Hamlin, Margaret Terrill Poage (1824-1906)

MARGARET POAGE HAMLIN, 2ND OBITUARY

Posted By: Nancy Hamlin Offield (email)
Date: 6/16/2010 at 19:00:10

OBITUARY: Margaret Terrill Poage Hamlin

Written by Pastor David Todd, Exira Christian Church, Exira, Audubon Co., Iowa in 1994.
Pastor Todd enjoyed researching the Church's history and often wrote articles called "Glimpses of the Past" in which he would write about a person's life, but would only use their initials in the story, and the congregation was to guess who the article was about. Below, is the one he wrote for Margaret Poage Hamlin:

Margaret Poage Hamlin was born on August 12, 1824 in Greenup County, Kentucky to Allen and Margaret (Terrill) Poage. Her Grandfather, Robert Poage, was from Scotland and her Grandmother, Rebecca Poage, was from Ireland. When she was two years old, she and her parents moved to Vermillion County, Illinois.

While in Vermillion County, Illinois, she married Nathaniel Hamlin on April 9, 1840. In 1844, they moved to Mahaska County, Iowa and lived there for seven years. On September 10, 1851, they moved to Audubon County and became the first settlers of the county. They lived on a farm of 160 acres located near the waters of the Troublesome Creek. This section of land became known as Hamlin's Grove. Their first home consisted of a double log cabin of two rooms.

In the fall of 1852, they erected the first barn and corn crib in the county. When harvest time came, he found there to be a ready market for most of his produce. He sold his corn to many of the emigrants who were journeying further westward.
Nathaniel helped build the first schoolhouse in the county. He and Daniel M. Harris, a neighbor, furnished nine of the eleven children and paid for the teacher. Judge D.M. Harris held the first court of the county in this same schoolhouse. In 1861, C.P. Evans used this schoolhouse to hold a revival service. Some of those attending the revival, by this Disciples of Christ Evangelist, later organized the Exira Christian Church.
Margaret Hamlin did not join the Exira Christian Church until August 1895. C.A. Lockhart held services at that time.

Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin had twelve children. The first child was Mary and she later married Isaac Thomas. Both Isaac and Mary joined the Exira Christian Church in August of 1895. Isaac's mother, Elizabeth Thomas, joined the church on February 4, 1887. Isaac and Mary and six children: Maturin D., Belle Bloom, Jacob, Nathaniel, Rose Huff, and Bessie Greenfield.

Maturin D. Thomas joined the Exira Christian Church in October of 1894. Maturin D. Thomas is the great-grandfather of Darwin Schlater. Bessie D. Thomas Greenfield joined the Exira Christian Church in August of 1895.

The second child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was Hannah. Hannah Maria Hamlin married Charles C. Hawk. Hannah Hawk joined the Exira Christian Church in August of 1895. She had been one of those baptized by C.P. Evans in 1961 near Hamlin's Grove.

The third child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was Sarah. Sarah Rose Hamlin married B.F. Thomas. In 1866, B.F. Thomas was county superintendent of schools. According to news clippings, Minnie (Thomas) Weir was baptized at the Exira Christian Church in January of 1882 by her father, B.F. Thomas, an ordained minister. No further information was found on Sarah or B.F. Thomas, they moved to Missouri in 1868.

The fourth child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was Malinda. Malinda Christiana Hamlin married William Radcliff. Malinda joined the Exira Christian Church in August of 1895. She had been one of those baptized by C.P. Evans in 1861 near Hamlin's Grove.

The fifth child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was William. William Allen Hamlin married Florence A. Lewis.

The sixth child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was Martha. Martha Jane Hamlin married E.S. Calph. Martha joined the Exira Christian Church in August of 1895.

The seventh child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was Eliza. Eliza Angelica Hamlin died April 21, 1859 at the age of 5 years.

The eighth child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was Susan Poage Hamlin. Susan married John V. Plantz.

The ninth child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was Clarinda. Clarinda Harrie Hamlin married John M. Allen.

The tenth child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was Nathaniel. Nathaniel Douglas Hamlin married Elva Crane. Nathaniel and Elva had 10 children. Three of these children joined the Exira Christian Church in April 6, 1915. They are Edith, Evlyn, and Delphine.

The eleventh child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was Fernando. Fernando Burton Hamlin married Emma E. Kilworth.

The twelfth child born to Nathaniel and Margaret Hamlin was Robert. Robert E. Lee Hamlin married Sarah Wheeler. Sarah, sometimes called Sadie, joined the Exira Christian Church in August of 1895. Two of their children also joined the church. Iva joined on October 25, 1899. Grace joined on October of 1901.

Nathaniel Hamlin, the husband of Margaret Hamlin, died on April 17, 1897. Although he never transferred his membership form the church at Hamlin's Grove, his funeral was held at his home place and conducted by Rev. McQuerry of the Exira Christian Church. Two years after her husband's death, Margaret Hamlin moved to Exira. Margaret Hamlin died on September 13, 1906 following a short illness.
Margaret Hamlin was public minded and remembered for her friendliness. She often fed travelers that journeyed along the trail that passed her home. She was a member of the Exodus Chapter of the Eastern Star. It is rather obvious that her family was well represented in the early life of the church.