BIO: Thomas Allen HAMILTON, Dauphin County, PA

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http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, pages 239-240. 
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  HAMILTON, THOMAS ALLEN, son of Hugh Hamilton and his wife Rosanna 
Boyd, was born in Harrisburg on the 14th of February, 1818; died on the 
14th of December, 1874.  He received a good education and learned the 
trade of a printer in his father's office, at which he worked until he 
received the appointment of an assistant engineer of the State canals, 
under Col. James Worrall, but soon abandoned both avocations, in order 
to join a brother in a business which they successfully prosecuted 
until his death.  He served as a member of the city councils of 
Harrisburg a longer continuous period than any other citizen has ever 
done, being elected for about twenty years in succession, generally 
without serious opposition, although many epochs of great public 
excitement intervened to produce fierce and close political contests.  
His neighbors never failed to ascertain his political opinions, yet, 
whether voting for or against him, they rejoiced to know that he was 
their representative and leader of the municipal legislature.  In the 
language of a contemporary, "Mr. Hamilton, in his intercourse with his 
fellow-citizens, was courteous to all, liberal to the poor, positive in 
opinion, methodical in business, reticent, deliberate, but prompt in 
judgment." His integrity was never impeached in public or private 
transactions.  He died, unmarried, at Harrisburg, in the same house in 
which he was born.