HAMILTON, Ernest P.

HAMILTON, PRITCHARD, CRAIG, JOHNSON, FUNK, WILSON, DALBEY, ANDERSON, MOORE, PIERSON, ARMSTRONG

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/28/2014 at 10:00:33

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Pp. 262-63. Chicago. 1915.

ERNEST P. HAMILTON

Ernest P. Hamilton, proprietor of the Good View Farm, embracing one hundred and sixty acres in Garden Grove township, enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the successful and enterprising agriculturists of Decatur comity and is prominently known as a dealer in high-grade stock. His birth occurred in Bloomington, McLean county, Illinois, on the 12th of September, 1866, his parents being John and Rebecca (Pritchard) Hamilton. The paternal grandparents were Joshua and Jane (Craig) Hamilton, the former born near Connellsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 6, 1793, and the latter in Washington county, Pennsylvania. She was a daughter of John Craig, who was born in Ireland and was of English extraction. He married Miss Elizabeth Johnson, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, by whom he had nine children. John Hamilton, the father of our subject, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, on the 22d of November, 1820, and still survives, being remarkably strong and active for a man of his advanced age. The demise of his wife occurred on the 6th of December, 1892. To them were born seven children, as follows: Sallie, who is the wife of B. F. Funk; Mary, the deceased wife of Andrew Wilson; Alice, who gave her hand in marriage to J. J. Dalbey; Nellie, who is the wife of W. E. P. Anderson, an attorney by profession; Belle, who married H. V. Moore, a banker; Elizabeth, the wife of C. H. C. Pierson; and Ernest P., of this review.

The last named acquired his education in the public schools of his native county and was reared to manhood on the home farm. He continued farming in Illinois until 1895, when he came to Decatur county, Iowa, and purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Garden Grove township, which he has operated continuously to the present time and has brought to a high state of cultivation and improvement. He is engaged in general farming and is one of the most prominent dealers in registered stock in the county. His standard bred trotting, English Shire and Percheron horses, of which he makes a specialty, have the re^Dutation of being second to none in this or any other county in the west. Mr. Hamilton is a lover of good horses and, having dealt in standard bred animals on his farm for twenty years, is well qualified to pass judgment on them, his opinion being generally accepted as authority. He likewise gives considerable attention to raising Jersey Red hogs and in all of his undertakings has met with a gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity. There is an excellent orchard on his property and the improvements include wells and windmills and a handsome residence, large barns and outbuildings, all of which he erected.

On the 12th of September, 1889, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage to Miss Alice Armstrong, a daughter of John and Mary Armstrong, of McLean county, Illinois. To them have been born five children, namely: Ruth Bell, John Armstrong, Ernest Pierson, Rex Donald and Herman Lester. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have now resided in this county for two decades and have won an extensive circle of warm friends within its borders.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014