Hon. Charles C. Hamilton

HAMILTON, CARLIN, DUBOIS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/12/2015 at 16:29:03

Northwestern Iowa
Its History and Traditions
1804 – 1926

The state of Iowa has reason to feel proud of her bench and bar from the earliest days of the history of the common-wealth to the present time, and on the roll of distinguished citizens in this field of endeavor there is reason for reverting with gratification to the career of Hon. Charles C. Hamilton of Sioux City, judge of the fourth judicial circuit of Iowa.

Born at Mason City, Missouri, on the 12th of January, 1863, he is a son of James H. and Amelia (Carlin) Hamilton, the father a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and the mother of Erie, Pennsylvania. In early life they moved to Macon City, Missouri, where they became acquainted and were married. The father was engaged in mercantile business there during the Civil War but in 1865 moved to Omaha, Nebraska, remaining there until 1868, when he came to Sioux City. Here he conducted a photographic studio from 1868 to 1897, when he retired from active business, and died in the following year, at the age of sixty-nine. His wife survived him about twenty-one years, passing away in 1919, at the age of seventy-four.

Charles C. Hamilton obtained his elementary education in the public schools of Sioux City and then entered the law school of Iowa State University, from which he was graduated in 1868, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. The same year he began practice in Sioux City but about a year later he accepted the position of official court reporter for this district. He served in that official capacity continuously until 1920, a period of thirty-three years, when on the resignation of Judge J.W. Anderson, he was appointed to succeed him as judge of the fourth judicial district, in which position he is still serving, having been twice regularly elected to the office. His career on the bench has been such as has reflected additional prestige on his name and has earned him the commendation and praise of the members of the bar generally.

On June 20, 1885, Judge Hamilton was united in marriage to Miss Lyda DuBois, who was born and reared in Sioux City, and they had two children- one who died in infancy and Clarence J., who is now serving as official court reporter under his father. Judge Hamilton is a member of Sioux City Lodge No. 112, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a director of the Sioux City Country Club, a director of the Sioux City Boat Club, a member of the Sioux City Gun Club, one of the largest gun clubs west of the Mississippi river, the Loblolly Club of Sioux City, and the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce. Personally Judge Hamilton is a man of unquestioned integrity of motive and action, candid and straightforward in all of his relations with his fellow men, and intensely public spirited in his attitude towards all movements calculated to advance the best interests of the city and county. He enjoys marked popularity in the circles in which he moves and has long been numbered among the representative men of his community, his official record reflecting credit upon the legal history of Iowa.