Decatur County Journal

March l9, l908

JOSIAH HAMILTON was born April 2, l863, on the farm in Long Creek

Township, Decatur County, Iowa, which was the home of himself and family

at the time of his death. He died in the Cottage Hospital at Creston,

Iowa, March 6, l908, aged 44 years, eleven months and four days. He was

the son of GEORGE and LYDIA HAMILTON; was united in marriage with LENNA

E. AVERY, of Leon, December 27, l883. He leaves near relatives as

follows: Wife, LENNA E. HAMILTON, children; GROVER, MADGE, EARL and

NEAL, an aged father, and two sisters, MRS. W.B. REDMAN and MRS. JEROME

TRAUPLE. He spent his entire life in Decatur County, except four years

he lived in Wyoming with his family.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Regan, of Des Moines, March 9th,

at Union Church, and he was laid to rest in the Shy Cemetery on said

date. The writer was well acquainted with JOSIAH HAMILTON and his

family, and has been at their home many times. He knows what he is

about to write to be true. He was an absolutely honest man and always

endeavored to do what was right. He was a man of many friends, and if

he had any enemies we do not know of them. His family relations were

very much to be admired; his children had no fear of any kind or

character of him but did as he desired them to do for the love they had

for him. He seemed to have adopted the theory, "That it is far better

to rule by love than fear." There was nothing selfish in his make-up,

and he was a true friend, when he met you it was always with a smile and

it was not a manufactured smile, but a smile that came from the heart

and goodness of the man. He was always himself and there was nothing

hypocritical in his make-up. He was a very happy man from the fact he

thought his family the best in the world, and his home as good as

anyone's home. He had no aspirations for notoriety of any kind, but

devoted his life to doing what good he could for his fellowmen, and was

satisfied with his lot in life, and all anyone can get out of life is a

contented mind and that he had with his surroundings. He was unlike the

man that is sorrowful because he cannot get possession of a great amount

of this world's goods. He once said to me, speaking relative to this

matter, that all the property he cared to accumulate was a sufficient

amount to leave ample for his family, and this he accomplished.

He was a man one in need could go to and if in his power he would

cheerfully aid him without hope of reward to himself. The esteem he was

held in by his neighbors and friends was evidenced by the large number

who turned out in the bad weather to attend his funeral and the

universal sorrow that prevailed. His relatives have the sympathy of

all. One thing that should, and does comfort them is the fact that they

will meet him again. As everyone who has any reasoning power must know,

there is a future for mankind. God did not put us here for these short

days, and then all to be over. It seems unreasonable that a man of his

character and goodness should be taken from his relatives and friends at

his age, but men should not question the wisdom of the Almighty God,

whose brain power is supreme. We believe God to be a God of love and

just, and what he does is for the best. We feel that the future of

JOSIAH HAMILTON will be all bliss.

A FRIEND.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

October l6, 200l