Joseph Hamel was born in Michigan on March 17, 1882, to Joseph and Margaret Perkins Hamel. He came to Carrington with his parents in 1883. He lived in Carrington for 45 years. He was associated with the Livestock Meat and Produce Company, served as mayor and held other municipal offices. On June 15, 1903, he married at Carrington, Eva Adams, the daughter of Enoch Adams. The Hamels were the parents of seven children: Henry, Albert, Fay, Josephine, Virgil, Melvin and Molly.
Mrs. Hamel died and is buried in the Carrington Cemetery.
In 1939, Mr. Hamel married the Rev. Pearl Perrine, the pastor of the Carrington Nazarene Church. In 1945 they moved to Pasadena, California.
After Mrs. Hamel died in 1962, Mr. Hamel made his home with their daughter Cheryl March. '
Mr. Hamel died on March 17, 1976.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 25B