Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Hamilton, John H. 1920
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net June 13, 2013, 5:46 pm

The Ionia Daily Sentinel-Standard, Thursday, May 6, 1920

Ionia received the news of the death of John H. Hamilton at 9:00 o’clock this 
morning with regret.  He passed away at the family home, Lafayette street, 
after an illness of six months.  Funeral from the residence Sunday afternoon 
at 3:00 o’clock.

John H. Hamilton, respected resident and well known veteran wool buyer of the 
city, having for many years been one of the most extensive dealers in that 
line in Michigan was a native of New York, born on a farm in the vicinity of 
Avon, Livingston county, June 11, 1845.  He would have been 75 years of age 
the eleventh of the coming month.  He was a son of John and Susan Hamilton, 
the former a native of Scotland and the mother of New York, and who came to 
Ionia county in 1864.

John H. Hamilton was the third child born to this parents and was nineteen 
years of age when he came to Ionia county with the family.  He had been well 
reared and received an academic education, and when he arrived here was well 
equipped to take a place in the activities of the rural community, where for 
years he was prosperous and a leader in the welfare of the county.  He bought 
a tract of 120 acres of land in Ronald and proceeded to put it under 
cultivation.  Three yeas later he married and established his home on this 
place.  Not long thereafter he bought an adjoining 80 acres and that farm of 
200 acres was the family home until about 1895 in which year Mr. and Mrs. 
Hamilton moved to this city.

In connection with his farming operations, Mr. Hamilton was extensively 
interested in sheep raising and it was through that activity that he became 
well acquainted with the details of the wool business.  After coming to Ionia 
city he gave his full attention to wool buying and was engaged actively in 
that business until he was stricken with paralysis on November 1, 1919.  He 
was recognized as one of the most extensive wool buyers in Michigan, was alert 
to the duty of building a wool market interest in Ionia city as well.

Mr. Hamilton took active interest in the business affairs of the city, had 
been a stockholder in the State savings bank, was identified politically with 
the republican party, an advocate of the principles of good and wholesome 
government.

September 9, 1867 Mr. Hamilton married Marcie Welch, who was born in the then 
village of Ionia and a daughter of the late John H. and Sarah Welch, prominent 
pioneers of this county.  To this union was born one son, Henry H. Hamilton, 
whose death a few years ago was a sad blow to the parents and the community.  
Harry died November 20, 1915, being a prominent clothing manufacturer in New 
York city.

No man ever enjoyed life more than John Hamilton.  He was actively interested 
in the Ionia county agricultural society all through the years of its ups and 
downs, doing much to promote its agricultural welfare.  He was genial, kind 
hearted, honest, honorable in his dealings with men, loyal in his friendship 
for those who met him squarely.  In his death the city loses a good citizen.  

From the time he was stricken until just before the spring election Mr. 
Hamilton was comfortable though confined to his home most of the time.  He was 
down town several times just before election, but after he suffered the severe 
setback on election night the end seemed to be in sight for he failed from 
that moment on.

Mr. Hamilton was among the early members of the Ionia lodge of Elks, and also 
belonged to the Ionia lodge of Masons.

Subsequent Publication:  Monday, May 10, 1920

The funeral for John H. Hamilton was held at the residence on Lafayette street 
Sunday afternoon, Rev. A. R. Mitchell officiating.  A very large number of 
friends and relatives attended, a great many coming in from out of town.  The 
flowers were unusually lovely and there was a great quantity of them.  The 
singing was by Thane Benedict.  The honorary pall bearers were from the Elks 
lodge, and were R. Lee Page, A. R. Locke, Ney Olmstead, J. H. Collins. W. B. 
Heath, S.C.L. Brown, Alex Minty and C. Taylor.  The active bearers were George 
Nichols, H. Van Allen, H. B. Webber, T. R. Buck, Fred Tower and C. B. Wardle.  
The ladies, who had charge of the flowers were Miss Sue Townsend, Mrs. Fred 
Tower, Mrs. H. B. Webber and Mrs. Fran VanderHeyden.

Among the out of town friends and relatives were Mr. and Mrs. Palmer Welch, of 
Lansing, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kennedy, of Grand Rapids, John and Robert 
Remington of Grand Rapids, James Fox and mother, Mrs. Dan Hamilton, of Grand 
Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. Charles French of Stanton, Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler of Grand 
Rapids, Chas. Dye, of Battle Creek, Delos Smith and Fred Tower, of Ann Arbor, 
Mr. William Swartz of Detroit.  The interment was in the family lot in 
Highland Park.



File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/h/hamilton20760nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 5.3 Kb