William Alexander Hamilton MD (1871-1930)

HAMILTON, RAMPTON, MARIETTA, MCMANUS, BOYD, SILVERMAN, CASTLEDINE, MANSFIELD, COLVERT

Posted By: jane austin (email)
Date: 6/12/2021 at 21:05:24

Dr. William A. Hamilton Succumbs to Heart Attack Saturday

Dr. W.A. Hamilton, prominent O'Brien physician, and for thirty-one years a practioner in the town of Paullina, died almost instantly Saturday evening, October 11th at 7 o'clock from heart failure. Present with him in his office when suddenly taken ill, was J.L. Beerman, local insurance agent, who at the time was transacting some business with the doctor. Dr. Harmilton was well known in this section of the state, having also devoted several years in the pure bred horse business as a side-line, which gave him opportunity to meet breeders and fancy horse-men from far and near. He was a great lover of outdoor life and spent much of his time, when opportunity afforded, at fishing and hunting. His obituary follows:

Dr. William Alexander Hamilton, son of Robert and Abigail Hamilton, was born on a farm near Garrison, Ia., Nov 5, 1871, lacking a little less than one month of being 59 years of age. Following his early education in the local schools of his boyhood community, he went to Tilford Academy at Vinton, Iowa, and from there to the University of the South at Sewanee, near Chatanooga, Tenn. He began to study medicine and prepare himself for his life's profession at St. Louis University, Mo., where he attended for one year, later attending the University of Iowa and getting his degree in June, 1900. In 1899 he had passed the State Board Medical examination and was admitted to practice in Iowa that same year.

On May 10, 1899, he opened his first office in the room which he occipied at the time of his death. During the winter of 1899 he returned to the University of Iowa for further studies, specializing in the eye, ear, nose, and throat. In all of which he was very proficient and successful.

On June 27, 1899, he was united in marriage to Miss Phebe E. Rampton, and to this union were born two children, twins, the little girl, Margarette, dying in her infancy, with the surviving son, William Anthony Hamilton, now an attorney at Hartley, who with his bereaved mother, is left to mourn the loss of a very kind father and a most devoted husband.

Other surviving relatives are two brothers, John Hamilton of Vinton and Thomas Hamilton, of Paullina, with one sister, Mrs. L.H. Marietta of Mitchellville, Ia., the other brother Harry having died at the age of fourteen years.

The sad news of the death of Dr. Hamilton was a great shock not only to the family but to the whole community where he had lived in high esteem for the period of thirty-one years. He will be greatly missed by all of his friends and acquaintances, because his practice covered a large area of this county into the homes of which he often went day and night to minister to the needs of those that called for his medical aid, and that too at the expense of sacrificing his much needed rest and sleep in the interest and for the benefit of his many patients.

He will be missed in his happy and comfortable home more than in any other place, for there he loved to be whenever he could, and there were few attractions for him outside of his own home except in his professional duties as a faithful doctor. He expressed himself many times as being ready when the call came and this is a great comfort to those who survivel. His constant smile brought cher and comfort to many hearts in the time of sickness and accidents, and as a good neighbor, friend and physician, he did a good day's work, for which he will linger long in the memory of those who had unlimited faith in his ability and devotion. The sympathy of the whole community is with Mrs. Hamilton and her son, and the other relatives in their great loss and sorrow.

The funeral took place on Tuesday of this week with services at the home and in the Presbyterian church, with Dr. H.P. Morgan officiating. Interment was in Prairie View Cemetery. Special music was rendered by the choir of the church under the direction of Mrs. W J.E. Thatcher, with Mrs. Weston D. Ralston at the piano. Floral tributes were numerous and costly, and the funeral was the largest held here for many a year, with the entire church auditorium filled to capacity including the annex, and many people standing outside.

The pall bearers were John Jacobs, Chester Idso, Harry Bloodgood, William Meyer, John L. Beerman, and Andrew McCauley. He honorary pall bearers were L. Wollenberg, A.P. Jacobs, J.R. Gruver, Rudolph Rohwer, Chris Fife, and H.E. Horstman.

The relatives from out-of-town to attend the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Hamilton of Vinton, Ia.; Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Marietta, of Mitchellville, Iowa; J.R. McManus, of Des Moines, Iowa.; W.A. Boyd, of LaPorte City, Ia.; Mrs. A.L. Silverman of Deep River, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Castledine of Windom, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. G.G. Launsberry of Centerville, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Mansfield of Storm Lake, and Mr. C.N. Colvert and daughter Elsie, of Cherokee, Iowa.

The "Times" extendes its sincere sympathy to the bereaved family in their hour of sorrow.

Paullina (Iowa) Times, 16 Oct 1930, p1