The Strong Man and the Watch Tower

 Guest post by Bernhard                                                                     

Edited by Jerome

Henry Clay Hatch was one of the most prominent Bible Students of Russell's day. He was an elder, pastor, colporteur, pilgrim, convention speaker, member of the Bethel family, Vice-President and Director of the Society, and also a member of the editorial committee. However, few if any know him by this name.

Henry was born to Irwin James Hatch (born December 20, 1845) and Henrietta G. Pegan. Irwin and Henrietta married on August 11, 1871 and on May 22, 1874 Henry Clay was born in Dowagiac, Michigan. He had one brother Glen. Later his parents were divorced. His mother married again. On July 10, 1888 she married Ira Cradit Rockwell and Henry Clay took on his step-fathers' surname. Sadly Henrietta died in December 31, 1888. Henry Clay stayed with his stepfather as Henry Clay Rockwell

In his youth, Henry Clay began to engage in physical training. Over time he became a famous athlete, strongman or body builder. He continued to train even after he became a Bible Student, and at the age of 44 (in 1917) he said he could still outclass ninety out of every hundred youngsters of twenty in strength and activity.

It is unclear when exactly Rockwell became a Bible Student, but it was around 1900, because in 1903/04 he lived in the Bible House, 612 Arch Street, Pittsburgh, and was a member of the Bible House family. After his time in the Bible House Rockwell went into the Pilgrim work in April 1904. The first classes he visited were Buena Vista and Washington in Pennsylvania. At the time Henry Clay was single, but during that year he met Henrietta Francis Duke (Breakey).

Henrietta was 20 years older than Clay and was a widow. She had been married to John Calhoun Duke on March 21, 1870. She had two sons, Henry and John. She was born in May 1854 in New York and was the daughter of Charles and Eliza Breakey.

In October 10, 1904 Henry Clay and Henrietta married in Manhattan, New York. Since they now lived in New York Henry Clay became a pastor and elder of the New York class.

On Tuesday, June 16, 1908 Charles T. Russell appointed him and Isaac Francis Hoskins as a directors of the Watch Tower Society of Pennsylvania. They replaced Vice-President James Hezekiah Giesey and Simon Osborne Blunden. For what reason did Russell choose Rockwell?

It may be because many members of the Board of Directors were well-known people in local societies, and Rockwell was also well-known.

The Watch Tower (August 1, 1908) shows that Rockwell‘s wife took “the vow.“ Shortly after that a convention was held in September 1908 in Put-in-Bay and in the photograph below Russell and Rockwell are sitting side by side.

After Russell moved headquarters from Pittsburgh to Brooklyn, New York, in January 31, 1909, the Rockwells became members of the Bethel family. The lived in 124 Columbia Heights in the former Henry Ward Beecher residence.

On February 23, 1909, Russell founded the “Peoples Pulpit Association of New York.“ Russell was President, but Henry Clay Rockwell became Vice-President. In the same year Henry toured the northeastern states.

We find him in a newspaper clipping from June 8, 1913 (The Enquirer, Cincinnati) that shows he was still active in the athletics business: “Passenger Traffic Club - H. Clay Rockwell, General Passenger Agent of the Cincinnati, Lebanon and Northern, who is an honorary member of the club, will personally conduct the members and their families.“

Rockwell was also very busy spreading the Bible Student message. He gave many public talks on different topics in many cities. He was also active in colporteuring. We see him sitting on his bicycle beside the MacMillans on the right side the photo below.

In 1914 he helped to show the Photo-Drama of Creation. On one occasion Rockwell performed the marriage for Norman William Woodworth with Anna Frances Simler in New Jersey.

In 1907 Russell wrote his last will and testament and directed that the entire editorial charge of ZION'S WATCH TOWER should be in the hands of “a committee of five brethren, whom I exhort to great carefulness and fidelity to the Truth.“ One of them was Rockwell and we see from this that he was highly regarded by Russell. The document noted:

The names of the Editorial Committee are as follows:

     WILLIAM E. PAGE,

     WILLIAM E. VAN AMBURGH,

     HENRY CLAY ROCKWELL,

     E. W. BRENNEISEN,

     F. H. ROBISON.

After Russell‘s death in 1916 William Egbert Page resigned and Joseph Franklin Rutherford became a member of the Committee. But after Rutherford became president of the Watch Tower Society (January 6, 1917) Rockwell resigned from all positions. First he resigned as Vice-President of the Peoples Pulpit Association and on February 8, 1917, he also resigned as director of the Watch Tower Society of Pennsylvania and Robert Henry Hirsh replaced him.

Henry Clay Rockwell was very close to Russell but at his funeral Rockwell gave no talk. A 1917 report from Paul Johnson shows that Rockwell was at the funeral, where he proposed Johnson as the next president rather than J F Rutherford.

Shortly afterward, in early 1917, Rockwell left the Brooklyn Bethel family and lived with his wife in 13 Middagh Street, Brooklyn, New York. He not only left the Bethel family but also the Watch Tower Society. Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose (1959), page 73, notes that a rival group was formed in 1918 headed by a “committee of seven.“ Rockwell was part of that committee for a few years before disappearing from any known religious activity.

On April 21, 1929 his wife Henrietta died in New York. Nine months later Henry Clay married again. On January 24, 1930 he married Pauline Hermine Stutz, who was born 1885 in Switzerland. But the marriage lasted only a few months. In July 1930 Pauline also died. Within 15 months he lost two wives. At this time he was working as a Truck driver for the Wholesale Linoleum Company.

Henry Clay Rockwell died on February 24, 1950 in Islip, Suffolk, New York and was buried at the Greenwood Cemetery in New York, Lot 2205, Section 86, alongside Pauline Hermine.