Charles Hamilton Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1125-1126 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				CHARLES HAMILTON. 

	The business interests of Britton find an active representative 
in Charles Hamilton, who is proprietor of a lumberyard and the vice 
president of the First National Bank He is wide-awake, alert, energetic 
and resourceful and carries forward to successful completion whatever 
he undertakes. He is a typical western man in spirit and interests, 
ever manifesting that progressiveness which has been the dominant 
factor in the development of this section of the country. He was born 
at Winona, Minnesota, March 1, 1863, a son of Andrew and Mary (Whitten) 
Hamilton, natives of Ireland, the former born in 1828 and the latter in 
1832. When a young man Andrew Hamilton crossed the Atlantic, and Mary 
Whitten came with her mother to the new world. They were married in 
Albany, New York, and remained in that state for some time, Mr. 
Hamilton working as a silversmith, In 1850 he removed to Winona, 
Minnesota, where he established a lumberyard and in the conduct of his 
business met with substantial success, becoming one of the well-to-do 
citizens of that place. He was also prominent and influential in public 
affairs and was three times elected mayor of the city on the democratic 
ticket, his reelection being proof of his capability, his fidelity in 
office and the confidence reposed in him. He died in the year 1898, 
while his wife passed away in 1907, in the faith of the Methodist 
Episcopal church, in which she held membership. Of their family of 
eight children only two are now living, the daughter being Mrs. A. H. 
Reed, a widow. 

	Charles Hamilton was educated in the Winona high school and the 
Winona Normal School and when seventeen years of age became the active 
associate of his father in the lumber business, in which he has since 
continued. Removing to Dakota territory in 1886, he established the 
Dakota Lumber Company of Britton, conducting business under that style 
until 1913, when he purchased his partner's interest and changed the 
name to the Hamilton Lumber Company. This business is incorporated with 
a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars and Mr. Hamilton, as 
president and chief stockholder of the company, is operating six yards 
in South Dakota and one in North Dakota. His trade has now reached 
extensive proportions, marking him as one of the most active and 
representative business men of his section. He is also the vice 
president of the First National Bank and has extensive landed 
interests, having made judicious investment in real estate. 

	Mr. Hamilton has been married twice. In 1889 he wedded Miss Maude 
Aplin, a native of Iowa, and to them were born four children, as 
follows: Shepard, a practicing attorney who received his education in 
Cornell University of Ithaca, New York; and Marion, Gail and S. W., all 
at home. The wife and mother passed away in 1900 and in the year 1902 
Mr. Hamilton was again married, his second union being with Miss 
Glendora M. Davidson, who was born at Reeds Landing, Minnesota, and by 
whom he has a daughter, Lucile, now eight years of age. Mrs. Hamilton 
and the children are members of the Presbyterian church. 

	Mr. Hamilton is an exemplary representative of the Masonic 
fraternity, belonging to the lodge, chapter and consistory, and is also 
connected with the Workmen, the Woodmen and the Royal Neighbors. In 
politics he is a republican, well versed on the questions and issues of 
the day but never an office seeker. He is not remiss in the duties of 
citizenship, however, and cooperates in many plans and projects for the 
general good, while for fifteen years he has served on the school 
board, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. The 
major part of his attention has naturally been concentrated upon his 
business affairs and he has ever displayed marked ability in 
discriminating between the essential and the nonessential. His plans 
are ever carefully formulated, and while he has never been actuated by 
the spirit of vaulting ambition, he has never feared to venture where 
favoring opportunity has led the way. Moreover, his success has never 
been won at the sacrifice of others' interests, for he has always 
followed constructive methods, winning his prosperity through close 
application, careful management and indefatigable energy.