File contributed by Fred Hamilton

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Biography of J.D. and Lady Belle McCleish Hamilton

Presented at the 35th Annual Hamilton Family Reunion
Downsville United Methodist Church
Downsville, Louisiana
August 1, 1993


	J. D. Hamilton was the eleventh and last child born to Dr. James Meriwether and 
Julia Calhoun Hamilton.  He was born in Downsville, Louisiana on September 16, 1897.  
His wife, the former Lady Belle McCleish, was born October 10, 1903 in Athens, 
Louisiana.  Her parents were William John and Willie Walker McCleish

	J. D. attended public school in Downsville.  He received the equivalent of a high 
school diploma from Louisiana Industrial Institute in Ruston and then attended 
Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.  Though he had more enough hours to 
receive a college degree, he never graduated.  His father was determined that J. D. 
would become a lawyer, but kept changing his major and never received the law 
degree.  While at LSU, he was a member of the marching band, however he could not 
read music.  Since he could imitate anything or anybody, the band director ordered him 
to pretend to play his instrument when performing so to help the band look large.

	World War I came interrupted his studies.  He enlisted in the army in 1918 and 
stationed at LSU.  Upon entering the service, he told the recruiter his name was simply 
the initials "J. D."  He was informed that he had to have at least one name.  Originally, 
he had been named for his father's favorite brother, John D., however, since his mother 
had lost three children prior to his birth, having named one John, they felt they could not 
name another child John, so they simply named him "J.D."  To satisfy the army 
requirements, he gave himself the name, J. David.

	After leaving LSU, J. D. played professional baseball for the Memphis Chicks.  At 
the end of each season, he would return home to Downsville to fish and hunt.  It was 
during this time, that he met his future wife, Lady Belle McCleish.  Lady Belle had come 
to Downsville for her first teaching position. She taught a portion of the 7th grade and 
high school home economics.  About two weeks before she was to begin teaching, the 
Downsville school burned.  She and another teacher were assigned a classroom in the 
Downsville Methodist Church.  The two classes were separated by pieces of card board 
which made teaching most difficult.  Her Home Economics class was taught in a spare 
room in the office of local physician, Dr. Victor Carey.  Lady Belle had to find a way to 
provide cooking utensils to teach the class.  To raise funds for these items, she had her 
class prepare mayhaw jelly to sell as a fund raiser.  The class took a field trip to Frost 
Town to gather the mayhaws.  While gathering the mayhaws, they discovered a very 
large, angry cotton mouth water moccasin.  Lady Belle promptly took a stick and began 
to beat the snake to death, thus being quite a hero to her students.  


	The next school year found Lady Belle teaching first grade in Cotton Valley.  It 
was here that J. D. presented her with an engagement ring on one of his many trips to 
visit her.  They were married June 18, 1925 in a garden setting under the large trees at 
the home of her parents in Athens, Louisiana.  

	There was a pre-engagement agreement that they not live in Downsville because 
it was such a small community, so off to Monroe they went.  They moved to Monroe just 
at the opening of the newly built Virginia Hotel and they were fortunate to obtain a five 
year lease on the hotel concession stand.  Lady Belle managed the stand during the 
day and J. D. operated it until closing time each night.  This was such a profitable 
business that when the 5 year lease was up, the hotel would not renew it because they 
wanted to reap the profits.

	In 1927, J. D. and Lady Belle bought their first and only home at 1705 North Fifth 
Street in Monroe for approximately $6,000.00.  Their monthly payments being only 
$30.00.  

	Their only child, James Meriwether Hamilton, II was born on October 9, 1928.  J. 
D. was so determined that his son be named for his father, that he gave the nurses the 
name before Lady Belle had a chance to have her say.  He often helped with the baby 
chores and later often took his son hunting and fishing.  

	With his father's help, J. D. opened a billiard parlor, but due to the Depression the 
business failed and J. D. was without a job for some time.  Lady Belle was fortunate in 
securing work at the local welfare office.  

	In 1940, J. D. got a job with the Louisiana State Employment Office.  With this 
steady job, Lady Belle was able to quit work and spend her time just raising her family.  
It was some of the happiest years of their lives.  

	When the First Presbyterian Church split, they along with approximately 200 
other members left to form Covenant Presbyterian Church.  This split seemed to have 
changed his life for he became very active in helping this new church grow.  He served 
on the church visitation committee and later as an elder.  J. D. died February 17, 1954 
in Monroe.  He was buried at the Alabama Presbyterian Church cemetery in Sibley.  

	After his death, Lady Belle returned to work with the welfare department and 
retired in January 1973 just prior to her 70th birthday.

	Today Lady Belle continues to live at their home in Monroe.  In 1989 at age 86, 
due to failing eyesight, she gave up driving.  She is still very active in her church and 
loves to play bridge.  She has many friends who are willing to see that she doesn't miss 
any of favorite activities.  As of this writing, J. D. and Lady Belle have two grandchildren 
and two great grandchildren.  


WHO'S WHO IN THE TWIN CITIES:  BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF LEADING 
PERSONS IN THE SOCIAL, COMMERCIAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND POLITICAL 
AFFAIRS OF THE TWIN CITIES AND OUACHITA PARISH.  Pub. by H.H. 
Brinsmade, 1931, page 77, says:        

	 HAMILTON, J.D.      Owner and operator of J.D.'s Billiard Parlor.  Born in Union 
Parish, Louisiana, September 16, 1897.  Received early education in that parish.  Later 
attended L.S.U., graduating in 1919.  After college became a professional baseball player, 
following this until 1925 when took over the Hotel Virginia Cigar stand.  Left this 
business in July, 1930, to establish present business. Enlisted in the army in 1918 and 
was stationed at L.S.U., being transferred later to Camp Pike to attend Officer's Training 
School.  Mustered out of the service in December, 1918.  Member National Association 
Professional Baseball Players.  Married Miss Lady Belle McCleish, of Athens, Louisiana in 
1925. There is one child. 


OBIT--MONROE MORNING WORLD, Feb. 17, 1954, page 2A 
HAMILTON RITES WILL BE HELD IN 2 PLACES FRIDAY 

     A prayer service at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Mulhearn Funeral Home Chapel is planned for 
J.D. Hamilton, 57, well known and highly regarded resident who died late Wednesday in a 
hospital after a short illness.  After this service, the body will be taken to Alabama 
Presbyterian Church near Choudrant, where the service will be conducted by Rev. Wayne 
W. Gray, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Monroe.   

    Interment will be in the Alabama Church cemetery.    
  
    Mr. Hamilton, native of Downsville, was born there September 16, 1897.  He attended 
public schools and later enrolled at Louisiana State University, at the time planning to 
become a lawyer.  Plans were changed and he did not enter the legal profession.  

    In the early days of Hotel Virginia, he operated the cigar and newstand there for some 
years, later entering employment of the state in the Louisiana Department of Labor which 
has offices on Louisville Avenue.  

    He was a faithful employee and was especially interested in the finding of employment 
for crippled boys and girls, men and women.  

    When the Covenant Presbyterian Church was formed, he was a charter member, and 
also was later elected an elder in which he was ever an earnest worker as in all other lines 
of the church activities.      

     He is survived by his wife, one son, Dr. J.M. Hamilton, stationed at Shaw Field in South 
Carolina, who was summoned when his father grew worse and was here at the time of 
death; three sisters, Mrs. W.T. Sartor, Alto; Mrs. Robert McGehee, Downsville; Mrs. 
James P. Hinton, Sr., Downsville; and three brothers, J.C. Hamilton, Dubach; F.S. and J.J. 
Hamilton, Downsville.

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