Biography: Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin: John Hamilton

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Submitted by Kathy Grace, <gendiva@charter.net> August 2004

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John Hamilton was born in the year 1812, near Newton Stewart, county of
Tyrone, Ireland, his father being a weaver by occupation, to which trade
his son was early apprenticed; his father was John Hamilton, his mother
Jane Meekin; when 21 years of age, the subject of this sketch, with his
next younger brother, believing that free and generous America offered
greater inducements to young men having their fortunes to carve and create
by personal effort, than could be found within the crowded limits of his
native isle, bad good-by to the loved ones at home, and set sail on the 6th
of May, 1833, in the ordinary emigrant vessels of that day, for Quebec,
where, after a stormy trip of forty-two days, they landed with but very
little money; of course, there was no opportunity to work at his trade, but
with ready and willing hands he sought any employment which by the most
diligent effort and closest economy promised a livelihood; his first
permanent engagement was probably a farm hand to one Deacon Swift, to who
he was engaged for six months at $5 per month; more faithful service was
never rendered, and the most complete satisfaction given, but the "Deacon"
cheated his employe out of every cent, and during the remainder of John
Hamilton's life, so strong was he- by his early experience- prejudiced
against this common church title, that it is probable the most unfavorable
impressions always followed any name having this prefix.  The great object
was to earn money to send back to his home to defray the expense of
bringing other members of the family to America; at the close of his six
months' engagement, he had just one shilling in money more than he
commenced, and earned in the following manner: After dark, at the close of
a long, hard day's work, a person stopping at his employer's house said to
young Hamilton, who was milking the cows, "Can you find me a boy who will
carry a letter to Ferriburg (nine miles distant), and bring me a reply
before morning? I will give him a shilling."  Hamilton replied that as soon
as the chores were done he would find some one to carry it.  On foot and
alone he made the trip that night, and earned the offered price.  This, as
before indicated, was the only pay he received for his first half-year's
labor in free America.  But here was demonstrated the secret of John
Hamilton's coming success.  When he left the Deacon's employ, he had every
cent of his shilling in his pocket.  The earnings of the first few years
were all sent back to his home, to aid in the support of his invalid
father, and in bringing over his brothers and his sisters with their
families.  In this enterprise he was always joined by his brother Henry,
who, like John, got his start by severe manual labor, rendered for a
remarkably low price.  The brothers commenced and remained through life in
business partnership.  After three years, when they had saved for
themselves a few dollars cash in hand, they united their capital and
embarked in business- the sale of nice dress goods, silks, laces, fine
linens, shawls, etc., goods in demand by the wealthier class of community,
and for which high prices and corresponding profits were readily received. 
They were both excellent judges of the merchandise they handled, sold
nothing but the best quality, bought and sold for cash, gained and held the
confidence of their patrons, and, in comparison with their earlier efforts,
accumulated rapidly.  When 31 years of age, John Married Miss Mary A.
Meekin, at Charlotte, Vt., while his brother Henry, on the same day, hour
and place, married her sister Kate.  The wedding, in fact, was appointed
for Henry and his bride, the additional nuptials having the very briefest
origin, love, courtship and marriage all within twenty-four hours, and
which, nevertheless, proved from thenceforth through life a most pleasant
and harmonious union.  Though still in partnership, the brothers ceased
merchandising, and in an unostentatious way retired from active business of
any kind, further than the purchase of securities and loaning of their
money.  In 1851, they both, with their families, started westward, and
finally located at Fond du Lac, continuing the same business, and rapidly
won and held the highest respect and esteem of all with whom their business
or social relations brought acquaintance.  Financial prosperity rewarded
their efforts, not fast, but steadily and surely.  Mr. Hamilton raised a
family of three children- Henry M., the oldest, now a banker at Mankato,
Minn.; Kate, the only daughter, now the wife of C.K. Pier; George T., the
youngest, in the U.S. Army, now stationed at Fort Totten, Dakota Territory.
The present labor and land troubles in Ireland recall an incident
characteristic of the man, and at the same time explain the troubles
referred to.  While riding  with his daughter along a country road, past a
farm he had recently purchased, having reached a point commanding a rich
scene of fields, groves and streams, it reminded him of some familiar spot
of his younger days in the old country, and he remarked upon the fact, but
added, it was much nicer in Ireland with its groves all trimmed, its level
roads and beautiful hedges, "Then, father, if it was so much nicer, why did
you leave there?" "Ah! Katie, your father stood no chance of owning them
there." As a husband, parent and neighbor, he ranked among the purest and
best, politics, he was always a Republican; in local elections, his vote
and voice were for the man he deemed best fitted for the office named.  His
social nature was remarkable, his cup of happiness being apparently full to
overflow when at home surrounded by his family, or neighbors, and his
discomfiture simply indescribable when left alone.  The influence of his
kindness of speech and sterling integrity was felt and seen in a thousand
different ways.  Borrowers preferred to borrow from him, at even a higher
rate of interest than their securities would readily command with banks or
brokers.  Lenders, those having a surplus of money, urged that he take and
keep it for them.  The confidence of the people in John Hamilton's word was
simply unbounded and without limit.  His death occurred April 16, 1871, the
result of a long and painful sickness, apparently having its origin in a
simple indisposition, occasioned by an ordinary cold.  His widow resides
with her daughter, surrounded by ample and merited comforts, not the least
of which are six grandchildren, while two others in Minnesota.

Transcribed from The History of Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin Chicago :
Western Historical Company, 1880 pg. 818