- EDWARD T. HAMILTON, a resident of Milton, was born on the
19th day of January, 1819, in
- Allegany County, N.Y., and is a son of Freeborn and Tacy
(GREEN) HAMILTON. He was one of a family of twelve children,
seven of whom are now living.
- The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood in his native
State, receiving his education in the
- common schools. Thinking that the opportunities afforded
young men were better in the West than in the older states of
the East, he came to Wisconsin in 1842, and bought land in the
town of Harmony. After some months he sold his land to his brother
Horace G. and returned to New York, where in 1843 he was united
in marriage with Miss Welthy M. BURDICK, a daughter of Daniel
and Elizabeth BURDICK. They had a family of nine children, six
sons and three daughters, all of whom are still living, with
one exception. Daniel M. and Waite S., the two eldest of the
family are still living in New York State. Harriet E. is now
deceased. The others are Edon P., Benjamin F., John A., Mrs.
HAMILTON, Charles R. and Abigail. Mrs. HAMILTON was born on the
23d day of May, 1824. She has had five children. Albert E., born
March 2d, 1845, is the first in order of birth; a lawyer by profession,
living in Harper, Kan. Elnora, born July 23, 1847, is living
in Milton; Charles W., born March 30, 1849, was married and died
in 1880; Hattie L. born May 19, 1852, is now deceased; and Ida
M. was born June 22, 1855.
- Shortly after their marriage Mr. HAMILTON and his young wife
came to Rock County, and
- settled on a farm of 160 acres in Lima Township, he entering
an 80-acre tract and purchasing the remainder. He there engaged
in farming, developing the wild land and making many useful improvements
until his farm became one of the best in the community. In 1861
he removed with his family to Milton, but retained the ownership
of the land on which he first settled until 1881, when he sold
out. For some time he engaged in stock dealing, making a specialty
of horses and was quite successful in that line of business.
Financially, he is a self-made man. Starting out in life with
no capital, he was steadily worked his way upward, gaining by
good management, industry and enterprise, a comfortable competency
which enables him to pass his declining years in retirement from
the more active duties of life. Previous to the war he was a
supporter of the Abolition party, but now casts his ballot with
the Prohibition party. Throughout his life he has taken a deep
interest in temperance work, and aided in the promotion of temperance
principles. He is a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church,
of Milton, and is numbered among the early settlers of that town,
in the enterprises of which he has ever been found in the foremost
public spirited citizen, he is well known throughout Rock County,
and is held in high regard as a man of sterling wealth.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 742-743.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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