BIO: William Deloss HAMILTON, Beaver County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Joe Patterson Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver.html http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/beaver/bios/bbios.htm Index for this bio book. _________________________________________________________________ BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES. This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Buffalo, N.Y., Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 242-243. _________________________________________________________________ WILLIAM DELOSS HAMILTON, postmaster of Freedom, Beaver county, Pa., is one of that town's most active and popular business men, was born in Freedom, March 24, 1863, and is a son of Oliver James Hamilton. His great-grandfather, James Hamilton, was born in Ireland, and on coming to America, settled among the early pioneers of the western townships of Beaver county. While assisting the sheriff to make an arrest, he was shot by some one who supposed him to be the sheriff. He was the first white man shot in Beaver county. His children were: James; Oliver; and Martha. James Hamilton, the grandfather of the subject of this record, went to Beaver, where he learned the trade of a tailor, and afterward settled in Moon township, where he followed farming the rest of his life. He was born March 22, 1789, and died October 12, 1870. He married Elizabeth Weigle, a daughter of John Weigle. She was born December 6, 1799, and died May 7, 1866, at the age of sixty-six. Their children were, as follows: John, born January 16, 1824; Oliver James, born April 4, 1825; Caroline J., born August 3, 1826, and married to Daniel Irwin; Oscar, born April 20, 1828; Eleanor, born June 28, 1830, and married to Milo Jones; Susannah, born June 24, 1832; Sibeam, born November 1, 1834; Juliana, born October 14, 1837, and married to Milfred Webb; Samuel, born November 3, 1839; and Martha, born October 16, 1843. Oliver James Hamilton, the father of William Deloss Hamilton, followed farming early in life, and then learned ship carpentering, and became one of the members of the Freedom Barge Building Co., which built boats for many years. Then Mr. Hamilton followed house carpentering, and built himself a home on Fourth street, BEAVER COUNTY 243 which he sold later. At present, he is retired from active life. He married Lovina Minor, a daughter of James Minor, of Hookstown, Beaver county. Mrs. Hamilton died August 15, 1853, at the age of thirty-four years, and eleven months. Their children were as follows: B. Deloss, deceased; James Oscar, born August 31, 1851, married to Cynthia Davis, and having six children, as follows: Elmer; Fay; Eva; James; and Adam and Nancy J., both deceased. Mr. Hamilton was married again, this time to Mary Jane Calvert, a daughter of James Calvert, of Allegheny, who was born in County Down, Ireland. Miss was born in County Down, Ireland. Miss Calvert was born July 13, 1827. The second union resulted in seven children, as follows: Lizzie L., born March 14, 1859, now deceased; John C., born October 19, 1860, and married to Lydia Cuppo, whose children were, - Lizzie, Rubie, John O., and Gertrude; William Deloss, the subject of this biography; Milo J., born November 25, 1864, and married to Joanna Lopp; Frank S., born April 8, 1867, and married to Clara Harshman; Alexander O., born May 19, 1869, married to M. Cronk, and having one child, - J. Earl; and Thomas, born April 23, 1871. Mr. Hamilton is a Republican in politics, and a member of the M. E. church. William Deloss Hamilton, whose name heads this sketch, was educated in the schools of Freedom, and as early as twelve years of age, began work in the Rochester Tumbler Works, - spending several years also as a glass blower, in Pittsburg. When the Keystone Tumbler Works were established in Rochester, he was one of the organizers and stockholders, and is at present a stockholder. He worked there until January, 1898, when he was appointed postmaster of Freedom. The postoffice of Freedom was established about May 28, 1832, with Stephen Phillips as postmaster. The officials who preceded him in that capacity were as follows: William Smith, May 9, 1836; T. F. Robinson, March 6, 1840; Henry Bryan, April 30, 1844; Frederick Schumacker, September 25, 1845; William P. Phillips, February 18, 1850; John Graham, June 16, 1853; William Kerr, March 13, 1861; William D. Fisher, May 26, 1871; T. C. Kerr, September 6, 1880; Francis M. Grim, February 15, 1886; J. L. Conner; and G. W. Jack. The assistant is Miss Annie C. Lewis. Miss Elizabeth Wright served as assistant from 1880 until 1898. Mr. Hamilton built, on Fourth avenue, a beautiful residence, which he occupies. He was united in marriage with Margaret Fehr, a daughter of Conrad and Mary Fehr. She was born in Pittsburg, but was reared in Freedom. The children which have blessed this union are: Clyde D.; Milo S.; Mary G.; Harry C., and an infant son, unnamed. Mr. Hamilton is a member of the I. O. O. F., of the Woodmen of the World and is a member, and ex-steward, of the Methodist Episcopal church. His present position he has filled to the entire satisfaction of all the citizens, and he has fully demonstrated that he is worthy of all the trust and confidence reposed in him.