Hatton was settled in 1854 on the old immigrant trail leading to southern California, and this site was one of the stops on the Gilmer and Salisbury Overland Stage route from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Pioche, Nevada, and on to the coast. Jack Gilmer and Monroe Salisbury purchased the Utah line of Wells, Fargo & Co. and renamed it, and by 1880 they had become one of the most powerful corporations in the West. Two spans of horses pulled the heavy stage to the Hatton home station operated by William George, while Frederick M. Bird, Sr. cared for the horses and Orson Whitaker was one of the first drivers. Fresh horses were made ready at the sound of a bugle when the stage was within one mile, and passengers received refreshments at the Bird home. Farming was the settlers' main occupation, with the stage line providing additional revenue. John Ormond kept a store beside the station that sold merchandise, including candy made by his wife, and George Hickerson had a thriving business selling feed, hay, and grain to immigrants traveling to California. Peter Robison, one of the first settlers, originally named the town Corn Creek, then Petersburg when he became postmaster, and later Hatton when Richard Hatton became postmaster. As the town grew, Cornelia Robison taught school in the Robison home, later followed by Henry Young and William Dameron, and in 1867 a building was erected to serve as both school and church meeting place. In 1867 Brigham Young, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, advised the settlers to move farther up Corn Creek to conserve water, use more fertile soil, and avoid early frosts; several families did so, but some remained. After the railroads came, the stage line was sold, business declined, and within a few years Hatton was almost deserted.