HAMILTON, Dr. Archibald

HAMILTON, SMOAT, BROWN, UDELL, MARTIN, ROY, GUSS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/28/2014 at 09:56:02

Biography ~ Dr. Archibald Hamilton

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 518:

ARCHIBALD HAMILTON resides on section 28, Eden Township. He has lived in Southern Iowa since the fall of 1853. His father, WILLIAM HAMILTON, was a native of Kentucky, where he was reared and married to ELLEN SMOAT. After marriage he removed to Hendricks County, Indiana, and was one of the early settlers of the county. He lived there until the fall of 1853, when he removed to Appanoose County, and died at Centerville, in 1855. His wife survived him until 1878, when she died at Centerville. They had five children who grew to maturity – JAMES, ARCHIBOLD,, TERSA J., wife of C. P. BROWN, of Centerville; NANCY, wife of JOHN CAMPBELL, and David; all living in Centerville, except the doctor. MARY died at the age of sixteen years; MARTHA, THOMAS and JOHN died in infancy.

Dr. HAMILTON was born in Hendricks County, Indiana, August 24, 1835, where he was reared upon his father’s farm. He began the study of medicine in 1862, at Centerville, with Dr. N. UDELL, and attended lectures at Keokuk, taking a full course at that Institution. March 8, 1862, he enlisted in the Seventeenth Iowa Infantry, and was at once made hospital steward, and accompanied his regiment in that capacity until May, 1863, when he was transferred to the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, retaining the same position as in the Seventeenth. He also acted in the capacity of Assistant Surgeon. His experience was extensive and severe, but it was a through school for him. He has been in constant practice since the war. He removed to Pleasanton, Decatur County, in 1867, where he practiced medicine until 1880, when he removed to Leon. He now resides in Eden Township, still engaged in his profession. The doctor is a member of the Leon Pension Board of Examiners and Surgeons, and of the Decatur County Medical Society. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post, at Leon, and also of the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, at the same city. He was married in Appanoose County, to Miss SARAH A. MARTIN, daughter of ANTHONY MARTIN, who settled in Appanoose County in 1853. He is one of the survivors of the Gray-Beard Regiment. Mrs. Hamilton died in 1864, while her husband was in the army. They had three children – WILLIAM M., EMMA, wife of Professor A. A. ROY, of Iowa City, a teacher at the place, and CHARLES A., of St. Louis. The present Mrs. HAMILTON, was formerly HANNAH M. GUSS. They have two children – ELLA and FRANK. The doctor has been prominent in politics, has been the standard-bearer of his party for county treasurer and representative, but his party being largely in the minority, was defeated by seventy-two votes, being very complimentary. The doctor has a fine farm of 300 acres, and one of the most comfortable and complete farm houses in the county.

Transcription by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historical Society Museum, January of 2014