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1907 Past and Present Biographies

Isaiah Hamilton

Isaiah W. Hamilton, the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of well improved farming land in Scranton township, was born in Champaign county, Illinois, November 9, 1856. He is a son of Hiram and Hannah (Couter) Hamilton, who came with a party to Greene county, Iowa, and Mr. Hamilton bought eighty acres of land in Kendrick township. He lived there but a short time, later removing east of Jefferson, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres. On this he followed the pursuits of general farming and stock-raising up to the time of his death in 1893, when he was sixty-five years of age. In his family were six childrcn: William, of Jefferson; Isaiah W. the subject of this sketch; Frank and Deck, of Jefferson; Sarah, who is Mrs. Pierce, of Redfield; and Bertha, the wife of Mr. Custer, of Hardin township.

Mr. Hamilton acquired his early education in the district schools of his native county. He was but ten years old when his father removed to Greene county. There he divided his time between the school and the farm. In the latter pursuit he received his practical training for the business which has occupied his attention ever since. He started out for himself on section 36, Scranton township, where he purchased eighty acres of land from Mr. Pierce in 1882. There were a few improvements on the place but Mr. Hamilton went to work with a will to add whatever was necessary to make this farm strictly up to date. He has reaped the material reward which such labor brings and has been able to add little by little both to his original purchase and to the improvements of his farm. He bought forty acres of land adjoining his original purchase from Edward Cain. This piece had no improvements, but he has built a fine horse barn, thirty-six by twenty feet, as well as many other buildings so necessary upon the farm. This county has always been noted for fine shade trees which surround the comfortable farm homes, and Mr. Hamilton has done his part by setting out all of the attractive trees which add so much to the beauty of his place. He is extensively engaged in stock raising as well as in general farming.

Mr. Hamilton was married in 1883 in Rippey, Iowa, to Minnie Bennett, a native of Greene county and a daughter of Horace Bennett, who was a soldier in an Illinois regiment during theCivil War. At the close of the war he removed to Greene county, Iowa, where he owned two hundred and forty acres of land near Jefferson and where he followed general farming for many years. He is now living retired on his farm, renting the land. His wife bore the maiden name of Emma Anderson. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Isaiah W. Hamilton have been born two children: Jessie, the wife of Mr. Badebaugh, of Dakota; and Marie, who is at home.

Mr. Hamilton’s political affiliations have always been with the republican party and he has served as school director for many years. He and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist church, to which he has always given liberally both of his time and his money. His life is that of an earnest Christian who is interested in whatever tends to build up the moral character of the county. Honest and straightforward in his own life, he has felt that that is the only road to happiness and success. The young man who is starting out in life will do well to imitate the principles which have brought Mr. Hamilton to his present position.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

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