John Jamison

JAMISON, HOAGLAND, IRVINE

Posted By: C. Diamond - IAGenWeb volunteer
Date: 3/5/2012 at 17:59:06

The Oelwein Daily Register
Oelwein, Fayette County, Iowa
Monday, February 10, 1936
Page 5, Column 2

JOHN JAMISON DIED SUNDAY AFTERNOON ---
OELWEIN PIONEER DIED AT HIS HOME SUNDAY AFTERNOON at 5 O’CLOCK, AGED 91 YEARS
---
John Jamison, one of the oldest pioneers of Oelwein and Fayette county, died at his home in Oelwein Sunday afternoon at five o'clock, following a long illness due to his age, he being 91 years old on the 20th of last September.

He was born in Pittsburg, Pa., September 20, 1844, and came with his parents to Fayette county in 1852. They located at Asburn where his father, James Jamison, engaged in the mercantile business for a couple of years and they then moved to a farm near West Union. John Jamison, after finishing high school at West Union and Upper Iowa University at Fayette, engaged in business for himself at Auburn in 1871, being associated with Hall Hoagland. After continuing the business there, in July 1874 they moved their stock to Oelwein and continued under the name of Hoagland & Jamison. They established the Bank of Oelwein the same year, there being no such institution here at the time. They also engaged in stock buying with John Irvine. He formed a partnership at the same time with his brother Thomas, since decreased, and they carried on this as a hardware line under the name of Jamison Brothers. The firm of Hoagland & Jamison dissolved about 1876 and Samuel Jamison entered the partnership with John and they continued this general line of merchandising until 1890.

In connection with his other business activities he aided in organizing a bank at West Union, and he was made the president of it and continued throughout until he retired from active business about five years ago. With his brother George, since deceased, they again took over the Bank of Oelwein which he had sold and was out of for a couple of years. This was in 1884. He continued at the head of this bank until retiring under the banking stress of 1931-32.

On the 8th of September, 1875, he was united to Miss Florence Hoagland a daughter of his early partner, at Auburn. Together they went through the vicissitudes of early pioneers in Oelwein. They raised their two sons, Ray B. and Fred to manhood. After filling responsible posts in the community both have since left Oelwein, Ray going to Des Moines where he is engaged in the abstract business and Fred going to California, where he is engaged in business.

Mr. Jamison has had the best care at his home on North Fredrick Avenue given by his grandson and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Jamison.

Then as the shadows of life began to reach them, Mrs. Jamison died February 25, 1935. After more than fifty years of wedded life, John Jamison was left alone, and bravely has he met the various trials and tribulations. Mr. Jamison was for many years one of the trustees of Upper Iowa University along with his many other activities.

He was a staunch member of the Presbyterian church and gave liberally of his energy, time and means to make it one of the strong church organizations of the city. Politically he was a democrat and was elected county treasurer of Fayette county against a strong normal republican majority. He was nominated by the democrats of the state as state treasurer at a time when such nominations were a mere matter of form. He always retained a keen interest in affairs of the state and of his home community. He was one of the most active of men and entered into whatever he undertook with a will to succeed. He was always kind, generous, and although he has been removed from the business activities of the community for some time, his death will be keenly felt.

The body was taken to the Hintz funeral home to await definite funeral arrangements. Word has been received from his son Fred that he will reach Oelwein from his California home about Wednesday if train service is resumed. While no word has been received from Ray at Des Moines, where everyone is marooned by the snow, it is assumed that he will be here.