William Allen Hamlin was born July 26, 1850 in Mahaska Co., Iowa, the son of Nathaniel and Margaret Poage Hamlin. In 1851 his family became the first settlers to stake a claim near Troublesome Creek in Audubon Co., Iowa and called it Hamlin Grove.

At the age of 21, William married Florence Albertine Lewis on 9 December, 1871 in Iowa. About 4 years later they removed to Colorado and Wyoming. William and Florence were the parents of 7 children, one being an infant dying about 1872 in Audubon County and buried there in the Bowen Cemetery. A daughter, Lillian Agnes Hamlin was born 24 June, 1876 in Colorado, and died 16 July, 1884 in Colorado.

In the 1895 Iowa State Census, he was living back in Audubon Co., with two of his children and he was listed as divorced.
William left Iowa and moved on into Utah where he met and married his second wife, Mary Knowles Mellor on 16 May, 1900 at the Aldrich Ranch in Grand Co. Utah. They were the parents of a son, Nathaniel Hamlin, who was born April 16, 1901 and died September 7, 1902. He is buried near his parents in Plot 6-19-1.

In the 1910 Fayette, Sanpete Co., Utah census, William was listed as an agent for the N.S. Mining Company. Living with them was a son by Mary's first marriage to James Mellor.

William's death certificate states he died on 1 Feb., 1935 and was 84 yrs., 6 months, and 5 days old. He was listed as a prospector and had been working at that profession for 34 years, and had lived in Fayette for 32 years.

................

My thanks to Dona Barlow for sharing William's obituary, pictures, and story with me;


"OBITUARY OF WILLIAM A. HAMLIN
(taken from the Gunnison Valley News)

Submitted by Naomi Mellor Dorius

William Allen Hamlin was born in Mahaska County, Iowa, July 26, 1850, the son of Nathaniel and Margaret Poage Hamlin. He died at the age of 84, after an illness of three months, with apoplexy.
He came to Utah from Casper, Wyoming, in 1900, at which time he married Mary Knowles Mellor. He had been a successful prospector in Southern Utah, Nevada, and Wyoming, but when he came to Fayette in 1902 he took up gardening and poultry raising at which he proved to be successful until recently when owing to his age and poor health, he was unable to pursue his labors.
William was well known in the community for his honesty in civic affairs. Surviving him are his widow; three daughters by a former marriage, Mrs. Gertie Dixon, Mrs. Arthur James, and Mrs. Viva Gaylord from Casper, Wyoming. Two step-sons, William Mellor, Fayette, J.E. Mellor, Marysvale, and a step-daughter, Mrs. E. M. Reid of Kansas, also survives him.
Very impressive funeral services were held in the Fayette Chapel with Bishop Henry L. Bartholomew conducting. Inspiring talks were given by Charles S. Hanson, Henry Bartholomew, and Vernal Roper. Lovely music was furnished by Miss Jeanette Hanford, and Miss Beth Bardsley. Burial was in the Fayette Cemetery where the grave was dedicated by V. Lloyd Bartholomew. The many beautiful floral tributes spoke of the love and esteem people had for Mr. Hamlin.
All of his children and step-children were present and many friends from here and the neighboring cities gathered to pay their respects to this fine friend, and gentleman."
.................

Note: The three daughters listed in the obituary should read: Mrs. Arthur James, Mrs. Gertrude "Gertie" Dickie, and Mrs. Vina Gaylord.