Horace L. Hadley
An enumeration of the representative citizens of Ohio who have won recognition and success for themselves and at the same time conferred honor on their community,, would be incomplete were there failure to make definite mention of the gentleman whose name introduces this review, Hon. Horace L. Hadley, whose name is a familiar one in this section of the state, where he has held worthy prestige in legal and political circles. He has been distinctively a man of affairs, wielding a wide influence among those with whom he has associated, ever having the welfare of his community at heart and doing what he could to aid in its progress and development. He firmly believes tlie old Buckeye state to be one of the most attractive, progressive and prosperous of any in the Union and it has always been due to such men as Mr. Hadley that she could justly claim a high order of citizenship and a spirit of enterprise which conserved consecutive development and marked advancement along all lines of upbuilding. Mr. Hadley early achieved a splendid record at the bar and through the subsequent years he enjoyed an acknowledged standing in the front ranks of the legal fraternity, being connected, as counsel, with much of the more important litigation in the courts of Fayette and neighboring counties. In discussions of the principles of law, Mr. Hadley has always been noted for clearness of statement and candor, his zeal for a client never leading him to urge an argument which in his judgment is not in harmony with tlie law. By a straightforward, honorable course, he built up a large and Iucrative legal business, and financially has been successful above the average of his calling.
Horace L. Hadley comes of sterling old Yankee stock, having been born in Sandwich, New Hampshire, on May 7. 1837, and is a son of Winthrop and Sybil (Worthen) Hadley. The subject's paternal grandparents were Daniel and Hannah (Ordway) Hadley, whose children were Lvdia, Hannah. Daniel, Joseph, David, Dorcas, Samuel, John. Mary, Keziah, Cynthia, Betsy and Winthrop (father of the subject). By a prior marriage, to Mehitabel Whittaker, Daniel Hadley had two children, Tamar and Mehitabel. On the maternal side, the subject's grandparents were Deacon Joseph and Hannah (Meacham) Worthen, to whom were born four sons and four daughters, namely, Sybil, Hannah, Sallie. Mary, Moses. Joseph, Amos and Samuel.
Horace L. Hadley is indebted to the common schools of his home neighborhood for his elementary education, which he supplemented by attending the private academy conducted by Daniel G. Beede, at Center Sandwich. Having early determined to adopt the legal profession as his life work, in 1860 he began the study of law in the office and under the direction of Sidney C. Bancroft, of Salem, Massachusetts. He was thus engaged at the outbreak of the Civil War, when, feeling that his country's necessity superseded all personal ambitions, he laid aside his books and. on August 26. 1862, enlisted in Company C, Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He served with this regiment until it was mustered out in July. 1863. at Wenham. Massachusetts. On September 16. 1862. while the Fifth Regiment was in camp at Wenham. Mr. Hadley was admitted to the bar and, securing a furlough, he went to Newburyport. where the court was then in session, and took the oath as an attorney and counselor at law. Mr. Hadley's military service was characterized by duty faithfully and uncomplainingly performed and after his return from the army he entered at once upon the active practice of law at Danvers, Massachusetts. He was successful, but, desiring a wider field for the exercise of his talents, in April, 1870, he came to Washington C. H., Ohio, arriving here on April 8th. He at once opened an office and his abilities were soon recognized by his new-found professional brethren. Four years after locating here, Mr. Hadley formed a professional partnership with Judge Maynard, an association which was maintained from October 1, 1874, to May 1, 1885. As stated before, Mr. Hadley was successful both in the practice of his profession and also in business affairs of a private nature, so that during the past few years he has to a considerable extent relinquished his professional labors and is giving his attention chiefly to his real estate interests, a part of his holding being four valuable farms in the vicinity of Washington C. H.
On September 1, 1868, Mr. Hadley married Sarah Elizabeth Emerson, who was born in Danvers, Massachusetts, January 5, 1846, the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Batchelder) Emerson, of Danvers, and a granddaughter of Col. John Batchelder, who served in the War of the Revolution; on the paternal side, she was a granddaughter of Darius and Sarah (Thomas) Emerson. To Mr. and Mrs. Hadley were born the following children: Olive Batchelder, bom May 11, 1879, was married on May 11, 1903, to William E. Springer, of Washington C. H., Ohio, and they have two children, Elizabeth Louise and Wilhelmina. The subject's other child, Harry Lawrence Hadley, is a minister of the Episcopal church, having charge of a parish at Martin's Ferry, Ohio ; he remains unmarried.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Hadley is a strong Republican and for many years has been a conspicuous figure in the councils of his party. His ability and services were recognized and in October, 1881, he was elected a member of the Legislature, his term commencing on January 1st following. In October, 1883, he was re-elected and served until the close of the session of 1885, a period of four years, during which he ever stood for such measures as promised to be of the greatest benefit to the people generally. In 1900 and 1901 Mr. Hadley served as city solicitor of Washington C. H., and was also a member of the city council for one term.
Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Hadley have long been active and earnest members of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Hadley is a retired deacon. Fraternally, he is a member of Temple Lodge No. 227, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and also belongs to the encampment branch of that order. He keeps alive his old army associations through his membership in R. B. Hayes Post. Grand Army of the Republic.
Thus briefly have been outlined the leading facts in the career of one who has rightfully earned a place in the permanent annals of his county. He has given to the world the best of an essentially virile, loyal and noble nature and his standard of integrity and honor has ever been inflexible. He has been the architect of his own fortune and upon his entire career there rests no blemish, for he has been true to the highest ideals and has lived and labored to worthy ends.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)
Horace L. Hadley, attorney at law, Washington, was born in Sandwich, N. H. His father and mother, Withrop and Sybil Hadley, were natives of New Hampshire, where they still reside. They had a family of ten children, eight of whom are living.
