“Thomas T. Yeager received a telegram Wednesday from Mrs. McClure1, at Hemet, California, conveying the sad news of the death of her venerable father, CC Hyatt, who passed away Sunday and was buried yesterday.”
“Mr. Hyatt went west in November, 1898, with his daughter, settling in Little Rock, Arkansas, and only last August moved to a ranch near Hemet.”
“Mr. Hyatt was Portsmouth’s oldest citizen and was known by many, if not quite every resident here. Up until a few years ago he was frequently seen on the streets He met with an accident, and was disabled, and for some time was confined to his room and bed. Later he managed to get about on crutches. After the death of his son-in-law, Dr. McClure, Mrs. McClure decided for her own health to go to Little Rock with her son Harry Dukes, and doing so, her father, Mr. Hyatt, concluded to accompany her.”
“Mr. Hyatt was Portsmouth’s oldest citizen, and was a bricklayer by trade. When he came to this city there were only six brick houses in place.”
“Cornelius Creed Hyatt was born August 29, 1804 at Newtown, Long Island, five miles from New York city where he lived on a farm until he was eleven years of age. Then his parents moved to New York and he was regularly apprenticed to learn the trade of a bricklayer. The term of his apprenticeship was six years and he served it out faithfully. During this time he worked on many buildings which have since become famous, among them the Bowery and Park theaters.”
“He helped on other buildings, business houses and residences which have long since given away to modern structures.”
“Mr. Hyatt remembered when there were only three stores in Brooklyn. Those stores were on Fulton street. In view of Brooklyn’s present population of a million, such things appear like a tale of fairy land. When his time as apprentice was out he continued to work as a journeyman in the city, getting married to Miss Cynthia Thompson, one of New York’s fair daughters of 75 years ago. Mr. Hyatt saw that his wages scarcely covered his living expenses and so he decided to move to Ohio. He sold his furniture and at once set out for Ohio, coming to the city of Portsmouth. His wife was a half-cousin to Mrs. John H. Thornton2, mother of the late George Thornton, and JL Watkins‘ first wife. The Thorntons were living in Portsmouth and it was their letters to their kinfolks in the East that caused the subject of this sketch to travel in this direction.”
“From Albany they went via the Erie canal to Buffalo, thence by lake to Cleveland, and to Newark via the Ohio canal. The canal was not completed then and Mr. and Mrs. Hyatt procured a private conveyance and drove to this city, reaching October 8, 1830. The first person that Mr. Hyatt met upon reaching here was a rather energetic and quick spoken young man, somewhat his junior in years. Mr. Hyatt inquired the way to the Thornton residence and the young man kindly directed him thither. The young man referred to is older now; the dark hair he had, is snow white now, but his blue eyes still twinkle with mirth and jollity, and the nervous voice is still quick to speak words of kindness and Christian wisdom. his name is John G. Peebles.”
“The first job of work that Mr. Hyatt did in this city was to plaster the then new residence of Charles O. Tracy, on Washington street, until recently the home of Captain A Williamson. that was 70 years ago. He must have done a good job for Captain Williamson says the plastering is on the walls yet.”
“Brick houses were scarce in the town in 1830 and consequently the spruce young man from the East found no difficulty in getting all the work he could do. The first house he built was the low, squatty house on Front and Chillicothe, directly south of the Times office, and known as the ‘Evans’, ‘Cowen’ and ‘Wilhelm’ house. Judge Cowen, was well-known throughout the state as a historian and archaeologist.”
“Mr. Hyatt built the first church in Portsmouth, the All Saints church, on the ground where the present chapel of All Saints stands. Many will recall its Gothic windows and unpretentious proportions.”
“Mr. Hyatt built five churches in Portsmouth, as follows: Old All Saints, old Bigelow chapel, the first Catholic church at Third and Madison, the Fifth street Lutheran and Sixth Street Methodist.”
“Mr. Hyatt also built the first school house in this city and likewise the United States hotel, the predecessor of the Biggs house, also the first of houses in the block on Front street below Jefferson and just east of the Damarin Grocery buildings. Later he built the Damarin house in the same block. This block was formerly known as ‘Flaxseed Row.’ He built the Stephenson residence on West Fourth street, and long occupied it as his home. The plans he had brought from the East. The house only recently gave way to a new structure built by Simon Labold.”
‘These are only a few of the houses built by Mr. Hyatt, and are only mentioned on account of their prominence at the time.”
“During his long years of active work he was much in evidence here. What work he did, and he did much, was well done, and stands as a monument to his honesty and integrity. It is over half a century since Mr. Hyatt retired from active business as a contractor and builder. Sixty four years ago he started a grocery at Court and Fourth streets. After that he handed the trowel occasionally, but never again made a regular business of it. He was afterwards located where the Wilhelm opera building is, and owned as far up Fourth as the Baptist church. He subsequently built the business house and residence at the corner of Second and Chillicothe streets, now occupied by TB Blake. The building was originally three stories high, but the top story was blown off in the great storm of 1860, killing David Price, who was passing on a dray.”
“In 1861 Mr. Hyatt moved to Cincinnati, but he remained there less than a year. He was actively engaged in the grocery business up until 1866 and was always quiet successful.”
“In 1866 he sold out and moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, on account of the health of his son-in-law WHL Dukes, and like the city, country and climate so well that he would have been glad to remain there the balance of his days, but his son-in-law died and the thoughts of the bereaved family turned towards their old home, and they came back. Sixty four years ago he united with the Methodist church, and has ever since been an active and devoted member. When he joined services were held in the ‘Old Academy.’ Reverend Father Truitt being the minister in charge. That late Richard Lloyd and John Waller joined about the same time. Mr. Hyatt was the last surviving member of the original board of trustees of the Methodist burying ground, now part of Greenlawn.”
“Many years ago Mr. Hyatt’s first wife died3 on the 24th of February 1846. He was married the second time to Miss Elizabeth Taylor of good old Maryland parentage. His second wife died some years ago. Mr. Hyatt’s good Long Island blood, temperate and Christian life and cheerful spirits had much to do with his living to be almost a century old.”4On the slope where the harvest ripens he sinks asleep. (1901, October 26). Portsmouth Times, p. 1.5
