C. O. HAMLIN, Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan

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History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan, with Illustrations and 
Biographical Sketches of their Prominent Men and Pioneers.
Philadelphia:  D. W. Ensign & Co.  1880.  Press of J. B. Lippincott & 
Co., Philadelphia.

C. O. Hamlin was born in Lexington township, Stark Co., Ohio, Feb. 1, 
1813, and was third in a family of eleven children, --six boys and five 
girls.  His father, Stephen Hamlin, was a native of Virginia, and his 
mother, Elizabeth (Felts) Hamlin, was also a native of that State, 
having married Mr. Hamlin some time in 1807, afterwards removing to 
Ohio, locating on the farm where they died, --Stephen Hamlin in 1856, 
and Elizabeth Hamlin in 1878.
  C. O. Hamlin, like most boys of his time, passed his boyhood days 
with little advantages of schooling, and less time for play and 
recreation, hard work being the portion of nearly all in those days.  
At the age of twenty he commenced life for himself, working on a farm 
for the first years by the day and month.  Then he learned the 
blacksmith's trade, and at the age of twenty-five he married, in Stark 
Co., Ohio, Dec. 14, 1837, Miss Margaret M. Fisher, daughter of Reuben 
and Lavina (Knox) Fisher, both natives of Crawford Co., Pa., where Miss 
Margaret was born, Aug. 2, 1820.  Mr. Fisher's death occurred in 
Michigan in 1851 or '52, and Mrs. Fisher's in Kalamazoo, in 1873.
  After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin they commenced housekeeping 
in the town, Mr. Hamlin working at his trade.  Here they remained for 
nine years, and in the spring of 1846 started westward with their 
family of five children, traveling in the usual way of those days, by 
wagon, stopping first at Battle Creek for some six months; then moved 
to and settled on the farm where they now live, consisting of one 
hundred and sixty acres on section 32, and which only had a small 
improvement when they purchased, and, though Mr. Hamlin has continued 
working at his trade, being the only blacksmith in that vicinity for 
many years, still has managed his farm with success and profit.
  Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin are the parents of the following children, who 
have grown to manhood and womanhood, viz: Harvey R., born Dec. 10, 
1838; Melissa L., born April 13, 1840; Jarret H., born Sept. 13, 1841, 
died Dec. 12, 1861, in the army; Malinda M., born May 7, 1843; Maria 
O., born Dec. 22, 1844; Caroline F., born Oct. 23, 1848; Emiline M., 
born Aug. 2, 1850; Ida A., born Sept. 1, 1852, died May 22, 1873; Viola 
A., born Aug. 12, 1854; Charles F., born March 31, 1862; besides these, 
three have died in childhood.  In addition to the home-farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres, Mr. Hamlin owns other land in the township to 
the amount of one hundred and twenty-five acres.  He has always 
followed mixed farming, but, like many others of this township, has of 
late years interested himself in fruit-raising, and with success.
  Politically, Mr. Hamlin is a Republican, but never seeking the 
emoluments of political work, leaving for others who wish them the 
offices and honors.
  Their family are all grown to manhood and womanhood, and, with the 
exception of one son and one daughter, have left home seeking fortunes 
for themselves.
  Mr. Hamlin built the first pier on this portion of the lake. It is 
now known as the Clapp Pier, and was built by him in 1860.