Nathaniel D. married Elva Crane November 7, 1881 in Audubon County, Iowa., and was a member of the Exodus Masonic Lodge No. 342, at Exira, Iowa, and a member of Woodmen of The World.
He also was known in the area as being an expert horseman.

OBITUARY: DEATH OF NATHANIEL D. HAMLIN

Our citizens were shocked to learn of the death of Nathaniel Douglas Hamlin of Exira, which occurred last Friday, May 21, at Iowa City, where he had gone a short time before for an operation for kidney trouble. Few knew that he was ill and his death came as a distinct surprise. His death removed from the active pursuits of life one of the oldest settlers of the county, he having been born in this county in the historic log cabin of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Hamlin, who were the first white settlers of Audubon county, they locating on a 160 acre farm on Troublesome Creek, southeast of Exira, September 10, 1851. Theirs was a double log cabin with two rooms. Here Nathaniel D. Hamlin was born May 29, 1860. At the time of his death he was fifty-four years, eleven months, and twenty-three days old, all of which time he has been a resident of the county of his nativity. He was always prominently identified with the interests of the county and at one time was one of the supervisors of the county.

He was married in 1881 to Miss Elva Crane and to this union eleven children were born; six boys and five girls; Roy, of Villisca, Iowa; Vernon, of Bradyville; Robert, of Hulsa, Iowa; Mrs. B. F. Kramer, Mrs. C. L. McAninch, Miss Edythe, of Iowa City, Iowa; Evelyn, Delphine, Douglas and Cecil, of Exira, all of whom were present at the burial. One boy having died in infancy.

His remains were brought to Exira Saturday morning and funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the Congregational church. Rev. Jesse Getty having charge of the services at the church and the Masonic lodge at the cemetery. He was a member of the W. O. W. lodge, who attended in a body.
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Note:

Nathaniel Douglas and his family did leave Audubon County to live in the Harrison, Nebraska area for a while.

The infant son was named Douglas Hamlin. He only lived one week and was buried in Harrison, Nebraska near the family home.

From the History of Sioux County, Nebraska, page 39, N. D. Hamlin was listed as a resident near Harrison, around 1890-1891. The family was said to have lived in a sod house on the sand hills.

"Evidently Nathaniel not only worked in a Saloon to make a living, but he also did horse trading. The Indians around there had been fairly friendly, and one day while Nathaniel was gone horse trading, an Indian came to the door and made the motion to Elva that he was hungry. After feeding him, and expecting him to leave, Elva noticed the Indian coming at her with a rather lurid look in his eyes. She backed up and went to the fireplace where a rifle hung, grabbed the gun and shot the Indian in the leg. At that time, a group of Indians came through the door and hauled the injured party away. After this happened, it is said that grandma Hamlin would look out her door and see Indians at the top of the hill guarding the house."

In a taped interview, a week before her 100th birthday, aunt Claire "Clara" Hamlin McAninch described her memories of her father and mother and her childhood.
She stated that her father was an expert horseman. He was called upon frequently to break wild horses for the community. One time, she said Nathaniel had driven a herd of wild horses from Nebraska to Audubon, Audubon, Iowa Upon their arrival home, the horses decided they wanted to return to Nebraska, and Nathaniel went after them and drove them all the way to Iowa again. The boys in the family worked hard doing the farm chores and tending to the livestock. The girls, and mother Hamlin, tended the children and Claire's favorite thing to do was to knead the fresh homemade bread.
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Note: The infant son was named Douglas Hamlin. He only lived one week and was buried at Harrison, Nebraska near the family cabin.