Hamilton L. Karr (1837 - 1919)

HAMILTON, WONNER, MURRAY

Posted By: Barry Mateer (email)
Date: 11/28/2021 at 14:19:31

The Osceola Sentinel , Osceola, Iowa
June 19, 1919 , page 1

Another name was dropped from the ever lessening list of the living pioneers of Clarke county when Major Hamilton L. Karr expired at his home in the city Saturday night. For many months he has lingered on a bed of affliction patiently awaiting a call to rest. The end of his life's work came but the part he had in developing Clarke county from the frontier days to its present modern state will continue to live in the hearts and minds of the generations to come.

H. L. Karr was a native of Meigs county. Ohio, born August 13, 1837, a son of William and Jane (Murray) Karr. The father was born at the old fort at Marietta, Ohio, and the mother was a native of Clarksburg, Virginia. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Captain Hamilton Karr, the pioneer Indian hunter of Ohio.

H. L. Karr, our subject, received his primary education in the common schools of Ohio and later entered Lombard University at Galesburg, Illinois, where he pursued his studies four years, graduating from that institution in the class of 1862. He returned home immediately after commencement day and enlisted as a private in Company G, One Hundred Sixtieth, Ohio Infantry, but was soon appointed first lieutenant of his company and a few months later promoted to captain of the same company.

Subsequently he was commissioned major of his regiment and also made Brevet-Major of United States Volunteers by the War Department "for gallant and meritorious services during the war. “

Major Karr participated in all the campaigns of Generals Melroy, Sigel, Hunter and Sheridan, respectively in the Shenandoah Valley Including the three noted victories of General Sheridan over General Early at Opequon (sometimes called the battle of Winchester), Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek.

At the battle of Opequon he had his horse killed under him and at the battle of Cedar Creek received a considerable bruise on the right knee from a spent ball, but aside from these trivial casualties passed safely through the war.

In December, 1864, the division to which Major Karr belonged was transferred to the Twenty-fourth army corps, in front of Richmond and he consequently took part in the final engagements about Richmond, and was also at Appomattox at the surrender of General Lee’s army.
He was mustered out of the service in June.1865, after the close of the war and returned to his home in Ohio.

He attended the law department of the Michigan University and returned to Ohio and was admitted to the bar in April, 1866, practiced in the state of Ohio for one year and
in 1868 located at Osceola, Iowa, where he resided until death. For a number of years he had associated with him Henry Stivers as his law partner but later practiced alone.

In 1871, Major Karr was united In marriage with Miss Anna F Wonner of Osceola, and of whom he once, said, "Since my marriage, whatever good I have accomplished and whatever successes I have achieved I attribute directly to my wife, whose wise councils, earnest support, common patience and purest love
have never for one moment been withheld from me."

He is survived by his wife, son, Hal, one son Will having preceded him in death a few months ago, besides other relatives and a host of friends. Funeral services were held at the home Monday afternoon conducted by Rev J. F. McKay, pastor of the Methodist church.

Those from a distance who were present at the funeral were Mrs. Hal Karr of Des Moines, Capt. George W. Hicks of Creston, Miss Susie Stivers of Burlington, and Mrs. Warren Pratt of Kearney, Nebraska.

gravestone photo at Findagrave
 

Clarke Obituaries maintained by Brenda White.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen