March 14, 2021 GENEOLOGY #4 WALTER HENRY HAMILTON

Meet my Paternal Grandfather: Walter Henry (Elmo) Hamilton. He was born on June 30, 1871, in Oakdale,  Rockbridge County, Va. (Buffalo Creek area) to the parents of Wilcher Cardwell Hamilton and Sarah Missouri Shafer Hamilton (Our recent trip to the Rockbridge Circuit Court confirmed his

birth record as did his discharge papers from the Spanish America War). 

I know very little about Walter's early years. The 1880 Rockbridge Va. census, however, indicates that he, his Mom and Dad continued to live in the Buffalo Creek area. His Dad, Wilcher, was a farmer. Walter was 10yrs old. His Mom was 26 and his Dad was 33.

The photo below was taken in Fincastle, Va. It is the youngest photo of Walter that I have, and was probably taken near the year 1885.👇 I'm guessing that he was in his teens.

The earliest group sighting, in my photo stash of Walter, is a Hamilton Family Portrait, estimated time taken was 1888. Walter would have been 18yrs old. From left to right - standing are Wilcher (Walter's Dad), Walter, and Lucian(Wilcher's Brother). Seated are Sarah(Walter's Mom and Wilcher's first wife) Gerda, Lucy Jane Grimes Hamilton(Walter's Grandmother and Wilcher and Lucian's Mom), Nell, and Malona. (Lucian was married to Malona, and their 2 children were Gerda and Nell)

By 1892, Walter and his parents had relocated from Buffalo Creek to Clifton Forge. Walter was either 20 or 21, and more than likely a 'wild stallion' . It appears that Walter was somewhat of a prankster, as well. He enjoyed having a good time! He was quite the musician, as written in the newspaper article below. Not only did he sing in the church(in the middle of the night), he played the guitar(in the middle of the night). His partner in crime played the harmonica. 👇 

Oakland Church was built in 1834, and is now a historic 'must-see' stop in Selma(west of Clifton Forge). Locating places where my relatives lived and experienced life, and documenting with photos has become a favorite pastime.

 The 1890's was known as the Reconstruction Era. It was also known as the "Gay Nineties" and "The Gilded Age". William McKinley became President in 1896. Fanny Farmer published her 1st cookbook. Utah became the 45th US state. In 1898 the US/Spanish War was declared. Walter enlisted. He was 27. Photos below are of the Company E, Fourth Virginia Regiment. 

Walter Henry Hamilton believed to be #10 from the right on the first row👇

He served 2 years and was discharged by reason of "muster out of the company". Walter was a MUSICIAN in the regiment, and I think he played the guitar😀. **** According to an interview years ago with my Uncle Craig, Walter spent several months at the Hampton VA medical center, after his discharge. Reasons are not clear as to why he was there. He suffered with severe eczema most of his life. He returned home (Clifton Forge, Va) and worked as an insurance agent, and worked in the undertaking business.***** More information on the HISTORY of the Hampton VA Medical Center can be read here U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

 

February 13, 1906, Walter Henry Hamilton and Laura Effle Trenor were married at 526 6th Ave NE, Roanoke, Va. As noted in license below, Walter was 35 years old and Laura was 22 years old when they married!

The photo below, of my paternal grandparents, was taken at Griffith's Studio in Clifton Forge. They began their married life together in this area.

During part of their time in Clifton Forge, Laura was a seamstress, and Walter was an accountant with the White Sewing Machine company. Perhaps he sold sewing machines, as well! 

Their first year of marriage included sadness, grief, and loss. Walter and Laura's first child, Bessie Madeline, died in April 1907. Walter's Mother, Sarah(Sallie), died 3 months later on July 23, 1907😢. Both are buried in Crown Hill Cemetery, Clifton Forge.

   

Walter and Laura continued living with Wilcher.  Their second child was born, Lela Cardwell Hamilton, July 6, 1908, in the white house, pictured below.

BTW, the house still stands today! (at the corner of Tremont St and McCormick Blvd).  It has been lovingly restored.

Wilcher, Walter's father, remarried in 1910 to Bessie Lillian Graves(Hamilton), and remained living in this house until he died. Walter and Laura moved to Nace, Virginia. 

The year1910 also brought another child into Walter and Laura's lives. Pictured below, is the house(no longer standing) where Vera Jefferson Hamilton was born, 👇 April 19, 1910. Laura's parents, Willie Jefferson Trenor and Mary C Garman(Trenor) were living in Nace as well. My intuition tells me this was the motivation for their move to the area.

According to the Roanoke City Directories, Walter, Laura and the 2 children moved to Roanoke. Va. in  1912-1913. Walter was employed at Reams, Jones, & Blankenship Home Furnishings(collector banking accounting). The downtown building still stands. "The Masonic Temple was constructed on this site in 1911 providing street level retail space first to RJB and later to Roanoke Book and Stationery." Photos property of History Museum of Western Virginia 

The big recession of 1913-14 created an unemployment rate that was extremely high. "People walked everywhere, lived in 3-generation homes that they rarely owned, and ate almost as much lard as chicken."( I remember my Dad telling me how much he loved lard and onion sandwiches😮). Walter was lucky to have a job.  Regrettably, his job didn't always pay the rent, triggering his family of 4(and soon to be 6), to move within the Roanoke City 8 times between the years 1913 -1924. 

