Bio: W. E. Hamilton, Bossier & Caddo Parish La
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker
sueshoe@hotmail.com




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W. E. Hamilton is the secretary and manager of the Shreveport Gas, Electric
Light & Power Company, the works of which were built a number of years ago,
but have only been operated by the present company a short time.  Their
capital stock is $200,000, and the officers of the company are J. C.
Hamilton, president; John B. Jones, vice-president, and W. E. Hamilton,
secretary and treasurer.  The latter was born in Bossier Parish, La.,
August 20, 1864, to W. E. and Virginia (Johnson) Hamilton, the former of
whom was born in Macon, Ga., and the latter in Virginia.  The father came
to Louisiana with his parents when he was about twenty-one years of age,
and for many years was a resident of Bossier Parish, where he followed the
life of a merchant and planter, but after coming to Shreveport he followed
the former occupation principally, but gave considerable attention to
planting also.  He became the owner and manager of the oil mill, and being
a man of enterprise and push he was identified with all the public
interests of the city.  He died in 1888, and his wife during the yellow
fever epidemic of that dreaded disease.  five of the eight children born to
them are living, their names being as follows:  Mrs. Carrie Skannal of
Bossier Parish; Mrs. E. J. Bryan, of New Orleans; John C., W. E. and Katie
E.  W. E. Hamilton was reared in Shreveport and received an education far
above the average for, besides attending school in Bossier Parish and
Shreveport, he was an attendant of Washington and Lee University of
Lexington, Va., and John Hopkins University of Baltimore, Md., taking a
special course in the last-named institution.  He then returned home and
worked with his father on the plantation and in the oil mill, after which
he began clerking for Hicks & Howell, remaining with them for about one
year.  He next became a member of the firm of Kerby & Hamilton, mercantile
brokers and coal dealers, continuing about one year, and at the same time
he was secretary and treasurer of the gas works and was also a partner in
the Shreveport Grocery Company.  Finding that he had more business on hand
than he could properly attend to he disposed of his interest in the grocery
establishment and has since devoted his attention to his present business,
for which he seems to be peculiarly fitted, being methodical, painstaking
and conscientious.  He has filled this position since April, 1888, and is a
gentleman possessed of fine executive ability, as the admirable manner in
which the city of Shreveport is lighted abundantly testifies.  The plant
occupies half a block of ground and has six buildings with adjoining sheds.
 Co gas is made and a large holder, with a capacity 20,000 feet is provided
and an additional holder will soon be in process of erection, which will
hold 30,000 cubic feet.  The capacity of the work is 25,000 feet per day
and sixteen people are employed.  Seven miles of mains are used for
distributing purposes, and the gas is of extra quality, never being less
than sixteen and one-half candle power.  It is in general use in the city,
and gives the best of satisfaction.  The company keep on hand, in a large
building set apart for the especial purpose, a large and select stock of
gas fixtures and fittings, where a force of experienced workmen are
employed.  Their charges are moderate, and they also keep on hand a large
supply of coke, coal and tar, which they sell at reasonable rates.  Their
electric light plant is an excellent one, the arc lights being th
eThompson-Houston system and the incandescent the Westinghouse system.  The
capacity of the former is seventy-five arc lights of 200-candle power, and
650 incandescent lamps of sixteen-candle power.  Nine miles of wire are
used on the former and ten miles on the latter circuit.  The capacity of
both will be shortly enlarged.  Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Board of
Trade, is a director of the Y. M. C. A. and was president of same two
years; when the new building was erected, he acted on the committee for the
same.  He is a director of the Shreveport Building Association, is a
stockholder in the First National Bank and is in some way identified with
nearly all the business interests of the city.  He is quite well to do, and
besides owning some valuable city property, has planting interests.  He was
married in March, 1889, to Miss Myrtle A. Jacobs.