Wiley Andrew Hatley

WILEY ANDREW HATLEY son of John Hatley and his wife, Mary Ann (Royston) Hatley, was born on Christmas day 1843; Mary Ann Royston was born May 22, 1822, in Hardeman County, Tennessee. After the death of John Hatley, she married Dr. James Madden. She died June 25, 1906, and was buried at Prescott, Arkansas.

When Wiley Andrew Hatley was about 1 years old, his parents removed from their home in Tenn. and settled in what is now Nevada County, Ark. but was then a part of Ouachita County. At the outbreak of the War between the States, W.A. Hatley was attending Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tenn., where his father had endowed a scholarship. He left school to come home and enlist in the Confederate Army. He arrived in Little Rock the day before the Ordinance of Secession was passed and remained over to see the Convention pass the ordinance, and thus really became a courier to spread the news to this part of the state. He enlisted May 10, 1862, at Sulphur Springs, Ark., in Company "I", Bell’s Regiment, Arkansas Volunteer Infantry, and served as first sergeant. Was wounded in the battle of Prairie Grove but was able to return to the service where he remained until the close of the war. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant of artillery, for ordinance duty, Sept. 24, 1864, and was assigned to Churchill's Div. This Div. was disbanded in May 1865 at Marshall, Tex. and Mr. Hatley was paroled June 22, 1865, to return to his home, taking the oath of amnesty on July 28, 1865, at Camden, Ark, He was qualified as a legal voter on July 13, 1867 at Holly Springs, Ark. (Dallas County).

On Easter Sunday 1868, Wiley Andrew Hatley was married to Virginia Caps Watson (Feb. 18, 1852, d. April 10, 1928), daughter of Benjamin and Winifred Watson of Holly Springs, Dallas County, Arkansas. To this union were born: Watson, William, Annie, Wiley Dixon, Jean.

Mr. Hatley came to Prescott, Nevada County, Arkansas in 1875 and was active as a citizen and churchmen during his long life. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church for more than 70 years. First the Cumberland Presbyterian, later with the Presbyterian U.S.A. after the Cumberland Church voted to reunite with the mother church.

A friend said of W.A. Hatley that “during his long life he dealt justly, loved mercy and walked humbly before God.”

W. A. Hatley died June 12, 1930, at his home in Prescott. Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian Church conducted by the Rev. Harmon B. Ramsey, assisted by Dr. John C. Williams of Washington, Ark. Interment at DeAnne Cemetery. Honorary pall bearers were: J.M. Kinser, J.K. Hamilton, Sam 0. Logan, D.L. McRae, Thos. C. McRae, W.B. Waller, W.V. Tompkins, Guss McCaskill. Active Pall bearers: Joe R. Hamilton, T.E. Logan, W. P. Cummings, Dale Wilson, C.H. Tompkins, C.H. Moore.

Data given me March 1940 by Jean (Hatley) Sinclair, daughter of the Subject.