Walter and Laura's twins were born March 23, 1917: Walter Craig and Carl Cannaday(my Dad). Photo below was taken at 351 Elm Ave. It included Lela, Vera, Craig and Carl. (Laura's younger sister, 'Ressie', lived across the street at 360 Elm Ave). The black rocking chair resides in my den! ***** It was at this point, in my research, that I tried to imagine myself with 4 kids, the 1918-1919 Pandemic Spanish flu,  moving every year to another 3-4 room rental, providing food, keeping safe, and keeping my mental sanity.***** 

Walter and his family of 6 moved to 316 Day Ave in 1924. The twins were 6-7 yrs of age. Vera was 14, and Lela was 16*. Walter and Laura remained in the same rental house until 1949. 

One of the few trips taken with the part of his family occurred in 1933. Walter took his twins and Laura to Norfolk, to visit his good friend D.J.Tripple(D.J was his partner in crime in the church...see above newspaper article.). They traveled, over- night, on the  round-trip boat excursion from Norfolk to Baltimore, and back!(the cost was $4.95 round trip!). I have wondered many times how they traveled from Roanoke to Norfolk, as there was not a car in the family at this time. 

Reading about the history of The Old Bay Line - SS City of Norfolk was fascinating. It can be read here👉THE OLD BAY LINE 

Walter survived the 1929 stock market collapse,  the Great Depression of the 1920 and 1930s, as well as sending 2 boys to another country during WWII. Below are a few photos including Walter with Laura, and/or his children.....Lela, Vera, W.Craig and Carl. 

Walter loved music. He not only played the guitar, but played the banjo as well as the mandolin, and violin(as shown in photos)

He loved to play cards. He dabbled in carpentry, and made many useful pieces including this rocking chair. 

He was an insurance agent, a door-to-door salesman, an accountant, an undertaker, a carpenter.... a son, a husband, a father, and a grandfather. The year 1949 brought a few more 'moves' before their final one, to my childhood home in 1952-1953. Health issues sent Walter back and forth to the Salem VA  Medical Hospital, where he died of pneumonia in 1955. Laura continued to live with us for a few more years. 

I was 7 years old when my Grandfather died. One of my younger sisters was 5. We both remember Walter sitting at the dining room table. In his white dress shirt, he would continuously  drum/tap his fingers on the table. We remember him eating pancakes, and playing cards at the table, as well. We both vividly remember the large green oxygen tank that was placed by his bed. *Research now suggests that this tapping of fingers can indicate frustration/tension the person is feeling, or a person wants to leave, or wants to interrupt another person speaking. Finger tapping can also suggest Alzheimer's, Parkinson disease and/or mild cognitive impairment.*

Walter Henry Hamilton is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Roanoke, Va. 

No doubt there will continue to be more stories, photos, and timelines added to this blog. The importance of remembering my past has become fundamental in providing me with a sense of who I am. "REMEMBERING THE PAST AND GIVING THOUGHT TO THE FUTURE ARE IMPORTANT,  BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY HELP ONE DEAL WITH THE PRESENT."👈👈👈 That's my story, and I'm sticking to it! 😁😁😁

March 12, 2021 EagleRock, IronGate, CliftonForge

 

What an invigorating day trip Friday to Eagle Rock, Iron Gate, Selma, and Clifton Forge. It was a step back in time, off the beaten path, and included stops to fill in a few genealogy missing pieces! 

First stop in Eagle Rock included the 19th century kilns for making lime.  The lime was sold to farmers, as well as to many furnaces in the area for making PIG IRON.

Directly across the railroad tracks is this better visual of the placement of the kilns.

Looking behind the tracks, toward the river, was the bridge that was used to carry the lime.

The bridge was constructed in 1884 to cross over the James River. 

Our next stop was a visit to the Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church in nearby Selma. The historic Confederate cemetery which is also on the church grounds, was a highlight, as great-grandfathers were members of the Confederate armies. 

Of added interest to this stop:  my grandfather, Walter Henry Hamilton, sang, and played the guitar,  inside this church 😁😁😁....... in the middle of the night....... accompanied by his best friend...... on his birthday...... 

Next on our agenda was LUNCH!. Oh my, what fabulous ribs!  Roller's Smokehouse is located at 204 Market Street Ave in Iron Gate (also near Clifton Forge). Definitely worth a visit! 

Next stop was the Crown Hill Cemetery. Several of my paternal ancestors are buried in this beautiful cemetery overlooking Clifton Forge. Included in this visit was a confirmation of my grandparents'

first child. Yep, I cleaned a tombstone!

The tombstones below are part of the 8 Hamiltons in my genealogy searches, that are buried here. 

 

Ending out our day trip was a stop to observe the massive Paleozoic rock layers along highway 220! The sediments of sandstone made for interesting textures. More photos and explanations are found in this site: Eagle Rock 

The last stop was a bit lengthy, but worth the time and effort......Nicely Funeral Home. As luck would have it, a funeral was in process. The police and head hearse driver assured me it was OK to go to the office.......so I did!😮😳. There I received copies of death and birth certificates of relatives.

"Do not go where the path may lead.... go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."........... we left a trail!