Luke D. Hatch, one of the representative citizens of the Bitter Root Valley, dates his arrival in Montana in 1866.

    Mr. Hatch was born in Mason, Cass County, Michigan, October 3, 1844. His people were among the early settlers
of Bangor Maine and took an active part in all the affairs of the colonies. They were represented in both the
Revolution and the War of 1812. His grandfather, Noah Hatch, was born in Massachusetts. He was an honest and well-to-do farmer and was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He and his wife had a family of sixteen children, ten of whom reached adult age, four of that number still surviving. The property owned by the Hatches at Bangor has descended through several generations and is still owned by members of the family.

    Ezra Hatch, the father of Luke D. was born in New York, February 2, 1812. He was married in 1839 to Sarah Maria
Allen, who was born in New York, January 6, 1818, a descendant of Ethan Allen of the Revolution. Both the Hatches and the Allens had moved to the territory of Michigan in 1833 and it was there in Mason County that Mr. Hatch was engaged in farming and later in life turned his attention to mercantile pursuits.
In 1849 he was among the goldseekers that went to California and in the new El Dorado he met with good success, returning to his home after an absence of about a year bringing with him about $16,000. He died in 1856 and his wife in 1869.

    Luke D. Hatch, the third-born in the above family, spent his boyhood days on his father's farm in Michigan and received his education in the public schools. He was a lad of sixteen years when President Lincoln made his first call for volunteers to put down the great rebellion; but boy that he was he was imbued with the patriotism of his ancestors; was eager to enlist and his name was enrolled in Company E, First Regiment of Michigan Volunteer Infantry. He was at once sent to the front, his service being with the Army of the Potomac. His term of service having expired, he re-enlisted August 2, in the same company. After being in active service in the Army of the Potomac two years, dating from the time of his second enlistment, he again enlisted, as a veteran and served in the same army through all its reverses and its glorious victories until the conflict was ended by General Lee's surrender. During his service he participated in no less than forty battles; was twice wounded and from time to time was promoted until when he was mustered out, he held the commission of Second Lieutenant.

    The war over, Mr. Hatch returned to his home and for one year was engaged in farming in Michigan. Then he sold out and came across the plains to Montana, making the journey by the Bozeman route. He mined at Alder Gulch until the fall of 1867, meeting with some success. On account of the illness of his father he returned to Michigan and that winter his father died. Our subject married December 11, 1868 to Emma Adelia Vantril, a native of Elkhart County Indiana, her people having moved to Cass County Michigan when she was six months old. They remained in Michigan until the death his Mr. Hatch's mother in 1869, then he and his wife removed to Missouri. He made his home there until 1881 in the meantime making several trips back and forth to Montana and carrying on mining operations. In 1881 he brought his wife and son to Montana and they became permanent residents of Stevensville. Since that time he was for three yearsa member of the mercantile house of
Eddy, Hammond and Company, but most of his time and attention have been given to mining operations.

Mr. and Mrs. Hatch have had three children, Frank Clyde being the only one living, the other two have died in infancy.

History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894