This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Hamilton, Rankin Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kg.2ADI/1630 Message Board Post: Barry Adage, Barry, Pike Co. IL, Sat. Mar. 29, 1879: "At his residence in this city on Saturday, March 22, 1879, of apoplexy, Alexander Hamilton, aged 48 years, 6 months and 12 days. Another of our old residents has passed away. Another well known business man has gone. It is our solemn duty to again record the death of one of our fellow citizens. Although it was a well known fact that Mr. Hamilton had been in declining health for about a year past, his death last Saturday was a surprise to nearly everyone. He had been confined to his bed for about two weeks previous to his death but seemed to be feeling better than usual that morning and betokened no change for the worse until about four o'clock in the afternoon when it became apparent to those at his bedside that his end was drawing nigh. Northing was left undone that would tend to the relief of the sufferer, but all was in vain. He quietly and peacefully closed his eyes in death at 4:30 o'clock pm and the spirit departed from whence it came. Alexander Hamilton was born at Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, Scotland, September 10, 1830. He emigrated to this country in the year 1850 in company with his mother and three brothers - William, Thomas and John, and located at St. Louis, Mo., where he resided for several years, working at his trade - tailoring. He came to Illinois in the year 1860 and settled at this place. At the breaking out of the war he was one of the first to enlist and served three years in the defense of his country. He returned to this city at the close of the war and has resided here ever since, carrying on the merchant tailoring business. He was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Rankin July 5th, 1866, and she with his aged mother and one brother, John, survive him. Mr. Hamilton was one of our most prominent citizens and was respected and revered by everyone. He was ever identified with anything tending to advance the interest of our community. He was charitable, generous and kindhearted and was always ready to lend the helping hand to the needy and suffering. He was a shrewd business man, just in all his dealings and enjoyed a reputation well worthy of the aspirations of any one. He was true to his friends in all of his relations with them, and few men had as few enemies. His loss will be deplored by the entire community. The funeral was held at the family residence last Monday and was attended by a vast concurrence of people. The services were conducted by Rev. J.F. Phillips and he was buried with imposing ceremonies by the Masonic Lodge, of which he was a member. The procession from the house to the cemetery was the grandest and most impressive ever beheld in this city. The two orders - Masonic and Odd Fellows - to which he belonged were largely represented and marched to the time of a dirge played by Woods' Helicon Band. The casket containing the remains of the deceased was borne to the place of interment by the pall bearers who number sixteen - eight Masons and eight Odd Fellows." __ I am not related to Mr. Hamilton....gerri