George B. Hamilton 1821-1885

HAMILTON, SCOTT, SIMPLOT, BENTLEY, MCLAUGHLIN, RYDER, ROBINSON

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 5/20/2016 at 15:10:28

The Dubuque Herald – Jan. 6, 1885

Death of G. B. Hamilton
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Mr. George B. Hamilton, the well-known grain buyer, died at his residence on Third Street at 9:30 o’clock on Sunday morning, with an illness he had been inflicted with for more than a year. Last fall he was stricken with paralysis, but so far recovered from there as to be able to be about and attend to his business, but he never regained his full strength. His death was peaceful and his spirit passed from earth without a struggle. Mr. Hamilton was born in Monticello, Sullivan County, N. Y., in 1821, and remained there until 1858. He amassed a large fortune in his native county, and sent large sums to this city which were invested by hios financial agent, the late Judge W. Y. Lovell, in this county and other portions of the state. He finally concluded to emigrate to the west, and arrived here as stated in 1858, engaging in the grain business, in which he contained until illness compelled him to desist. He was at one time the heaviest grain dealer in the west, owning one-tenth of the visible supply of grain the United States and Canada. This grain was stored in elevators in Chicago and New York. Being a large shipper, he was given better facilities than others for moving his grain, which enabled him to pay a good price to farmers for their produce. It is said that he made $100,000 in one deal some years since, but he met with reverses in later years from which he never recovered. Mr. Hamilton was a man of sterling probity and enjoyed the respect of all the business men in Dubuque. He was a plain, unassuming gentlemen, and was especially loved by all who knew him intimately. He leaves a wife and two children to mourn his loss. The remains were taken to the Illinois Central Depot last evening and sent to Monticello, N.Y., his birthplace, where the internment will occur. The pallbearers were Messrs. Owen McLaughlin, Gen. Bentley, N. C. Ryder, W. H. Robinson, D. J. Scott and Alex Simplot.