- HORACE G. HAMILTON, one of Rock County's pioneer settlers,
now living a retired life in
- Milton, Wis., was born in the town of Brookfield, Madison
Co., N.Y., on Feb. 18, 1810. The family is of Scotch descent,
and is noted for the very advanced age to which some of its members
have attained. The parents of our subject were Freeborn and Tacy
(GREEN) HAMILTON. The father was numbered among the early settlers
of Allegany County, N.Y., where he resided for many years and
died Oct. 8, 1869, at the age of eighty-three years and eleven
months. His wife preceded him to her final rest, her death occurring
on the old homestead in Allegany County, Sept. 1, 1840, in the
fifty-first year of her age. That worthy couple were the parents
of eleven children, seven of whom are now living. Samuel, the
eldest, is now deceased; H. G., of this sketch, is the second
in the order of birth; Orpha died in Minnesota; Lavina makes
her home in Allegheny County, N.Y.; Lorinda died in that county
May 27, 1873, aged fifty-six years. Edward is a resident of Milton;
Susannah died in her native State; John lives in Allegany County,
N.Y.; Freeborn is living on the old homestead, in Allegany County;
Tacy is the wife of a Mr. GREEN, a resident of Andover, N.Y.,
and Sophronia, the youngest is living in Dane County, Wis.
- Our subject was reared to the occupation of farming, but
tiring of the monotony of that life, at the
- age of nineteen years, he began working at the carpenter's
trade, for which he had a natural adaptability, not requiring
to serve an apprenticeship, and built a barn for his father,
which was his first work in that line. He continued in that business
in his native State until 1842, when he resolved to try his fortune
in the West and emigrated to the territory of Wisconsin, settling
in Rock County. Purchasing a farm in the town of Lima, then a
part of Milton, he engaged in the cultivation and development
of the land for many years, and also followed carpentering, until
too old for manual labor, when he retired from active life.
- Before leaving New York, Mr. HAMILTON led to the marriage
altar Miss C. M. BURDICK,
- their wedding being celebrated in Alfred, Allegany County,
in 1834. This lady was born in that county on Dec. 25, 1818,
and is a daughter of Edward and Susannah (STILLMAN) BURDICK;
the former a native of Rhode Island, and the latter of the Empire
State, who were parents of five children. Adolphus, the eldest,
died at the age of fourteen years; Mrs. HAMILTON is the second
in the order of birth; Edgar died in Chicago in 1875; Delos is
a resident of Janesville and is the County Treasurer for Rock
County; Alfred, who is now fifty-six years of age, is now living
in Milton. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. HAMILTON are as
follows: Mary, who was born June 29, 1836, in Allegany County,
N.Y., now the wife of Charles GOODRICH, son of Asa GOODRICH,
by whom she has three children, two yet living, Cora and Asa
H. Emery M., better known as Major HAMILTON, is a resident of
New York City. Arthur was the first who enlisted at Milton for
service in the war of the rebellion, and participated in every
engagement with his regiment until the battle of Antietam, where
he was killed, being the first one from Milton to lose his life;
and in his memory the G.A.R. Post of Milton was named. Madelia
S. married Goodwell FOSTER, a native of New York, and they now
reside in Independence, Kas. Madeline I. became the wife of W.
H. COON, who was born in Pennsylvania, and they now make their
home in Beatrice, Neb.
- Since removing to Rock County, Mr. HAMILTON has been prominently
identified with its history
- and is one of its valued citizens. He has witnessed its growth
and development through the long period of forty-seven years,
and has nobly borne his share in the work of transformation and
progress. He has filled various local offices, including that
of Assessor and Justice of the Peace, which position he held
for a number of years. He is an adherent of and active worker
in the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Milton. The cause of education
has also found in Mr. HAMILTON a warm friend, and the best interests
of the community are sure of his ready support and sympathy.
In early life he cast his ballot with the Whig party, and on
its organization joined the ranks of the Republican party. In
1836 and 1840 he voted for William Henry Harrison, and in 1888
voted for the illustrious grandson of the Tippecanoe hero. He
has a pleasant home in Milton, and besides his own residence
owns two other buildings.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 984-985.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|