File contributed by Fred Hamilton ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Biography of James P. and Mary Hamilton Hinton Presented at the 34th Annual Hamilton Reunion Downsville United Methodist Church Downsville, Louisiana August 2, 1992 Mary Anna Agnes Hamilton was the tenth child and 3rd daughter of Dr. James M. and Julia Calhoun Hamilton. She was born December 27, 1894 in Downsville. Mary attended school in Downsville and in 1915 obtained a two year degree from Louisiana Industrial Institute. During these college days, she like her sister, Mattie Lou, played collegiate basketball and was a member of the group of fun-loving girls who called themselves the "Dirty Dozen." Their motto was "Rooty-toot-toot, rooty-toot-toot, We are the girls from the Institute, we don't smoke, we don't drink, but we sho' know how to use paint." Mary later obtained her B.A. degree in education in 1938. On December 24, 1920, Mary Hamilton wed her childhood sweetheart, James Pierce Hinton, Sr. They remained "sweethearts" as long as they lived, dearly loving each other. To this marriage two children were born: James Pierce Hinton, Jr. on May 27, 1922 in Downsville and Fred Hamilton Hinton on January 31, 1929, who died the same day in Downsville. Mary and Jim were blessed with fifty-three years of happiness together, having celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary just three years before she died. For the first three years of their married life, Jim and Mary lived in New Orleans where Jim was employed with the Louisiana State Health Department as a health inspector. Mary was not happy in New Orleans. Mary's father asked Jim and Mary to return to Downsville and go into the "local general" store business with Mary's brother, Fred. In 1925, Jim and Mary returned to Downsville and Jim went into this store business. He and his brother-in-laws, Fred and Joe, also operated a cotton gin. They sold cotton seed to the West Monroe Cotton Seed and Oil Mill. Just prior to World War II, this partnership ended and the "general" store business was sold to Paul and Gertie Mae Richardson. Mary taught school in Downsville. She retired in 1960, after teaching third grade for most of her career. Upon returning to Downsville, Jim and Mary lived with her parents, who by this time had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and were needing their care. Mary truly loved her parents and enjoyed having the opportunity to take care of them until their deaths. Jim and Mary continued to live in the old family home until the early spring of 1950, when they moved into a new house just a few yards from where she was born. Mary is remembered as being a very compassionate person, especially toward the underprivileged children who attended the school at Downsville. She was always willing to bring them into her home to spend the night and provide them with any necessary clothing they might need. She also became very involved in securing funds for benevolent organizations, such as the March of Dimes. Mary was raised in the Presbyterian church, though she attended the Baptist Church with her husband, and served as pianist for both the Baptist and Methodist churches in Downsville. She also was willing to play for any funeral or any special occasions the community might have. She remained a Presbyterian out of respect and loyalty to her sister, Janie, but after Janie died, she joined the Methodist church to be nearer her children, Jimmie, Susie Jo, and family. Mary was an avid reader. She loved to keep up with political affairs. Her sister, Mattie Lou, always chided her about getting upset over national situations, especially Watergate when at that time she corresponded with Pat Nixon at the White House. Mary did not show an interest in yard work, and really she didn't need to, because Jim was so interested in doing it for her. He delighted in growing her roses and day lilies. Mary loved all the Hamilton family. She always had time for them to drop in for short or long periods of time. She was blessed to have her sister, Mattie Lou, next door, during the latter years. They spent many hours playing canasta together and Mary always worried that Mattie Lou was working in the yard too much and was going to have a "heat stroke." Mattie Lou, on the other hand, thought Mary needed to throw her thermometer away because she was always taking her temperature. Every day they would great each otheer with "Morning Glory--Evening Breezes." Mary loved sports. She broke her finger when she was sixty-four years old playing ball with her third graders. In their mid-seventies, she enjoyed helping her husband while he coached the Little League Baseball team. Mary died December 28, 1973, they day after her 79th birthday at her home in Downsville. Jim lived until March 13, 1984 in his 90th year. Mary had a very special relationship with her son and his family. She is remembered as going beyond the realm of love and caring. There was nothing she wouldn't have done for them. OBIT--MONROE NEWS STAR MRS. J.P. HINTON DOWNSVILLE--Funeral services for Mrs. James P. Hinton, Sr. of Downsville, wife of former State Senator, James P. Hinton, Sr. and a retired school teacher will be at 3 p.m. today at Downsville United Methodist Church with the Rev. Clyde Averett and the Rev. H.L. Sampson officiating. Services will be under the direction of Spears Funeral Home of Ruston. She died at her home here about 9:45 p.m. Friday following a brief illness. She was a member of the Downsville Methodist Church and is survived by her husband, James P. Hinton, Sr., a son, James P. Hinton, Jr., a brother, Joe Hamilton, a sister, Mrs. Mattie Lou McGehee, and 2 grandchildren all of Downsville. . OBIT--RUSTON DAILY LEADER, March 13, 1984 HINTON James Pierce Hinton, 90, of Downsville, died today at Glenwood Regional Medical Center in West Monroe after a short illness. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Downsville Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard May officiating. Burial will be in the Downsville Cemetery under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston. Mr. Hinton, a retired soil conservationist with the state, was a former state senator, and a member of Downsville Baptist Church, a past master of Downsville Lodge No. N3, F.&A.M.; a World War I veteran. He is survived by one son, James Pierce Hinton, Jr., Downsville; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren # # #