File contributed by Fred Hamilton ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Biography of William Thomas and Janie May Hamilton Sartor Presented at the 37th Annual Hamilton Family Reunion Downsville United Methodist Church Downsville, Louisiana August 6, 1995 Janie May Hamilton was born on June 4, 1878. She was the first child of Julia Calhoun and James Meriwether Hamilton. Educated in the public school in Downsville, Louisiana, she graduated from Louisiana State Normal College (now Northwestern State University) in Natchitoches, Louisiana. She taught school in Ouachita Parish and Richland Parish. It was there that she met her future husband, William Thomas Sartor. They were married on December 23, 1902 in the parlor of her parents home in Downsville. They made their home in Alto, Richland Parish, La., where they reared their four children: 1) Julia Eva born November 29, 1903 in Mangham; 2) William Thomas (Dub) Sartor, Jr. born November 20, 1905 in Alto; 3) James Hamilton Sartor born May 31, 1907 in Alto; and 4) Mary Lou Sartor born August 18, 1909 in Alto. "Miss Janie," as she was affectionately known in the community, was a devoted member of the Alto Presbyterian Church where she was organist for many years, a Sunday School teacher, and a member of "Women's Work". It was in the latter that she served her local church, worked with both Presbytery and Synod, and attended conferences at Silliman College in Clinton, Louisiana, at Montreat, North Carolina, and at Mo-Ranch, Texas. She helped in the family owned general mercantile store and served as post mistress. She wanted her children to obtain an education, but her sons had to work in their store and only their daughter, Julia, obtained a college education. She was a member of the Alto Cultural Club and was always willing to help in times of need in the community, whether it was for a happy time or a sad occasion. Whenever there was a illness in her family in Downwsville, Janie would pack her bags, including her flashlight, and come stay with her sister, Mattie Lou. She would sit with the sick family member and stay until they were well, often not returning home for several weeks. Janie May was always smiling, looking on the positive side of things, and was faithful to her family. She dressed conservatively and wore her hair, with its long braids in a bun. She is remembered as being very loving, but formal and would often write letters of advice to family members. She loved to sing, to work in her flowers and to walk. She made her daily walk each day and was never seen without her hat, her gloves, and her umbrella. She died February 4, 1964 at age 85 in Monroe. Her funeral was held at Alalbama Presbytereian Church at Sibley with the Rev. Hugh Bradshaw, Rev. Lloyd O'Neal, and Rev. F. C. Williams officiating. She was laid to rest in the Alabama Presbyterian Church Cemetery beside her husband. William Thomas Sartor, Sr. died February 14, 1926 in Alto. His one request of his wife was that he be buried in the hills rather than in the Alto area. He had seen many graves in this area become saturated with water and he didn't want this to happen to his. His funeral was held at his home with the burial in the Alabama Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Sibley. Janie and William Thomas were married 23 years. They were survived by four children and three grandchildren. OBIT--MONROE MORNING WORLD, February 15, 1926, page 5 WILL T. SARTOR Will T. Sartor, age 50 years, died at his home at Alto Sunday. He is survived by his wife and the following children: Mrs. Julian Ballard, W.T. Sartor, Jr., Miss Mary Lou Sartor, all of Alto; also a brother, Dr. James M. Sartor of Rayville. The funeral was held this morning at 10:30 at the house with burial at the Sibley church cemetery near Choudrant, later in the day. *Obit fails to note another son, James Hamilton (Ham) Sartor. OBIT—MONROE MORNING WORLD MRS. JANIE SARTOR Mrs. Janie Hamilton Sartor, 85, Alto, died in a local hospital Tuesday afternoon after a long illness. A prayer service will be held at Mulhearn Funeral Home Chapel here at 2 p.m. today. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. at the Alabama Presbyterian Church at Sibley with the Rev. Hugh Bradshaw, the Rev. Lloyd O'Neal, and the Rev. F.C. Williams officiating. Interment will follow in Alabama Presbyterian Church cemetery. Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. L.N. Dunaway, Rayville; Mrs. G.D. Williams, Mer Rouge; two sons, W.T. Sartor, Jr., Alto; J.H. Sartor, Monroe; two sisters, Mrs. R.M. McGehee and Mrs. J.P. Hinton, both of Downsville; three brothers, F.S. Hamilton and J.J. Hamilton, both of Downsville; J.C. Hamilton, Dubach; and three grandchildren. Mrs. Sartor was a native of Union Parish. Pallbearers will be Bill Hamilton, James Edward Hamilton, James Hamilton, Henry Hamilton, Ladell Hamilton, Lucius McGehee, Dr. James M. Hamilton, and Eugene Hamilton. # # #