 |
 AMES HAMILTON, ex-Sheriff of Coles
County, and now engaged in farming and
stock-raising on section 13, North Okaw
Township, spent his childhood in Adams
County, Ohio, where his birth took place May 1,
1826. He was the eleventh child in a family of
twelve born to John and Isabel (Smith) Hamilton,
natives of Ireland, but of Scotch descent. They
came to America with their parents when mere
children, and settled in South Carolina, whence
both families removed, first to Kentucky and then
to Ohio. The paternal grandfather of our subject
was John Hamilton, Sr., who married Miss Mary
McClure; both were natives of Ireland and of
Scotch-Irish descent. The mother of our subject
was the daughter of Samuel and Isabel (Brown)
Smith, of the same country and descent as the
Hamilton family. The father of our subject carried on farming in Adams County, Ohio, and served as a volunteer in the War of 1812. In 1853 he emigrated to Illinois with the expectation of remaining in the West, but two years later returned to Ohio, where his death took place in about 1868. James, of our sketch, was bred to farm pursuits and received a limited education in the district schools. When twenty-three years of age he left home, and for two years thereafter engaged in farming on his own account in his native county. Subsequently he came West and engaged in teaching in Coles County, which he followed for about a year and a half, and then located on a tract of rented land, which he occupied one year. In the meantime he purchased eighty acres of wild prairie, which ho fenced and settled upon, and in due time had made it ready for the reception of his bride. The lady chosen for this position of honor and trust was Miss Margaret L. Hoskins, who became his wife Nov. 16, 1853. Mrs. Hamilton was born in Morgan County, Ill., July 19, 1832, and is the daughter of Lowry and Martha (Prewett) Hoskins, natives of Kentucky, who emigrated from the Blue Grass regions to Illinois during its early settlement. They located in Coles County in 1835, while it was still a wilderness, with no settlement within a radius of sixteen miles and no mill nearer than Springfield. Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins became the parents of eleven children, of whom Margaret L. was the second. The mother departed this life at the homestead in North Okaw in 1847. Lowry Hoskins is still living, and a resident of Nebraska. Although having reached the advanced age of eighty-four years, he is still active and capable of managing his business affairs. The experience of the Hoskins family in Illinois during the pioneer days was marked by many hardships and trials. At one time a band of robbers took away four head of horses, escaping with them to Kentucky. Mr. H. overtook the thieves, but could not satisfactorily prove that the animals belonged to him, and was obliged to relinquish his claim. This for the time crippled his farming operations, as he had no other horses left, and he went to work at twenty-five cents per day, cutting rails, until enabled to start again. Afterward he followed trading principally, and accumulated a fine property in Coles County, owning at one time nearly 800 acres of land. He was particularly fond of pioneer life, and delighted in overcoming the difficulties set before him. Mr. Hamilton occupied his first purchase of land about four years, and then in the fall of 1859 purchased eighty acres on section 13, where he now resides. He put up a fine residence in 1872, together with good barns and other necessary out- buildings, and added to his first purchase so that he has now 260 acres, the whole, with its buildings, constituting one of the most attractive features in the landscape of Coles County. He has been prosperous in his farming operations and fortunate in his investments, and is looked upon as a man possessing more than ordinary ability and good judgment, both in farming and finance. Mr. Hamilton, after the outbreak of the Rebellion, although having large interests to look after, considered it his duty to aid in the preservation of the Union, and accordingly, on the 4th of September, 1862, enlisted in the 128th Illinois Infantry, which was soon afterward consolidated with the 26th and 130th. The soldiers were mustered in at Camp Butler, and soon afterward ordered to the scene of conflict, with headquarters at Memphis. Tenn. They participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and Mr. Hamilton in the meantime was attacked with typhoid fever, from the effects of which he was slow to recover, and finally received his discharge for disability on the 7th of May, 1863. He then returned to his home and farm pursuits, but for a period of twelve years thereafter was able to do but very little active labor. He finally began to improve, however, and is now quite strong again. Mr. Hamilton always voted the Republican ticket, and in 1880 was the successful candidate for Sheriff of Coles County, being elected by a handsome majority. He served two years, and in 1882 was re-elected for four years, discharging the duties of the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He encountered some unpleasant duties during his term of office, but never swerved from the line of rectitude, and received much praise for his fidelity to duty and his bravery in times of difficulty and danger. During the last three years of his term he had his family with him at his headquarters at Charleston, and upon relinquishing the office retired to his farm, leaving his son, John R., as Deputy under McClelland, the present incumbent. Mr. Hamilton has also served the people in minor offices and has thoroughly identified himself with the growth and progress of his adopted county. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. H., eleven in number, four, Mary E., Thomas, Arthur and Lulu, have been laid to rest in the quiet country burying-ground. Those surviving are John R., William H. and James L. (twins), David W., Albert Grant, Samuel L. and Margaret I. John has been mentioned above; Albert married Miss Mollie E. Ashworth, and is a practicing physician; he resides on the homestead; he was graduated at the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. David read law at Charleston in the office of States Attorney Leitch, and was admitted to the bar. The others are at home with their parents. Our subject is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which he serves as Deacon and Trustee. Socially he belongs to the Knights of Honor and the I. O. O. F. The farm stock of Mr. Hamilton includes Shorthorn cattle, Clydesdale horses and Poland-China hogs. The land is largely devoted to the cultivation of broom corn and grain, and yields each year a bountiful supply of the richest products of the Prairie State. |
 |
| Return To Contents |
|