Person Information
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Hugh Watt Mahorter, son of Samuel Mahorter and Sarah Gregg, was born on 16 December 1876 at 28th & Columbia Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hugh appeared on the census of 1880 in the household of his parents at 30th and Uxford Streets, Philadelphia. Between 1886 and 1894 Hugh lived at the Girard School for Fatherless Boys in Philadelphia. In 1894 he left the school to live with his mother at 7209 Wissinoming Street, Tacony and work as a paper packer for $5 per day. On May 7, 1898, Hugh enlisted as a private in company H of the Third Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers to serve 2 years or the duration of the Spanish-American war. His military service was short, as the war ended and he was discharged on August 20 of the same year. His enlistment papers describe him as 5 feet 11 inches tall with gray eyes, light hair, and a fair complexion. At the time of his enlistment his occupation was listed as laborer. Hugh appeared on the census of 1900 in the household of his mother at 5 Cotman Street, Philadelphia. Hugh married Ellen Smelter Sayles, daughter of Frederick James Smilter Sayles and Harriet Barlow, on 22 August 1900 in Philadelphia. After Hugh and Ellen were married, they lived with Ellen's parents at at 7102 Edmund Street, Tacony, Philadelphia County. In 1900, Hugh was working as a mounted policeman in Philadelphia's 27th District making $2.25 per day. He stayed with the mounted police until about 1907. According to family lore, Hugh left the police force rather abruptly. One night he stabled his horse as usual, but he never returned to work. Hugh and Ellen had two children: Beatrice, born 6 September 1902; and Robert, born 15 February 1904. In 1904, Hugh and Ellen lived at at 7139 Edmund Street, Tacony, Philadelphia County. Ellen and the children were listed on the 1910 census with Ellen's parents on Edmund Street in Philadelphia. Although the 1910 Philadelphia city directory listed Hugh as a surveyor and gave his address as Cottman near Frankford Avenue, Hugh appeared on the census of 1910 as a laborer named "Hugh Watt", lodging at the Salvation Army Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hugh often used the alias of "Hugh Watt" after leaving Philadelphia. Hugh later became a homesteader in Minnesota. His homestead consisted of 80 unconnected acres. His mail was sent through the Craigville, Minnesota post office. Hugh fought against the lumber companies to keep them from cutting his trees, but later a tornado came through and knocked down the trees. The lumber companies then refused to buy the downed trees from Hugh. Hugh appeared on the census of 1920 as "Hugh Watt" on Biteffer Road in Koochiching County, Minnesota. He was also the census enumerator. Ellen and their children were still living in Philadelphia. According to Hugh's children, the rest of the family planned to move to Minnesota eventually. Hugh Watt Mahorter died on 16 November 1923 at the Itasca County Hospital, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, at age 46 of spinal cord injuries sustained in an accidental fall from a wagon. He was buried on 19 November 1923 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Hugh's homestead was lost during the Depression through non-payment of taxes.
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