I should probably start here with a bit of history as to where we began. This is as far back as I have information on the Hamlin side or Hamblin, since this was our name at that time.
Benjamin Hamblin Born January 31, 1790. Died June 4, 1842.
Rebecca Hurd born April 20, 1792. Died July 11, 1835. They were Married ? They are the parents of Orson Hamblin.
Benjamin and Rebecca were my Great Great Great Grandparents.
Orson and Minerva Hamblin are the parents of William and Martha Hamblin. Orson and Minerva are both buried at the Highmore, SD cemetery. Orson was born in 1813. Minerva was born 1819 and died 1898. Minerva died at 436 W. 61st Place Chicago, Ill. After a short funeral there by Rev. Mr. Coon. Orson returned to Highmore, SD with William. Minerva was laid to rest at the Highmore cemetery and Orson resided there with William and Eva until he passed away, but I don't know what year. Martha was living in Salmon River, NY and was in too frail health to attend the funeral. She had married B. E. Whipple.
I also found evidence that Orson must have filed for a homestead also, BLM records show The Heirs of Orson Hamlin filed July 1905.
March 30, 2001, update.....I recieved the homestead papers from the National Archives today. Orson filed for his homestead on March 2, 1900. It was the SE quarter of section 12 Township 113N Range 72W. I believe this was the quarter that was south of Highmore that we used to mow and later on Gordon Hamlin owned. William Hamlin, Sr. was the final reciever as the heir of Orson. Orson built a 12 foot by 12 foot house July 10, 1900 and lived there until he became too ill to care for himself about September, 1901. He passed away in December, 1901. He had put up about 80 tons of hay there that year and had wire fenced around the stack. The value of the house was put at $100.00. Another update May 5, 2001.****Seems as I was wrong as to the location of this quarter. The Highmore Herald this week had a map of Hyde county on the front page showing the Townships. Orson's quarter was in LINCOLN TOWNSHIP not Highmore township. That puts it about 5 miles straight North of Highmore.
I also found that the address 436 W. 61st Place Chicago, Ill. was in Englewood, Ill. before Englewood was annexed to Chicago in 1889. I'm wondering now if maybe William and Eva had been sharing a home with his parents or did they have seperate homes there? It would also be interesting to know where Eva's parents and siblings were living in Chicago at that time. Since William and Eva lived in Englewood for about ten years and Orson and Minerva possibly longer, You might be interested in this Story of Englewood by a Chicago newspaper.
William Bernard Hamblin was born March 22, 1841 at Potsdam, New York. He married Eva Almeda Barney on October 18 1866 at Belleville, NY. They were married by Rev. B.E. Whipple, which could have been Martha's husband but I don't know for sure. They are both buried in the Highmore, SD Cemetery. He died in 1925, She in 1912. At sometime during his service in the Union Army during the Civil War he or someone changed his name to Hamlin.
These were my great grandparents.
William or Will as I believe everyone new him, is the main reason that I am doing this web site.
Having been discharged from the cavalry on July 20, 1865. Since his discharge he lived in Camden, Oneida county, NY. until October, 1866. Of course he and Eva were married October 16th and he stated on one of the pension applications that from then to January 1867.
"I had no permenent residence. From which time I was in Toledo, O., Until November 1873, When I removed all to Englewood, Ill. Resided there until April 7th, 1883 and have been in Holabird Dakota to date A.D. 1885."He listed his occupation as having been a Mecanic, Baker, Grocer, and Farmer.
I don't have the date he filed for the homestead, I guess it was April 7, 1883. My sister in Highmore, SD has a copy of the grant, so I will get that info later. I do know his homestead was a little over one mile west and almost 2 miles south of Holabird, SD.
March 31, 2001. Update....I recieved the homestead papers from the National Archive on this last week. The papers show that he filed with the Huron, Dakota Territory land Office on October 22, 1880 and paid the $14.00 fee for SE quarter of section 17 Township 112N. A little confusion here, He also filed another entry form on October 22, 1883. This one is someting to do with his military service. But it says he is from Harrold, Hughes county, Dakota territory. Since Holabird was not establish at that time and Harrold was closer could be why. He built a house and established residence there on April 10, 1883. The house was 12 by 24 feet in size, one and 1/2 stories. Barn was 24 by 24 and 1 and 1/2 stories. He had 2 wells and 20 acres cultivated with a value of $800.00. Wife and four children at that time.
I believe they lived there until about 1898 sometime, when a tornado or something damaged the house severely.
They then had a small house in Holabird, SD for a short time before moving to Highmore, SD. I believe I remmeber my dad saying that this house was later moved to my grandfather's homestead which is where my dad was born in 1905. In 1921 my dad helped build the house that is still there. I think he said he dug the basement with a team of horses and a scoop thingy (I forgot what you call it).
When he died in 1925, The Highmore Herald newspaper printed his obituary. There is quite a few miss quotes about his Civil War action but I thought this part was quite an honor:
Mr. Hamlin was not only a soldier, but a pioneer and a Christian gentleman. He was a kind and affectionate father. He knew the hardships of the early pioneer days in the eighties and nineties but he is said to have maintained an unquenchable optimism. He knew from first hand experience and observation many and varied crises in the building of this great nation. He will be missed not only by the immediate members of his family, but by his many friends who in later years saw him almost every day upon the streets of Highmore.
I don't know a lot about Eva but will give you what I have. All I have so far is alink to a genealogy page of her father's, Norman Barney.He must have homesteaded in Hyde county about the same time as my great grandfather, but returned to Chicago after proving up. The only question is that he died January 1887 and this land deal which was a cash purchase was dated January 1888. The land records also show a F. N. Barney and Joshua Barney then also, which are Eva's brothers. Norman and Joshua filed on quarters in the same section 21 of Holabird Township, Which I believe would be near the old south Holabird school and the old Art or Matt Ellerton place. Eva's sister Mary and husband Henry A. Parker came to Hyde county and homesteaded here also. The 1908 Hyde County History said that quite a number of people from Chicago had come to the Holabird area of Hyde County about that time, but I don't know if they all knew each other.
Their children:
William Bernard Hamlin was my grandfather, he married Annie Jane Gadd on June 21, 1899 in Highmore, SD. Annie was born November 10, 1879, in Dixon, Iowa, Died January 20, 1927 at Holabird, SD.
UPDATE April 1, 2001....I recieved the homestead paper from The National Archives last week and will give a little summary here. William B. Hamlin Jr. of Holabird P.O. Hyde County, Dakota do hereby apply to enter, under Section 2289. Revised Statues of the United States, the South East quarter (SE1/4) of Section 8, in township 112N of Range 73, containing 160 acres. dated March 12, 1896. Was recorded at the Land Office in Huron S.D. on March 14, 1896. He then built a house 22 by 42 feet, 1 1/2 stories. Barn 20 by 64 feet with shingle roof. Barn 20 by 120 with hay roof. Barn 14 by 64 feet with hay roof. Good well with windmill and tank. 100 acres fenced 2 wires. 60 acres broke. $1500.00 value. Final reciever receipt was dated May 12, 1902.
Their children:
My grandmother died in January after Dorothy Jean was born. My Mom and Dad, with my brother Wayne, moved in with my grandfather to help take care of Dad's siblings. I was ten years old when my SISTER Jean(Dorothy Jean) told me she was my AUNT not my sister. I was devastated, but got over it.
Another interesting family thing is the W. B. Hamlin names. Starting with my great gandfather, he was first with the W. B.
E-Mail Webmaster Leonard Hamlin
Created on ... December 21, 2000