William Hatton (pioneer)

William Hatton (June 9, 1849 – October 22, 1894) was one of Carmel Valley, California's earliest pioneers. He was manager of the dairy and cattle interests of the Pacific Improvement Company,[1] acquired land of his own, and became one of the wealthiest dairymen in Monterey County.[2]

William Hatton
Irish-born William Hatton (1849-1894)
BornJune 9, 1849 (1849-06-09)
County Wicklow, Ireland
Died22 October 1894(1894-10-22) (aged 45)
Carmel Valley, California, US
Occupation(s)Manager, farmer
SpouseKatherine Harney
Children9

Early life
Katherine Harney Hatton (1851-1922)

William Hatton was born on June 9, 1849, in Aghowle, County Wicklow, Ireland. He was the fourth in a family of eight children. His father was Edward Hatton (1810-1890) and mother Ann Kelly (1815-1895). He left Ireland at age thirteen and went to sea as an apprentice sailor on board a merchant ship. He lived a seafaring life for seven years, achieve the title of first mate.[3] At age 20, he settled in Charleston, South Carolina where he worked as an agent for the United States Revenue Cutter Service. This is where he met Katherine Harney (1851-1922) a native of James Island, South Carolina. Hatton and Kate came to Monterey County in 1870.[4][5]

Hatton married Kate in 1875 in Monterey, California. They had nine children in 18 years, Anna M., Harriet H., Sarah J., Edward G., William H., Frank D., Howard I., Emily B, and Howard J.[6] Their daughter, Anna Mary Hatton (1876-1939), married William E. Martin in 1903. William was the son of John Martin, which united two pioneering Carmel Valley families.[7]

Professional life

Hatton took his first job as dairyman apprentice for E. St. John at the old St. John Dairy Ranch near Salinas, California.[5]: p198  This job gave Hatton the funds to buy the 640 acres (260 ha) parcel of land from where he was working from the Pacific Improvement Company.[4]: p105  He grew the dairy to 600 cows.[6]: p341 

In 1888, the Pacific Improvement Company hired Hatton to manage two large Del Monte dairies, the Rancho Cañada de la Segunda in lower Carmel Valley and the ranching operations of Rancho Los Laureles in the upper Carmel Valley that the company purchased in 1882.[5]: p199  The Del Monte Dairy became the sole supplier of cream, butter, and milk for the Hotel Del Monte.[7][4][3] Hatton had the first telephone service in Carmel Valley, which was installed from Hotel Del Monte to his dairies.[8]

In August 1889, Hatton, as Superintendent of PIC, purchased the 49 acres (20 ha) Joseph W. Gregg ranch southeast of the Carmel River mouth off Highway One, on what is now the Odello Ranch.[9][4] The Odello Ranch got its name from Battista Odello (1885-1963) who came to American in 1909. His family worked the ranch until 1995. They sold the west side field to the State of California and the east side to actor Clint Eastwood in 1996.[10][11]

Hatton Lower Dairy
The Hatton lower Dairy was located at Highway 1 and Carmel valley Road.
Looking down from the Hatton Fields across the Carmel Bay to Point Lobos in 1921. Cattle from the Hatton dairy are grazing in the foreground.

Hatton managed the 2,200 acres (890 ha) Hatton Lower Dairy business at the Rancho Cañada location, which extended along the north bank of the Carmel River into the mouth of Carmel Valley. This is the site of the present-day The Barnyard Shopping Village and Palo Corona Regional Park. The land was once owned by Dominga Doni de Atherton, the widowed wife of Faxon Atherton (namesake of Atherton, California). In 1892, Hatton purchased the west half of the Rancho Cañada from Dominga for $55,000 (equivalent to $1,658,759 in 2021). The Hatton Lower Dairy had a large barn, cream separators, and wagons on the property. Hatton and his wife Kate built an eighteen room Victorian house, which was located at the entrance to the valley on land that is now Carmel Knolls. The house was completed in 1894, the year Hatton died. The Hatton neighbors included John Martin, Richard Snively, James Meadows, and Edward Berwick.[4][5][7]

In 1921, the Hatton Fields was still being used for grazing cattle from the Hatton dairy.[12]

In 1925, Paul Flanders purchased 233.15 acres (94.35 ha) of property from the Hatton estate for $100,000 (equivalent to $1,545,161 in 2021). He founded the Carmel Land Company to help develop Hatton Fields.[5][13][14]

In July 1955, Frank Porter purchased the 1,000 acres (400 ha) parcel of the Hatton Ranch (once Rancho Cañada de la Segunda in Carmel Valley for $200,000 (equivalent to $2,023,106 in 2021). The land had been under lease to Kenneth Martin for cattle grazing. Porter subdivided 100 acres (40 ha) for homes and sold the remaining 900 acres (360 ha) as a ranch.[15][16]

In September 1957, the county planning commissioners approved two parcels of 11 acres (4.5 ha) for two shopping centers at the mouth of Carmel Valley. Phillip Hatton, grandson of William Hatton, was an applicant who submitted plans to the planning commission.[17]

