| Early Johnson County settlers buried in Oak Hill Honorable Robert Walker Col. John Williams – promoted in the army and on his return elected county judge. Hon. George Paul – distinguished factor of Iowa politics Yale Hamilton Virgil Lancaster H. H. Winchester David Switzer Sam Holler John Saxton Archibald Gillilland Henry Headly James Douglas Jackson Frost & Jarvis Frost |
Honorable Robert Walker
Honorable
Robert Walker, born in Schenectady County, New York, in October 1802,
and moved to Johnson County in 1838 where he served as the first
justice of the peace in the new Iowa Territory. In his official
capacity he administered the oath of office to the Capital
Commissioners who located the territorial capital in Iowa City. In
1853, he married Hon. Le Grand Byington’s sister. In 1860, he moved to
his farm near Tiffin, where he died on October 28, 1879. During his
life and Johnson County residence, Judge Walker filled an influential
position and earned the respect bestowed him. His home and
property was listed in the 1870 Thompson & Evert Atlas.
A
former Indiana resident, Yale Hamilton was persuaded to move to the
Iowa Territory along with several others by a close friend Judge
Harris. Hamilton lived for a time in Lucas Township before
settling in Clear Creek. Hamilton’s name appears on the 1838 Johnson
County Tax List. His household and merchandise was valued at $50. He
also owned 8 cattle valued at $200; two cows and 40 cattle more than
three years old; and three head of cattle under three years old. At the
time he reportedly paid $1.33 for property valued at $265.50.
Hamilton was a member of Claim Association of Johnson County, which represented a number of settlers who lived on land that had not been surveyed. The group adopted a constitution, a code of laws that each one pledged to observe to defend their land claims.
Hamilton’s son J. C. Hamilton married Mary A. Hamilton (March 2, 1862) and lived on the Clear Creek farm near Tiffin. Together they had eight children. Her husband had two children with his first wife. Though Mary A. Hamilton received little formal education she passed examinations to teach school at age 15. She also wrote under the signature of “Kitty Carroll” for leading newspapers in Iowa including the Muscatine Journal, Dubuque Herald, Burlington Hawkeye, Keokuk Post and Tipton Advertiser. She also wrote a series of local letters from Tiffin which was said to be the genesis of “country correspondence” in the state.
Hamilton was a member of Claim Association of Johnson County, which represented a number of settlers who lived on land that had not been surveyed. The group adopted a constitution, a code of laws that each one pledged to observe to defend their land claims.
Hamilton’s son J. C. Hamilton married Mary A. Hamilton (March 2, 1862) and lived on the Clear Creek farm near Tiffin. Together they had eight children. Her husband had two children with his first wife. Though Mary A. Hamilton received little formal education she passed examinations to teach school at age 15. She also wrote under the signature of “Kitty Carroll” for leading newspapers in Iowa including the Muscatine Journal, Dubuque Herald, Burlington Hawkeye, Keokuk Post and Tipton Advertiser. She also wrote a series of local letters from Tiffin which was said to be the genesis of “country correspondence” in the state.