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- SAMUEL C. HAMILTON, deceased,
- was a respected and representative citizen of Rock County
from 1843 until 1865, covering a period of twenty-two consecutive
years. He was a native of New York, born on the 12th day of October,
1809, and his parents were Freeborn and Tacy (GREEN) HAMILTON.
He was reared to manhood in his native State, and was married
Sept. 27, 1832, in Allegheny County, Miss Hannah BABCOCK becoming
his wife. The lady was born in Batavia, Genesee Co., N.Y., and
is a daughter
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- of Daniel and Lois BABCOCK and a sister of Dr. BABCOCK, a
prominent physician of Rock County, whose sketch appears elsewhere
in this volume. Her father was numbered among the early settlers
of Johnstown, and his death occurred at Milton in 1867. The union
of Mr. and Mrs. HAMILTON was blessed with two children, a sonand
daughter: Walter G., the eldest, was born on the 4th day of June,
1833, and was a leading citizen of Milton, where he made his
home for many years. He was the first postmaster under a Republican
administration, having been appointed to that position in 1860,
and filled the office until 1874, when he resigned. He then became
a commission merchant, following that business until his death,
which occurred Feb. 14, 1885. He was also a trustee of Milton
College at the time of his death. Emma, the younger child, who
was born May 25, 1841, was educated at Milton College, and makes
her home with her mother.
- In 1842, accompanied by his family, Mr. HAMILTON left New
York and the following year
- became a resident of Rock County, settling on a farm on section
1, Town of Harmony. The land was then in a wild and unimproved
condition, the settlements were few and far between , and wild
game of all kinds was still to be found in abundance. The nearest
market was at Milwaukee, to which city the journey was made with
ox teams. Many were the trials and hardships endured by the pioneer
settlers, yet to them is due the honor of laying the foundation
upon which one of the leading counties in this great commonwealth
has been reared. After engaging in the cultivation of his farm
for several years, in the spring of 1856 Mr. HAMILTON abandoned
agricultural pursuits and removed with his family to Milton,
where he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred
July 13, 1865. He was a member of the Seventh-day Baptist Church,
to which his wife also belongs, and from the time of its organization
was a stalwart supporter of the Republican party. Mr. HAMILTON
was well known throughout the county, where he had many warm
friends and was highly respected.
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- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, p. 473; lithographs from same
book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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