On February 25, 1968, Gordon Knott and Nick Lombardo took a 55-year lease on 226 acres (91 ha) in Carmel Valley to open a 45-hole golf course that they named Rancho Caňada de la Segunda, the name of the original Spanish land grant. The name was shorted to Rancho Caňada a year later.[18]

In November 2015, Rancho Cañada decided not to renew its lease. In 2016, The Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District acquired 140 acres (57 ha) of the Rancho Caňada Country Club and golf course in Carmel Valley, that provides public access to the Palo Corona Regional Park. In a statement announcing the deal, Dryden Branson Bordin, representing the Hatton family, said, “This land has been in the family and contributing value to the community since the late 1800s. After receiving multiple offers on the property and much consideration, the family decided to sell the property to a group that could create an even greater public good.”[19]

Hatton Middle Dairy

The Hatton Middle Dairy dates back to 1890, with the 909 acres (368 ha) tract that was deeded to Frank D. Hatton (1887-1943) in 1925, the son of William and Kate Hatton. The ranch was located on both sides of Carmel Valley Road about three miles east of Highway 1. The northern section of the property is forested with elevations up to 968 ft (295 m). Frank Hatton managed the ranch until his death in 1943.[7]: p122 [8]

The Hatton dairy barn, built ca. 1890, on the south side of Highway 1, was restored in 2011 by Frank Tarantino and is one of the only surviving structures from the Hatton’s dairy.[20]

In 1966, Barbro Friden sold the ranch to Howard J. Morgens and his wife, who named it September Ranch at 676 Carmel Valley Road. The September Ranch includes a 20 acres (8.1 ha) equestrian facility.[8]

In February 2018, the real estate investment fund, DLC Capital Partners, purchased the September Ranch. A press release announced that 90% of the 891 acres (361 ha) will be protected, including the barn, equestrian center, and hiking trail to Jack's Peak. The other 10% will be a residental subdivision.[8][21]

Hatton Upper Dairy
The Del Monte Milk House with ventilation tower to cool the milk
William Hatton hunting party in front of Los Laureles Lodge

In 1890, Hatton managed a second dairy up Carmel Valley called the Hatton Upper Dairy on the old Rancho Los Laureles. Guests from the Hotel Del Monte could visit the Los Laureles Lodge on the property to ride, hunt, and explore the trails. Hatton modernized the diary operations at the old Boronda adobe, adding Durham cattle to the Holsteins that increased the milk butterfat content.[7]: p44  Large vats and presses were installed to manufacture Monterey Jack cheese. The Hatton's lived in a house built by Kinzea Klinkenbeard and raised their seven children there.[5]

The Del Monte Milk House dates to 1890 and still stands today in Carmel Valley Village, California just before the Robles del Rio Road, at the White Oak Plaza. A windowed tower at the building's top was designed to ventilate the milk inside. After the dairy closed, the Del Monte Milk House beame a residence and then in 1937, it became the Marion Meredith Inn. Marion married Philip Wilson, Jr. and by 1941, they renamed it the White Oak Inn. In 1949, Maarion made it into the Carmel Valley Art Gallery. It is now a wine tasting room.[5][22]

In 1926, Frank B. Porter bought 678 acres (274 ha) of the Rancho Los Laureles and launched the first residential subdivision in Carmel Valley that became Robles del Rio.[4]: p112  In 1928, Sam C. Fertig of Pennsylvania, purchased part of Rancho El Del Monte (once Rancho Los Laureles) that included the Boronda adobe and the Los Laureles Lodge.[23] In 1936, Muriel Vanderbilt purchased 832 acres (337 ha) of the old Del Monte rancho for (equivalent to $2,929,137 in 2021), from Fertig, who retained 500 acres of the ranch property.[24] In May 1946, Frank and his son Paul Porter bought the 1,100 acres (450 ha) farm from Muriel Vanderbilt Adams for an estimated $200,000 (equivalent to $2,779,181 in 2021). It was converted into the Rancho Del Monte subdivision and Rancho Del Monte Country Club (now Los Laureles Lodge).[25][16]

In 1927, Marion Hollins, an athlete and a golf course developer, bought 2,000 acres (810 ha) in Carmel Valley.[26] In 1936, Porter acquired 1,000 acres (400 ha) of the old Hollins ranch in Carmel Valley for $32,000 (equivalent to $624,882 in 2021). Porter sold a portion of the ranch to real estate developer Byington Ford for what is now the Carmel Valley Village and another became the C. E. Homan Ranch.[5][4][27][16]

