his homestead, has bought another farm of eighty acres joining him on the west. He started in with a span of horses and a wagon and what he now has, he has made. He owns a considerable bunch of cattle and has plenty of personal property. He is an industrious, wide-awake man and knows how to improve his time and opportunities.

He has a pleasant home and in his labors of building up his fortunes in the West he has been ably assisted by the intelligent and hearty co-operation of an affectionate wife. He married, as above noted, in Sangamon county, Ill., the lady whom he selected to share his fortunes being Miss Harriet M. McKinnie, a daughter of William P. McKinnie, formerly of Kentucky. This union has been blessed with five children, as follows — Fannie (who died October 19, 1888, age thirteen), Charles, Pearl, Ralph and Luna.

Mr. Hazlett takes considerable interest in the educational, social and religious affairs of his community, and lends a helping hand to everything tending to promote these interests. He has been moderator of his school district and is a zealous member of the Baptist church. In politics he is a democrat, but never allows himself to be drawn into the questionable entanglements of political squabbles. He discharges his duties as a citizen by voting and keeping himself posted on current events; and this is the extent of his political aspirations and public career.