1901 Death of Uncle Robert Marshall Hamilton.

John Morgan's Uncle Robert Marshall Hamilton was married to his father, Garrard Morgan's sister, Mary Morgan. John Morgan referred to him numerous times throughout his journal. These wonderful Greensburg, Indiana obituaries tell the stories of their lives. Robert Marshall is the youngest brother  to Cyrus, Thomas, and Eliza who's obituaries were posted here earlier. 

Death of R. M.Hamilton.

[August 30, 1901, Greensburg Standard]

Review of a Long Life, Exhibiting Many Noble Qualities.

Robert Marshall Hamilton, who died August 5, 1901, at the residence of his son-in-law, S. L. Jackson, three miles east of Greensburg, was born November 17, 1811, on McBride’s Creek, some three miles southwest of Carlisle, Nicholas county, Ky. His father, Robert Hamilton, died in 1817; and his mother, Mary Edward Hamilton, removed with seven of her eleven children to this county in October, 1823, and settled on the farm, where the deceased lived continuously from that time to his death. Two brothers and two married sisters preceded the rest of the family to the same neighborhood, and of the eleven, eight lived in this county to more than seventy-five, and five to more than eighty years of age. Upon the marriage of his older brother, Thomas, in 1826, Robert M. succeeded, at the age of fifteen, to the management of his mother’s farm. September 26, 1834, he was married to Miss Mary Morgan, who lived with her mother on the farm where the orphans’ home now stands. Of the six children born to them. Thomas W., Charles C., Mr. [sic. Mrs.] J. T. Rankin, and Mrs. S. L. Jackson are living.  Naracissa died in childhood, December 5, 1840, and Garrard in early manhood, December 13, 1882. Mrs. Hamilton died February 4, 1884, after a lingering illness.

As a farmer Mr. Hamilton was something of a marvel to two generations. Beginning in the era of low prices and costly transportation he acquired by unremitting industry and energy more than twelve hundred acres of land; and it was one of his rare qualities, that though he had never spared himself in its accumulation, he gave it all to his children long before his death. About the same time he gave $1,000 to the endowment fund of the Kingston church, a like amount to the endowment of a professorship in Hanover College, named at his request after his mother, and $700 to the Camp Nelson colored school in Kentucky and the same amount to Washington and Swift Memorial Colleges in Tennessee.

Unlike most men intensely devoted to business, Mr. Hamilton took a strong interest in many public questions. He was almost born an abolitionist. He used to say he would like to have voted for Henry Clay in 1840, but stayed away from the polls rather than vote for a slaveholder. In 1844 he voted for James G. Burney and acted thereafter with the Liberty and Free Soil parties until the disruption of existing parties in 1854. He was a zealous Republican until the great issues growing out of the war and slavery were settled. But the temperance question had also had his livelong sympathy, probably since the first total abstinence movement in this county in 1827. It is recalled that in the old days he chose to haul his wheat to Madison rather than to accept a higher price from the Lawrenceburg distilleries. Upon the formation of the Prohibition party he felt called upon to make a great sacrifice of party, neighborhood and family ties in obedience to his convictions. However we may differ as to the practical value of this step the spirit of self-sacrifice for a principle in which it was made was most admirable. It was affecting to note how this veteran of the anti-slavery struggle fortified himself with memories of that older warfare for what he believed to be a new crusade against as great a wrong and a more galling servitude. 

Mr. Hamilton had long outlived those of his own generation, only one sister, Mrs. Minerva Donnell, surviving him. He had grown very feeble physically the last few months of his life, though his mind remained unclouded to the last. As he had never spared himself in earlier life, so to the very end he used the failing remnant of his strength to the utmost, driving about alone when other men would have been in their beds. He attended the reception given to his past at Kingston only four days before his death. His last ailment was so slight that but little apprehension was felt, yet he sank gradually into unconsciousness. In the late afternoon of the third day he passed almost imperceptibly from the sleep of dreams into the sleep of death.

In accordance with his expressed wish the funeral services were held  the following afternoon at the Kingston church of which the deceased had been a life-long member, conducted by the pastor, Rev. C. R. Adams, and attended by a large circle of relatives and friends. And so passed to his rest one who had in his long life, exhibited some of the strongest and most admirable traits of character.

Miss Eliza Hamilton. "their history, so far as application to her sex, was her’s."

Thus a newspaper obituary writer determined Miss Eliza Hamilton's seventy-year life be summed up by reading her brothers' obituaries that had appeared there earlier. Her "died" notice was published February 16, 1900 in the Greensburg Standard, Indiana newspaper.

Miss Hamilton was sister to Cyrus and Thomas Hamilton, early prominent pioneers to Decatur County Indiana. I posted information about them in 2010. My ongoing investigation of the Hamilton/Morgan connection has been greatly helped by the obituary collection nicely indexed and available from the Greensburg, Decatur, Indiana County Library.  Thank you so very much to the folks at Gene Alogy! 

