Earl Hodges was the first born son of Charles Henry Hamilton of Ellabell, Bryan Co., Georgia and Ella Hodges Hamilton of Moniac, Charlton, Co. Georgia. He was born on 4 January 1924 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida. His sister, Evelyn Louise is 4 years older and his brother, Myron Leon is three years his junior.
Jacksonville, Duval, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida is the largest city in Florida and is the county seat of Duval, County. Ella’s mother, Victoria Sweat Hodges was born
It is located in northeast region and is centered on the banks of the St. Johns River. It is located about 25 miles south of the Georgia state line.
Historians hold that the Timucua tribe of Indians lived on the site of today’s Jacksonville since before the year 2000 B.C.
It was inhabited in 1564 and is one of the earliest European settlements. Florida was not one of the original colonies and was acquired by the United States from Spain in 1821. The city was named Jacksonville after General Andrew Jackson, the provisional governor of the Florida Territory. He later became the 7th President of the United State.
After the Civil War, the city began to flourish and became a favorite winter vacation spot for those trying to escape the cold weather of the Northeast region of the U.S.
There are two Naval Bases in Jacksonville that were built during the Second World War, which accounts for much of the areas population. At the present time, it is a thriving city with over a million citizens.
Jacksonville is often affected by Hurricanes… averaging about every three years.
Birth
Childhood
Earl was born on Jacksonville Florida. He was about one year old when the family moved back to the Savannah area at Bona Bella, which was closer to the Atlantic near Thunder Bolt. They stayed in Bona Bella for several years before moving out of the city to the country. Their home was located on Ogeechee Road (Atlantic Coastal Highway 17.) They remained there until Charles, Ella and Myron moved to Utah in about 1945. Earl went into the service before the family moved to Utah.
Earl and Evelyn Hamilton
The Move To Utah
Education
Military Service
Marriage
On 21 June 1946, Earl took Collen Ruth Page, of Provo, Utah, to the Manti Temple to be married and sealed.
Occupation
Church
Earl was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints.
Children
Earl and Colleen had eight children…. six girls and two boys.
Earleen 1947 – Kay 1948 – Lynn 1951 – Nancy 1954 – Gail 1956 – Cherie 1957 – David Page 1959 – Douglas Earl 1964
Death
Earl Hodges Hamilton passed away in Whittier, California on 10 April 1995. He was 81 years old. Funeral services were held in Whittier on April 15, 2005. He was interned in the Parowan City Cemetery in Parowan, Iron, Utah on 16 April 2005
Stories
Cow Pies
My Great Grandpa (Earl Hamilton) got a job picking up cow pies that they sell for people to use as fuel/ burn to keep warm. He spent all day picking them up and then at the end of the day he had earned one dollar. The next day he used that dollar to buy a goat. He took the goat home, tied it up and went inside to eat lunch and when he came back out the goat had chewed through the rope and was gone. Submitted by Great Grandson Peyton Kali Gardner. 3/12/18