Hamilton, W. J.

HAMILTON, MC ALLISTER, SOUTER, VALENTINE

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 5/24/2021 at 15:50:23

W. J. Hamilton is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 35, Cedar Township. He is a native of County Derry, Ireland, was born June 1, 1841, and is the son of William and Jane (McAllister) Hamilton, both of whom were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. When but eighteen years of age, he came to America, and settled in Ohio, where he engaged as a farm hand till March, 1865, when he came to Iowa and settled in Washington Township, Washington County, where he purchased eighty acres of land which he subsequently sold, and purchased 160 acres on section 35, Cedar Township, where he has since continued to reside.

Mr. Hamilton was married, Feb. 28, 1867, to Miss N. J. Souter, a native of Washington County, Iowa, born June 1, 1845, and daughter of William and May (Valentine) Souter, who were natives of Scotland. (See sketch of William Souter.) To them five children have been born: Nettie M., Jan. 17, 1868; Bessie B., July 10, 1871; Howard B., Oct. 15, 1874; Viola A., March 22, 1879, and Carrie S., Oct. 23, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the First United Presbyterian Church of Washington. Politically, he is a Republican and a Prohibitionist. He is at present one of the Trustees of this township. The father of Mr. Hamilton died in 1862, at the age of sixty-five. He was a carpenter by trade, and a man of the fine ability intellectually. His mother died in 1852. They were both members of the United Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Hamilton served his adopted country during the war of the Rebellion , being a member of the 132d Ohio Infantry. Landing in this country in 1859, a poor boy, he went to work, and through his own exertions, has acquired a fine property, and is now considered one of the well-to-do farmers of Washington County. As a citizen, he is esteemed by friends and neighbors in a high degree, while his home is a most hospitable one.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of W. J. Hamilton, page 213.