OBITUARY: NATHANIEL VERNON HAMLIN

Funeral services for Vern Hamlin, 87, of Braddyville, were held this afternoon at the Braddyville Christian Church, Burial under the direction of the Lavelle Funeral Home was in the Braddyville Cemetery.

Reverend Carl Cummings was the minister. Vocalist was Gilbert Burch, accompanied by Mrs. Gilbert Burch. Casket bearers were Claude Apple, Robert Case, Ted Laub, Robert McClure, Gerald Mattes and Oral Moore. At the register was Mrs. Larry Clark, Ushers were Arnold Davison and Maynard Burch. Hamlin died Friday afternoon at the municipal hospital after being admitted June 4.

Born Jan. 27, 1885 at Exira, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Hamlin, he was raised in the Exira area where he attended public school.

Vernon married Muriel H. Payne January 3, 1910 in South Bend, Indiana, Saint Joeseph Co., and they were together for only two months when she passed away. Muriel was the daughter of John F. and Mary "Mae" Bascom Payne of Toto, Starke Co., Indiana

He was married to Vannie Farrens, June 9, 1914, at Lincoln, Neb. As an engineer he worked on river straightening projects in Iowa and Nebraska for almost 20 years. Moving to Braddyville in 1925, he was elected to the city council in 1927, serving two terms, then was elected mayor, serving 14 consecutive terms.

He was a past member of the Braddyville Lions Club. Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife in 1957 and one brother.
Surviving are five sisters, Mrs. Maude Kreamer, Mrs. Claire McAninch, Mrs. Delphine Carter, all of Exira, Mrs. Carl (Evlyn) Hensley of Braddyville and Mrs. Edith Newland of Belle Plaine, and three brothers, Robert of Bonaparte, Douglas of Farmington, and Cecil of Chillicothe, Missouri, and several nieces, nephews, and friends.
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Following is an article written by Richard Osterholm, A World-Herald Staff Member: (there is no date on this newspaper article)

" Braddyville, Ia.- Folks here just won't let Mayor Vern Hamlin, 76, toss in the political towel.
He has been this Page County town's Mayor since 1934.
On January 1, he will begin his fourteenth consecutive term-a record in Braddyville's political arena.

"I haven't been trying to set any records, though," he observed. "In fact, I have tried not to be a candidate, but my friends just won't listen. I wasn't sure I wanted to run the last time but they said they had already put my name on the ballot."
Mr. Hamlin said he was "talked into" getting into politics shortly after he moved here in 1925.
"They asked me to run for the Town Council, so I did, and darned if I wasn't elected. That was in 1927. I was re-elected twice and then made the jump from the Council to Mayor."

The chain of 14 straight terms was almost broken several years ago when Mr. Hamlin and another candidate received the same number of votes.
"I won by a straw," he said. "We drew straws and I got the long one."
Mr. Hamlin said serving as Mayor of Braddyville, which has a population of 174, demands little time.
"Things are pretty quiet in a small town like this," he stated. The Mayor is supposed to be in charge of the police department, but we don't have one for me to be in charge of."

"About the only time I'm busy is when the Coucil meets. That's only once a month."

An engineer, Mr. Hamlin worked on river-straightening projects in Iowa and Nebraska almost 20 years.
"When I came here, I started farming, I still own the farm, but I don't do much of the work myself."

A native of Exira, Iowa, Mr. Hamlin is a member of a pioneer Audubon County family.
The town of Hamlin in Audubon County was named for his grandfather, Nathaniel Hamlin, who was one of the first settlers.

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Note: When my sister and I were young, we always called him "Uncle Beany" and it's been too many years now to remember where we came up with that name. He called my sister "Singy" as she was inclined to break into song at any given moment, and he nicknamed me "Skeeter" as I never set still I guess.
He had a very gentle disposition and soft voice, and he was loved by all who knew him.