Death

Hatton died on October 22, 1894, in Carmel Valley, at the age of 45. He had returned to his ranch from Monterey and was caught up in a heavy shower when he caught cold. Newspapers said that the immediate cause of death was supposed to be a brain aneurysm. Further analysis determined it was bright's disease.[3] He had an insurance policy for the sum of $25,000 (equivalent to $782,981 in 2021). He was a friend of the secretary of the Pacific Improvement Company, F. S. Douty who was also the administer of his estate.[28] He was buried in Monterey, California. Every business in the city was closed from 12 pm until 3 pm out of respect for him. The funeral was from Masonic Hall under the sponsorship of the Watsonville Commandery No. 22, Knights Templar, and Monterey Lodge No. 217 F. & A. M. It was one of the largest funerals that took place in Monterey County.[2][1]

Legacy
Carmel Valley Village, California

After his Hatton's death, his wife Kate and her brother John Harney managed the dairy until the 1900, when her sons took over the management with Andrew Stewart (stepson of John Martin). The Hatton land was left in equitable divisions among his heirs. Anna Martin was given the area known as the Martin Ranch (now Mission Ranch), Harriet, was given the area known as Rio Vista. Sarah was given the area known as Mission Fields. William, Jr. received the area now east of Rio Vista and bottom land, and Edward became owner of what was later called Hatton Fields.[4][5]

In the 1900s the Pacific Improvement Company liquidated their holdings (10,000 acres) and the Del Monte Properties headed by Samuel F.B. Morse, acquired the land. In 1923, they divided the land into 11 parcels for sale. The Hatton dairies were sold to various landowners. Today, the Carmel Valley Village, the Holman Ranch, and the Palo Corona Regional Park are part of the Holman legacy.[5]

See also

References
  1. "William Hatton Sudeen Death". The Californian. Salinas, California. October 23, 1894. p. 2. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  2. "Funeral of William Hatton". San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco, California. October 25, 1894. p. 3. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  3. Miller, James (1910). History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties: and history of the State of California: containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Historic Record Co. Los Angeles, California. p. 496. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  4. Hale, Sharron Lee (1980). A tribute to yesterday: The history of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery, and Los Burros. Valley Publishers. Santa Cruz, California. p. 38. ISBN 9780913548738. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  5. Fink, Augusta (2000). Monterey County: The Dramatic Story of Its Past. Western Tanager Press/Valley Publishers. San Francisco. pp. 201–202. ISBN 9780913548622. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  6. "Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California". The Lewis Publishing Company. Chicago. 1893. p. 341. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  7. Barratt, Elizabeth (2009). Carmel Valley. Arcadia Pub. Arcadia. pp. 44–45. ISBN 9780738571621. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  8. Jeff Ohlson. "A History of Ranching in Carmel Valley". Carmel Valley Historical Socieety. Carmel Valley, California. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  9. "A Fine Ranch Sold". Monterey Cypress. Monterey, California. August 15, 1889. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  10. Michael Chatfield (2019). "Artichokes by the Ocean The Legacy of the Odello Ranch". Carmel Magazine. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  11. "East Odello Ranch - BSLT". Ag Land Trust. Carmel Valley, California. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  12. Hudson, Monica (May 24, 2006). Carmel-by-the-Sea. Arcadia Publishing Incorporated. Arcadia. ISBN 9781439614570. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  13. "How the high school got there" (PDF). Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel, California. November 26, 2021. p. 22. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  14. "Property Transactions". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. December 12, 1925. p. 12. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  15. "900-Acre Ranch In Carmel Valley To be Subdivided". The Californian. Salinas, California. July 14, 1955. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  16. Pat Griffith (February 4, 1970). "Mr. and Mrs. Frank Porter The Indomitable Family Who Developed Beautiful Carmel Valley". Carmel Valley Outlook. Carmel Valley, California. pp. 2–3. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  17. "Planers Approve 2 Shopping Centers at Carmel Valley Mouth". The Californian. Salinas, California. September 25, 1957. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  18. "Report To Golfers". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. February 25, 1968. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  19. "140 Acres Of Rancho Caňada Golf Course To become Parkland". Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. Carmel Valley, California. April 16, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  20. "19th Century Barn Has A New Life!" (PDF). Carmel Valley Perspective. Carmel Valley, California. March 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  21. Pam Marino (February 27, 2018). "Do you remember September Ranch? New investors purchase controversial Carmel Valley development". Carmel Valley, California. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  22. "Carmel Valley's Historic White Oak Plaza" (PDF). Carmel Valley Historical Society. Carmel Valley, California. June 2020. p. 1. Retrieved February 20, 2023.
  23. "Drumin To Leave Davis College Staff". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. September 10, 1928. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  24. "Large Piece of Del Monte Rancho Sold. Phelps Buy 832 Acres of Carmel Valley Land For $150,000". Salinas Morning Post. Salinas, California. January 16, 1936. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  25. "Carmel Valley". The Californian. Salinas, California. May 20, 1946. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  26. "Marion Hollins Hostess At Barbecue Picnic". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. April 14, 1927. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  27. "Marion Hollins Has Sold Ranch In Carmel Area". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz, California. May 3, 1936. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  28. "Wm. Hatton's Life Insurance". Monterey Cypress. Monterey, California. December 22, 1894. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
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