My Genealogy Hound

GILBERT F. HAMILTON. Among the native sons of Johnson County is this worthy gentleman, who owns a valuable farm on section 28, township 46, range 28. It is considered one of the best tracts of land in the county and comprises fifty acres. The owner may be called a self-made man, for although he has possession of the old homestead, his present degree of prosperity has been reached mainly through his own exertions and unremitting toil.

A. B. Hamilton, the father of our subject, was born in middle Tennessee, whence he made the journey to this state in a wagon in the spring of 1837, in company with his brother-in-law. He made it his first duty to enter a tract of land from the Government, and then, going to Lexington, worked there until the fall of the year, when he erected a rude log cabin on his four hundred acres and began the arduous task of clearing off the timber and preparing the primeval soil for cultivation. Success attended his efforts from the first, and to the management of this property he devoted himself energetically during the remainder of his life. The land was well adapted for raising grain of all kinds, and in return for the labor and care which he bestowed upon it. Mr. Hamilton reaped a handsome sum in addition to the living expenses of the family. He was a strong, robust man, and at the time of settling here was one of the first farmers to make his home on the side of Blackwater Creek. He departed this life September 18, 1878, aged seventy years.

Mrs. Elizabeth (Alexander) Hamilton, the mother of our subject, was also born in Tennessee, and was reared to mature years in Sumner County. She died in 1854, at the age of forty years. Her marriage with Mr. Hamilton resulted in the birth of eleven children. Martha and Robert reside in Johnson County; Mary, James, Stokley and Amanda are deceased; Elizabeth is the wife of S. F. Davidson, and makes her home in Hickory County, this state; William M. is a resident of Warrensburg; David E. is deceased; Azell B. makes his home in Merced County, Cal.; and Albert, of this sketch, was the youngest of the household. The parents of this family were members in good standing of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

The original of this sketch was born in Johnson County, December 10, 1853. His education was obtained in the common schools, but he never neglected an opportunity for advancing himself in knowledge of a practical nature, and is consequently well informed on the general topics of the day. When twenty-two years of age he went west to Merced County, Cal., and there spent eight years in farming. In the fall of 1884 he returned home and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Johnson County for three years, at the end of which time we again find him in the Golden State, this time working as a carpenter in Fresno County. He had never served an apprenticeship at this trade, but, being apt in the use of tools, found no difficulty in obtaining employment. While there he also farmed to some extent, and January 4, 1895, he returned home again, intending to make this section his permanent place of residence.

Albert F. Hamilton was married, in 1876, to Mary J. Sage, a native of Iowa, and the daughter of John A. and Amanda (Molke) Sage. Her father, who was a farmer, died some years ago, while the mother is still living in California. She reared a family of six children.

Mrs. Hamilton accompanied her husband on his various removals to and from California, and although the journey was oftentimes wearisome, she enjoyed seeing the beautiful country through which they passed. They are both content, however, to pass the remaining years of their life in Johnson County. Their three children bear the respective names of Edwin, Alberta and Mabel. Viola is deceased. Our subject is a Democrat in politics, and socially belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He is a devoted member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in the faith of which he was trained by his honored parents.