My Genealogy Hound

VINCENT De PAUL HAMILL. Agriculture has one of its most energetic representatives in our subject, who is living on the estate where he was born, three miles southeast of Seneca Falls, June 24, 1867. His parents were John and Mary (Gilmore) Hamill, both of whom were born in County Louth, Ireland.

John Hamill made the journey across the Atlantic in 1847, in company with his parents, who at once made their way to this county, and for a few years resided in Seneca Falls. There the father was married, making it his home for some time. Being desirous of engaging in farm work, he purchased a small farm in the town of Lodi, where he remained five years, after which he assumed charge of a stone-quarry in the town of Fayette, where he continued for about four years, after which he purchased the estate on which his son, Vincent de Paul, now makes his home. He became a successful farmer, and lived on this place until his decease, which occurred on the 27th of March, 1890. He took an active part in the public life of his community, and was the candidate of the Democratic party on several occasions for positions of responsibility and trust. For five terms he was Highway Commissioner, and it was while the incumbent of this position that his death occurred.

Religiously he was an ardent Catholic, being one of the first Catholics to locate in Seneca Falls, and was deeply interested in the progress of that denomination.

The parental family included ten children, seven of whom are living at the present writing. Of these our subject is the youngest, and when a lad of seventeen years he was confirmed in the Catholic Church. The land which he occupies was purchased by his father, who, although commencing in life a poor man, became fairly well-to-do.

The subject of this sketch attended the Catholic school at Seneca Falls until prepared to enter the academy, but before completing the course laid down in that institution, however, he was obliged to quit school and go to work. He has always been very industrious, and that he has made a good citizen is attested by the esteem in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen. At the time of his father’s death he was appointed to fill out his unexpired term as Highway Commissioner. Two years following the expiration of this term he was elected on his own merits, and in 1893 again assumed the duties of the office. He possesses sound judgment, broad intelligence and progressive ideas, and is a man of whom any community might well be proud.