Obituary, Cyrus Hamilton, 

[August 27, 1879, Decatur News]

Cyrus Hamilton was born July 14, 1800, on McBride’s creek, in Burbon (now Nicholas) county, Kentucky; was married to Polly McCoy on the 22^nd of February, 1822, and with his wife and his brother James E. and family, left the home of his boyhood to find, and found a new one in the then unbroken wilds of this county. On the 11^th of March succeeding they arrived at the locality  since so well known as their hospitable homes, where both made a permanent settlement, and which has been their home ever since. In March of last year he was seized with disease of the kidneys and bladder, from which he was a terrible sufferer, with only fitful relief, until Tuesday last. (August 19^th) about 1 o’clock when death came to his relief. 

Of the many early settlers of this county few have been better known to their citizens—for more actively and [illegible]  connected with her moral and social development. A Christian man—one of the “Sandcreek” (Kingston) Presbyterian church; an ardent temperance man, and a radical abolitionist, from the very inception of those movements, he assisted in the organization of these societies throughout his section of the country, —addressing the people thereon wherever he could get listeners.Though not an orator—not so much as a ‘speaker’ —he was a fine talker, and never failed to interest those who would hear him—though often his remarks feel upon prejudicial ears and he had to wait long for the fruits of his sowing. Those ears, however, and he lived to rejoice in the end. 

Mr. Hamilton came of a long lived race. In the years 1822 and 23 his mother, widow with four sons and eleven daughters emigrated to this country; four were then married, the others single; all but one lived till just past middle age and four of the daughters—Mrs. Sally Donnel, Mrs.Minera Donnell, Mrs. Jane Lowe and Miss Eliza Hamilton—and three of the sons James E., Thomas and R. M., are still living. Mother Hamilton lived to up in the seventies and the two sisters and a brother who settled here lived to a still greater age. Cyrus was the father of six children and about twenty five grandchildren, and he was the first death in his own or his children’s families. 

 For forty-seven years and seven months lacking three days, “Uncle Cyrus and Aunt Polly” had traveled the path way of life together, whether sharring its joys, together buffeting its misfortunes. He has been called home, she, bowed by age and disease, can tarry but a short while ere the winged messenger shall call for her. Funeral services were held at Kingston on Wednesday afternoon, and attended by a large concourse of relatives and personal friends of the deceased; sermon by the pastor, A. T. Rankin. —Standard.

These Hamiltons are family to Garrard Morgan's sister Mary "Polly" Morgan who married R. M. [Robert Marshall] Hamilton mentioned above. 

My own great great grandmother Eliza Ann Hamilton Morgan, married to Garrard Morgan, doesn't yet appear to be connected to these Hamiltons. Both groups immigrated to Indiana from Nicholas County, Kentucky. Eliza Ann is the daughter of James Hamilton, who is the son of John Hamilton. 

Thus far I haven't found any Roberts mentioned  in that family ancestry. Decatur County, Indiana information about Robert Marshall Hamilton, indicates he descended from a line of Roberts.

Hmmm!  Much still to do.

“Here lies a Christian wife, a Christian mother and a Christian neighbor.”

Mary Morgan Hamilton (sister to Garrard Morgan 1806 - ? ) is grandmother to  Mary and Walter Rankin.

OBITUARY 

[ February 8, 1884, Greensburg Standard]

Mrs. Mary [Morgan] Hamilton:

Mary Hamilton, wife of Robert Marshall Hamilton, died at 4:30 o’clock Saturday afternoon last, at the family residence four miles northeast of this city, after an illness of over three years of consumption, in the 72^nd year of her age. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday at the residence, conducted by Rev. A. T. Rankin, after which her remains were laid to rest in the Hamilton burying grounds in the Kingston cemetery.

“Aunt Polly” was a sister to the late Captain James and Gerrard Morgan, two well known and popular citizens of this county in former years. She was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, and with her widowed mother, Mrs. Sarah Morgan, and three brothers and a sister, emigrated to this county in 1823. They settled on the east part of the farm now owned by R. R. Cobb, one mile east of this city, which remained the family home until after the marriage of all the children and the decease of the mother.

At this backwoods home, on the 25^th day of Sept., 1834, Robert M. Hamilton and Mary Morgan were united in marriage, and at once made their residence on the farm that until death thus separated them has been their pleasant and happy home. Here were born to them six children, one of whom died in childhood, another about a year ago in his young manhood, while the other four reside in the neighborhood—all of them respected members of society.

In her early youth  [while growing up in Kentucky] “Aunt Polly” made profession of her faith in Christ and connected with the Christian church. Sometime after her marriage [in Greensburg, Indiana] she transferred her membership to the Sandcreek (new Kingston) Presbyterian church, in which communion she continued until her decease, bearing witness through her long life to that Faith that sustained her to her long afflictions and was her comfort in her hour of dissolution.

Let her epitaph be written. "Here lies a Christian wife, a Christian mother and a Christian neighbor." O.T. (February 8, 1884 Greensburg Standard)

Hamilton - Morgan connection. Miss Mary Rankin, Walter's sister.

