THE STURGEON BAY ADVOCATE 1918-06-20
Volume: 57 Issue: 13 Page:1

"JUDGE HAMILTON DIES
_______

OLD AND PROMINENT RESIDENT OF THIS CITY PASSES AWAY AT
MILWAUKEE FRIDAY.
_________

FUNERAL WAS HELD HERE MONDAY
______

Remains Brought Here and Interred in
Bayside Cemetery-— Masons Con-
duct Last Rites.
_______

'Judge Fizt James Hamilton, a promi­-
nent citizen of Sturgeon Bay, for over
forty years died in Milwaukee Friday ev­-
ening about 7:00 o'clock, aged 76 years,
3 months and three days. His demise
was not unexpected as he had been fail-­
ing for a number of years past and the
final summons was no doubt a welcome
relief to him. Deceased became af­-
flicted with a disease of the brain about
four years ago and in March, 1915, he
was removed to an Oshkosh hospital and
later to one at Milwaukee.

Mr. Hamilton was born in the town of
Oakfield, Genesee county, New York,
March 11, 1842. He attended the com-
mon school of that village and later on
the Cary Collegiate institute of the same
place, fitting himself for a school teacher
and commencing that work at the age of
nineteen. He followed this line of work
for sixteen years in the States of Ohio,
Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, com-
ing to Sturgeon Bay in May, 1871 and
accepting the position of principal of the
then village school here. He continued
in this capacity for seven years and at
the same time studied law during his
spare time. In 1876 he was admitted to
the bar. From then, on he went into
politics and held some public office until
he retired in 1910. In 1879 he quit as
principal of the school to accept the
office of county judge of Door county, be­-
ing appointed to this office by then Gov.
Wm. E. Smith. In 1881 he was elected
to the same office and served a term
thus being county judge for seven years.
After that he was elected to various
civic offices of trust and honor, among
which may be mentioned, president of
the village of Sturgeon Bay, city attor­ney,
city clerk, president and clerk of the
school board. He also practiced law
when public affairs permitted him to do
so. In November, 1898, he received the
appointment as postmaster of Sturgeon
Bay and continued in that capacity, for
twelve years or until 1910, when he re
tired.

Judge Hamilton was also prominent in
Freemasonry. He was among those who
organized the local branch of that lodge,
Henry S. Baird, No. 211, and he became
its first master. He was also a member
of Warren Chapter and Palestine Com-
mandery, at Green Bay.

Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss El-
len A. Raymond, a resident of Sun Prai­-
rie, Walworth county, Wis., in 1869. To
the couple five children were born, three
passing away and the other two, with
their aged mother, being left to mourn
the death of their husband and father,
These children are Belle, now Mrs. Clar­-
ence E. Long, and Maud, wife of Capt
Mel. Mackey, both of Milwaukee.

The remains were prepared for burial
in Milwaukee and were brought here
Monday morning, accompanied by Mr.
and Mrs. C. E. Long, Capt. and Mrs. Mel.
Mackey, Dr. Hugh Russel and wife and
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Russell, all of Milwau-
kee. Members of the Masonic order met
the party at the morning train and pro-
eeded to the Congregational church,
where the funeral ceremony was con­-
ducted by Rev. S. Groenfeldt, assisted by
Rev. Jos. E. Morris. At the graveside
the Masons conducted their beautiful
ceremony, the oration being delivered by
Jas. E. Johnson very impressively. The
remains were interred at the family lot
at Bayside cemetery.

Besides those from outside, mentioned
above, E. L. Russell and Judd Russell, of
Oshkosh, were here for the funeral. De-
ceased was an uncle of E. L. Russell and
grand uncle to Mr. Russell's children.

Mrs. F. J. Hamilton was not able to
come to the funeral. She is 75 years of
age and quite feeble. About a year ago
she had a paralytic stroke and although
quite recovered from that, it was consid­-
ered inadvisable for her to make the long
trip. "