Page 131

Mr. Hamilton is of Kentucky lineage, his parents coming to Illinois at an early day. He was born in Morgan county, July 22, 1845. He was the fourth child in a family of twelve children and nine of them are yet living. Until he was sixteen years of age he worked upon his father's farm, but in July, 1863, he came to Scott county. In 1870, December 29, he was married to Miss Mary E. McCaleb, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall McCaleb, a native of Tennessee. To this union four children have been born; One died in infancy. The living are: Louellen, wife of E. D. Bierd, Bluffs; William and Laura.

March 8, 1871, shortly after his marriage, Mr. Hamilton moved to Morgan county. He lived there one year and came back to Scott county and bought a farm one mile east of Naples, where he now resides. He is one of the leading democrats in that part of the county, and was elected to the office of county commissioner in 1889. His discharge of the duties attendant upon that office gave such perfect satisfaction to the people that he was elected to succeed himself, in 1892. Mr. Hamilton is a thorough gentleman, loved by his friends and honored by the people generally throughout the county.