Horace L., the subject of our remarks, was married September 1, 1868, to Miss S. Lizzie Emmerson, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Emmerson, of Massachusetts. They have one child, Olivia B. H. L.
On the 26tli of August, 1862, Mr. Hadley enlisted in Company C, 5th Massachusetts, Col. Pearson commanding, and was mustered into the service on the 16th of October, following. This was a nine months regiment, but they were in the service nearly a year before they were mustered out, which was in the middle of July, 1863.
He read law with the Hon. Sidney C. Bancroft, until he went into the army, and after his discharge he went to Salem, Massachusetts, and linished his studies with Perry and Endicut. Mr. Endicut is now Supreme Judge of Massachusetts, and Mr. Perry, author of the celebrated law book, " Perry on Trust," is now dead. Mr. Hadley was admitted to the bar on the 16th of September, 1863, the year following his enlistment, at Newburyport, Massachusetts. He first located and commenced practice, November, 1863, at Daufers, Massachusetts, where he continued until April 1, 1870. He then came to Ohio, and since October 1, 1874, he has been .practicing in Wasliington, under the firm name of Maynard & Hadley, a firm well known in Fayette and surrounding counties as one which stands at the head of the profession. In 1881, was elected representative from Fayette County.
From R. S. Dills' History of Fayette County
To applaud human achievements is a trait of character common to all mankind, and seems especially appropriate when one has struggled against poverty and discouraging influences, and won a name and fame which is not limited by the arbitrary lines separating counties or States. Such has been the experience of Mr. Hadley, a prominent member of the Fayette County Bar, where he has practiced since April 8, 1870.
In the rural home of Winthrop and Sybil (Worthen) Hadley, in Sandwich, Carroll County, N. H., May 7, 1837, was born a son, who was named Horace L. The child was reared on his father's farm amid the picturesque scenery of his native State, and was given a good education in the common schools of Sandwich and in Beede's Academy, which he attended for a number of terms. At the age of twenty-three, he went to Peabody, Mass., where he read law in the office of Sidney C. Bancroft for one year, proceeding thence to Salem, the same State. In that city he prosecuted his legal studies in the office of Perry & Endicott, the former the author of the well-known law book, "Perry on Trusts and Trustees," and one of the finest insurance lawyers in the New England States; and the latter Secretary of War during the administration of President Cleveland.
September 16, 1862, Mr. Hadley was admitted to practice at the Bar of the State of Massachusetts, and in August, 1862, following, enlisted in company C, Fifth Massachusetts Infantry. With his regiment in October, he proceeded to New Berne, N. C, and participated in the second attack on that place, and also in the engagements at Whitehall, Goldsboro and Trenton. At the expiration of nine months—his term of service—he sailed for Massachusetts, June 26, 1863. Although his term of service was short, he came near losing his life, having been dangerously ill for several weeks.
As soon as he was sufficiently recovered, Mr. Hadley returned to his old home in Sandwich, N. H., in August, 1863, and there spent two months. Returning to Massachusetts, he opened a law office at Danvers November 1, 1863, having bought out a lawyer in that city. He was actively engaged in practice there until April, 1870, when he came to Ohio and located in Washington C. H. For four and one-half years he practiced alone, and then formed a partnership with Col. H. B. Maynard, which continued from October 1, 1874, until May 1, 1885. During that time, the firm enjoyed a very large practice in both State and United States courts, it being probably the largest practice ever done in Southern Ohio in one year, outside of Cincinnati and Columbus. From January 1, 1877, until January 1, 1878, their legal transactions were unprecedented for a place the size of Washington C. H.
When the new court house was erected, the old ofice of the firm was torn down and the partnership was dissolved, since which time Mr. Hadley has practiced alone. When the Midland Block was built, he was one of its chief projectors and one of the three who erected it in 1885. He has since sold his interest, although he retains his office in the block. While his practice has demanded an enormous amount of close and arduous work, Mr. Hadley has also served in various public capacities. He has filled the position of Councilman from the Third Ward. In 1881, he was elected to the Legislature, and re-elected two years later, serving for four years. During the first two years he was Chairman of the Committee on Privileges and Elections, also a member of the Committee on Railroads and Telegraphs, the Committee on Ditches, Drains and Watercourses, and the special committee of twenty who were appointed to re-district the State.
During his last term as Representative, Mr. Hadley served on the Railroad and Telegraph Committee as well as on the Committee on Ditches, Drains and Watercourses. During his entire service in the Legislature, be probably introduced twenty bills of a general character, of which doubtless one-half passed. He introduced the bill requiring the doing away with seals on deeds and mortgages, which passed the Senate in the form of the Walker Bill.
September 1, 1868, Mr. Hadley was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Emerson, of Danvers, Mass., and they have two children: Olive B. and Harry L. The religious home of the family is in the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Hadley is Deacon and Treasurer. For several years he has been President of the Business Men's Committee, and is actively interested in the building up of the city. His social connections are with the Temple Lodge, I. O. O. F., Fayette Encampment, and John M. Bell Post, G. A. R. In addition to his property in Washington C. H., he is the owner of three farms in Fayette County, which be rents.
There are many in this world who, like Longfellow's Gabriel in search of Evangeline, let the golden opportunities to win success and renown glide swiftly away "like the shade of a cloud on the prairie." It has not been so in the life of Mr. Hadley. He has few equals as a clear-headed man of affairs and judge of human nature. He is keen to perceive and prompt to execute; his sympathies are quick and on the side of right and justice; his energy indomitable and his friendships warm. He is now in the prime of his vigor and usefulness, and it is safe to say that the future will bring to him added honors in the world of action.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]