Decatur County Journal Leon, Iowa Thursday, March 7, 1912 JONATHAN P. HAMILTON passed away at his home in north Leon Monday morning about three o'clock after a lingering illness. The funeral services were held Wednesday morning, Rev. F. Edwards, of Osceola, formerly Pastor of the Leon Baptist church, being in charge. Interment followed at the Shy Cemetery northeast of Leon. JONATHAN POWERS HAMILTON, son of ROBERT and ELEANOR HAMILTON, was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, April 9, 1829. He grew to manhood in his native state on a farm. He came to Decatur County, Iowa, in the year, 1853, settling in Long Creek Township, here he secured a good homestead about 2 l/2 miles southwest of Van Wert. Here he made a good farm and was industriously engaged in raising grain and stock. He was one of the pioneers of this county, enduring many of the privations incident to an early settler in a new country. The subject of this sketch was married in 1855, to MARY JANE SMITH. To this union were born two sons and three daughters, two of three dying in infancy. Those living are, Mrs. ANNA GAINES, of St. John, Washington; IRA S. HAMILTON, Bridgeport, Washington, and ALVA J. HAMILTON, of Guanabacoa, Cuba. His wife died May 4, 1866. Mr. HAMILTON was married to MARTHA JANE KELLEY, June 9, 1867. To this union were born thirteen children, eight of whom are living; Mrs. ELIZA DRAKE, Gibbon, Nebraska; Mrs. EMMA BAKER, St. John, Washington; Mrs. NORA B. HOPTON, Casper, Wyoming; Mrs. ALICE LEWIS, Leon, Iowa; Mrs. BERTHA ALEXANDER, Leon, Iowa; Mrs. NELLIE CORNELIUS, Sapulpa, Oklahoma; Mrs. EDITH SPRAGUE, Sequim, Washington; Mrs. LA RUE PEARCE, Rockport, Mo. Seven of the children were present. At the age of 42 Mr. HAMILTON was converted and united with the Protestant Methodist Church which was located near the old home. He with the family located in Leon in 1876 and united with the Baptist Church in 1882, under the pastorate of Rev. F. Edwards, who officiated at the funeral service. He was an ordained deacon and was a member of the building committee when the present church was built. Mr. HAMILTON was president of the Exchange National Bank for a number of years and held this office until the time of his death. He was a great sufferer for 2 1/2 years, displaying such patience as is rarely seen, always looking forward to the time of his spirit s release. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert December 28, 2009 [email protected]