Mrs. Joseph R. Hamilton

MRS JOSEPH R. HAMILTON My maiden name was Mary Winnie Haynie. I was born near Rosston, Nevada County, Ark., April 29, 1890, the eldest of George Richard and Mary T, (Williams) Haynie's five children. Both George Richard Haynie and Mary T. Williams are from Pioneer Nevada County families. They now (1951) live at Camden, Ouachita County, Arkansas. My sister and brothers are Fannie Haynie Brown (Mrs. D.B.), Ottis Richard, Lawrence Edmund, and Bracy (died at Camden ark. July 31, 1950)

When I was 4 years old, my parents moved to Prescott where my father studied law in the office of Hon. C. C. Hamby. I attended private and public, and High Schools in Prescott; also, Summer Normals and Institutes for teachers, and took 2 correspondence courses in teacher training. I taught one year at Ozan, Hempstead County; one year at Gurdon, Clark County and 3 years in my hometown of Prescott. I enjoyed this work put never felt that I was very successful. I had five years piano and two years voice. And this bit of musical training has afforded me pleasure immeasurable. I have sung 58 years in the First Presbyterian Church Choir at Prescott.

On Dec. 27, 1911, 1 married Joseph Roland Hamilton of Prescott who has been a faithful and devoted companion, providing every material comfort my heart desired, His parents were Horace A. Hamilton and his wife, Sallie Montgomery who came to Prescott in 1895.

I have been active for many years in club and civic work in Prescott. Two years before it disbanded, I became a member of the Self Culture Club and was a delegate to state meeting of the Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs when it met in Little Rock about 1913 or 1914. I was a member of the Sorosis Literary Club. I was a member of Prescott’s first music club, Miss Virginia Watson, its president. I joined the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union in 1926 and have held office in the organization almost continuously since that time. Have attended several of its state conventions. I became a member of Prescott Garden Club at its second meeting as I was finishing a Commercial Course at the time it was organized, I have continued active in the work, its secretary 3 or 4 terms. ‘When Prescott Musical Coterie was organized (Feb. 1947), I became a charter member and its first secretary. I am a member of Prescott’s Business and Professional Women's Club, and also an Honorary member of Upsilon Chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma, an honorary society in Education. I was active in Red Cross work during the First and Second World Wars.

I joined the Cumberland Presbyterian church (now Presbyterian U.S.A.) at Prescott on July 16, 1903, when I was 13 years of age. I have been an active member ever since, teaching in almost every Dept. of the Sunday School, and was teacher of the McRae Memorial Bible Class (Woman’s Class) five consecutive years, being absent only 3 times during that period -- 1930-1935. I was secretary 2 years of Little Rock Presbyterial and its president 2 years. I have been president of the local Woman's Missionary Society several different times. I am at present Foreign Missions Secretary of Little Rock Presbyterial. For about 27 years, I have had as helper, a colored women whose name is Sarah McGuire Grays. She was born near a little village called Taylor between Stamps and the Ark-La. line. This woman has been to me far more than a colored maid. She has been a faithful friend and co-worker, sharing at all times my burdens, my joys and my sorrows.

My hobbies are: Horticulture, Ornithology, Genealogy. I have a collection of unpublished Nevada County Personal History. My great disappointment: I have no children.