In my attempt to "figure out" our Hamilton - Morgan family connections I've read through a great many Decatur, Indiana county obituaries. 

Some of them call out to being shared. (Continued from here.)

Rites Set for Ex-Resident

Miss Mary Rankin [died 10-26-1973] To Be Buried Here

Graveside rites for Miss Mary Rankin, 89, who died at 12:15 p.m. Thursday in the Methodist Memorial Home at Warren after a brief illness, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Kingston Cemetery. The Rev. Herbert Townsend Jr., pastor of the Kingston United Presbyterian Church will conduct the services. The body has been cremated.

Since July, 1850 Miss Rankin had been a guest at the home at Warren.

A descendant of pioneer families of Decatur County, Miss Rankin made her last visit here at the time of the annual Donnell-Hamilton-McCoy reunion on Aug. 5.

For over a half century, Miss Rankin was preminently identified with church, health ahd club activities in this community.

Born on May 16, 1884 on the family farm at McCoy’s Station east of Greensburg, Miss Rankin was the daughter of John T. and Sarah Hamilton Rankin. In disposing of the bulk of her acreage in Dec. 1950, Miss Rankin terminated a farm relationship with the John Menkhaus family covering 45 years.

Her father died on Dec. 28 1914. At the time of death on Nov. 2 1942 her mother, Mrs. Sarah Hamilton Rankin, then 97, was the oldest resident of Decatur County.

Miss Rankin was a granddaughter of the Rev. John T. Rankin who was a prominent figure in the anti-slavery movement before the Civil War. The former residence of the Rev. Rankin a Ripley, Ohio, has been preserved as a historic home.

After attending the McCoy Grade School and Greensburg High School, Miss Rankin completed her high school education at Western College for Women, Oxford, Ohio.

Subsequently, she enrolled at Oberlin College t Oberlin, Ohio from which she was awarded an A.B. degree in 1906 and a M.A. degree later. She was listed as the oldest graduate of Oberlin College.

The oldest member of the Kingston United Presbyterian Church, Miss Rankin was active in church assignments throughout her life. She served as president of the Whitewater Presbyterial Society and engaged in women’s activities of the Kingston Church.

From 1928 to 1939, Miss Rankin was the executive secretary of the Decatur County Tuberculosis Association. During this period the county association gained citations from the state association: for several successive years. She was a former secretary of the T. B. Secretaries’ Association of Indiana and held membership on the board of directors of the Indiana Tuberculosis Association. Her experience in the health field was recognized as an assignment as

Rites Set (continued from page one)

A case worker in Boone County.

One of the organizers of the Greensburg Department Club, Miss Rankin was a former president. She also served as president of the Progress Club in the Kingston Community, the Greensburg Business and professional Women’s Club and the Greensburg Music Club. She was a mbmer of the Giv-Un-Take Garden Club for an extended period.

As a world traveler, she has visited Australia, new Zealand, Alaska, The Holy Land, Italy, Germany and Central America. In addition she had traveled in every state in the United States, relating her experiences in travel to numerous groups.

During and after World War II, she was director for Decatur County of women’s work in the civil defense program.

Surviving Miss Rankin are a number of cousins.

from - Greensburg Daily News, Decatur, Indiana Library, Obituaries. Thank you very much! http://www.greensburglibrary.org/library-services/local-history-and-genealogy/obituaries-2

Mary Rankin and her brother Walter.

Garrard Morgan's sister Mary "Polly" Morgan was married on September 26, 1834 to Robert Marshall Hamilton in Greensburg, Indiana. They were married in the home they would live their lives out together in. Their daughter Sarah Morgan Hamilton married John T. Rankin and they had one daughter Mary. 

Six years ago I asked the question, what happened to Mary Morgan Hamilton's granddaughter (Mary Rankin) who appeared to be named Mary for her grandmother?  

According to the Social Security Index Mary lived from May 16, 1884 until October 1973, and died at the age of 89.

Mary was her mother Sarah’s only living child in the 1900 census. Sarah claimed she had four children and sixteen-year-old Mary was then her only living child. Census numbers evidence such sadness.  

May 6, 1890

Walter, son of John T. and Sarah Rankin, died Tuesday, May 6, 1890, in the 9^th year of his age, of diphtheria, and was buried at Kingston Wednesday morning. He was a promising boy, and his parents feel deeply their loss. It seemed specially sad that, the disease being contagious, so few of their many friends could attend the funeral. Their beautiful home at McCoy seemed darkened by the angel of death. But the parents have the Christian hope of meeting the loved one in the beautiful world. He will be missed by his Sabbath school teacher and from his place in the church at Kingston, of which he was a baptized member. Services at the house and grave were conducted by his uncle, Rev. A. T. Rankin, and the body put to rest in his grandfather’s, R. M. Hamilton, beautiful lot in the cemetery. His sister, younger than he, has recovered from the same. It is hoped there may be no other cases.   From The Saturday Review.