DR. SILAS HAMILTON CHAPTER

National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

Jerseyville, Illinois

     Dr. Silas Hamilton Chapter, NSDAR, was organized in Jerseyville, Illinois, on November 20, 1963 with fifteen charter members.  The Chapter was named for Dr. Silas Hamilton, a dedicated physician, and a native of Tinmouth, Vermont, who died in Jersey County in 1834.  In his will, he bequeathed “Four Thousand Dollars for the establishment of a primary school.”  This school was built at Otterville, Jersey County, in 1834.  In 1870 the original building was razed and another stone one was erected upon the same site.  The latter structure has been widely known as the first free school in the State of Illinois.

     Immediately west of the schoolhouse is a monument erected according to the provisions of the will of George Washington, a slave purchased as a young child by Dr. Hamilton and later freed by him.  So far as is known, this is the only monument ever erected by a freed slave to his former master.

     Hamilton Memorial School was used until 1971 as an attendance center for CUSD #100.

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Judith Steinman Borger
Carolyn M. Brown  

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Web page last updated August 20, 2011

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