by Karen Yvonne Hamilton, 2024
UPDATED September 17, 2025
Eugene Joseph ‘Josie’ HAMILTON was born on November 12, 1913, to Eugene Joseph ‘King Gene’ HAMILTON (1883-1966) and Rebecca Elizabeth JOHNSON (1887-1947).
SIBLINGS
- William Joseph was born on March 5, 1904.
- Nellie Mary was born on November 20, 1905
- Ellen Cathleen was born on April 2, 1908
- Rosalie M. was born on May 10, 1911
- Ethel Madelyn was born on August 23, 1914
- Irene Elizabeth was born on May 21, 1917
- Roy Philip was born on January 21, 1921
- Eugene Mervin was born on May 4, 1923
He married Isabel Rodriquez on November 6, 1931, in Florida. I have their children listed as Harvey, Maybelle, Irene, Jerry, and Mark Thomas.
ANY ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS ARE WELCOME!
Josie was well liked by all in the islands. He was deaf and did not speak. He is remembered as being an extraordinary builder and is said to have built homes and boats from salvaged materials.
He lived with his parents and siblings in Flamingo, FL in 1920. In 1930, he lived with his parents at Poinciana Point in the Everglades and worked as a Fisherman. Their family is also listed on the 1930 Key West census as living at 1415 Pearl St. Key West, FL. In 1940, Josie was living with his wife, Belle, and two children (Eugene and Maybelle) in Flamingo where he worked as a fisherman.
From Lostmans Heritage: Pioneers in the Florida Everglades, “ The families had occasional run-ins with the bad boys of the islands. William Rewis and his cohorts were well known in the region for their criminal activities and violent tendencies. In 1929, Sheriff Niles from Key West and his guide, Salvador Gomez, were lost for a few days in the islands after searching for the Rewis gang. Rewis was accused of stabbing Gene Hamilton in several places and slashing the throat of Gene’s son, Josie, the deaf-mute, while they were all at a dance on Lostmans River. Rewis also allegedly hit Rebecca Hamilton over the head with a boat hook and bit “a piece of her nose off” and assaulted her daughter, Irene.”
Aug 22 1931 The Key West Citizen
“On Turkey Key one night in August 1931, Josie Hamilton stopped by John Bodiford’s houseboat to ask if he had any gas. Now, Bodiford supposedly was sweet on Josie’s girl and had made some improper advances towards her. So, when Josie and his people showed up at his home, he figured Josie’s girl had told on him. He ordered Josie and the others off his boat. Then he went to get his knife. His nephew, Charles, fearing trouble, jumped Josie and the fight was on. John Bodiford appeared with a gun and fired a shot that struck Josie’s sister, Helen, in the hand. The bullet tore straight through her hand and buried itself in Josie’s belly. The trial, with John Bodiford charged with attempt to murder and Charles Bodiford charged as an accessory, went on throughout the fall.”
“ The Key West Citizen reported that “Young Hamilton (Josie) is well known to a number of Key West people having lived here for several months with his parents, who came here to attend a trial, following several attempts on the life of the father (King Gene). They stayed here until conditions became more settled in that section (Lostman River).”
Josie died on February 26, 1991, in Fort Myers, Florida, at the age of 77.
This newspaper article was found on Ancestry .com, posted by Iris Williams. It seems to be missing a page. I am trying to locate the article online to fill in the blanks.
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