Biographical Sketch of

Charles Hamilton

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 747 - 748 - 749 


Charles Hamilton, of Plainfield, is one of the early settlers of Waushara County, and a pioneer of Wisconsin, having 
settled within its borders in 1837, many years before its admission as a State.  He is a native of Tompkins County, 
N. Y., born Sept. 26, 1812.  His father, Nathaniel Hamilton, who was born in New Jersey, was taken by his parents when 
a child to Pennsylvania, and became a resident of Northumberland County.  He learned the trade of a carpenter in 
Wilkesbarre, the Keystone State, and in 1800, when a young man of twenty-four years, went with his parents to Tompkins 
County, N. Y., the family being numbered among its early pioneers.  In 1881, at a meeting of the Old Settlers' Club, 
of Tompkins County, held in Ithaca, there were present from the town of Lansing, three members of the Hamilton family 
who had been residents of the town for seventy years or more.  They were John Wesley Hamilton and Mrs. Susan Benham, 
a brother and sister of our subject, and his aunt, Mrs. Calista Hamilton.  There were at that meeting 169 persons 
present who had been residents of the town of Lansing for seventy years, their ages ranging from seventy to ninety-six 
years.
 
Thomas Hamilton was twice married.  By his first union he became the father of four sons and a daughter, all of whom 
lived to advanced ages but have now passed away.  They were James, Hannah, Nathaniel, Jonathan and John.  By his 
second marriage there were five sons and a daughter--David, Andrew, Sarah, Robert and William, twins, and Thomas.  
The last named who was a prominent physician, died in Rochester, N. Y., in 1887, and was the last survivor of his 
generation of the Hamilton family.
 
Nathaniel Hamilton, the father of our subject, was also twice married.  His first wife was Elizabeth Moore, a native 
of New Jersey, and by their union were born six children, three sons and three daughters, but only two are now living
--Mrs. Clarissa Kelsey, of Tompkins County, N. Y.; and Charles, of this sketch, who was fifth in order of birth.  David, 
Susan, John W. and Sarah are deceased.  The second wife of Nathaniel Hamilton was Frances Dolph, who became the mother 
of six children--Lydia O., Minerva, Fidelia, Joan, Jane and Dana F.  The last three are deceased.  The father died at 
the age of eighty-six years.  His first wife died in 1820, at the age of forty-five years, and his second wife died 
in Berlin at the age of seventy-six years.
 
Charles Hamilton, whose name heads this notice was reared to the occupation of farming and his education was obtained 
in his native town.  The family were all well educated and most of them became teachers.  Our subject was the first 
to come to the Territory of Wisconsin, the date of his arrival being 1837.  He landed at Milwaukee on the 10th of June, 
when that city numbered but 400 inhabitants while many of them were but transient residents.  He there remained about 
two months in order to dispose of a quantity of ready made clothing which he had brought with him.  In August, of the 
same year, in company with Levi P. Johnson and Dr. Drewer, he purchased what was known as a Hoosier outfit, consisting 
of a wagon, four yoke of cattle and cooking utensils and started for Whitewater Prairie, in Walworth County.  He owned 
a half interest in the outfit, the other gentlemen owning each a quarter interest.  The Doctor accompanied him to Walworth 
County but did not become a permanent settler.  Mr. Hamilton made a claim of 320 acres which he soon afterward sold to 
his partners and made a claim in the town of Richmond, which he purchased in 1839, when the land came into market.  On 
that land he settled, making it his home until 1850, when he came to Waushara County.  Mr. Hamilton built the first house 
in the town of Whitewater.  It was a log structure and erected in the fall of 1837 on his first claim.  Here he kept 
bachelor's hall and his nearest neighbor at the time was a Mr. Finch, who lived six miles distant.  There were then but 
few settlers in Walworth County, but he occasionally entertained a belated traveler and gladly extended to him such 
hospitality as he was able.  In the fall of 1839, he entertained Gov. Henry Dodge who was en route from Milwaukee to 
Madison on horse back and reached the humble abode of Mr. Hamilton just at nightfall, so he begged shelter for the 
night and was entertained in generous, frontier style, partaking of the meals with much relish that his host prepared 
for him and sharing with him his couch.
 
Mr. Hamilton assisted in organizing Walworth County, and was a member of the convention that located the county seat.  
In 1838 he returned to the State of New York and brought back the first threshing machine ever used in Wisconsin and 
he did the first job of threshing for George O. Tiffany, near Milwaukee.  He did the greater part of the threshing 
in the south part of the State for several years.
 
On the 20th of June, 1839, Mr. Hamilton was married near Belvidere, Ill., to Miss Annie A. Shattuck, who was born in 
Mentor, Ohio, in 1819, and when about fifteen years of age went with her parents to Illinois.  In 1849, Mr. Hamilton 
sold his farm in Walworth County, and the following year settled in Waushara County.  His nearest market at that time 
was Milwaukee, fifty miles distant, and the improvement on the Fox River had then begun which promised an easy access 
to market, so he decided to settle near that medium of communication.  He accordingly removed his family to Berlin 
and spent some time in looking around for a location but he found that the land on Fox River had so increased in price, 
owing to the above mentioned improvement, that his means were too limited to purchase as much land as he desired and he 
finally decided to settle where he now lives.  Accordingly he entered 160 acres of land on section 12, in the town of 
Plainfield, which comprised about one-half of the village plat of Plainfield.  A number of years ago he laid out an 
addition to the original plat, called Hamilton's Addition and the whole of his farm is now within the corporation.  Mr. 
Hamilton's general business has been farming, but he has also devoted some attention to other interests.  In 1860, in 
company with Frederick A. Jewett, he purchased what was known as the Beckwith Mill, and also 320 acres of pine land in 
its immediate vicinity.  They operated that mill for seven years when Mr. Hamilton disposed of his interest in the 
property to his partner except 160 acres of the land which he still retains.  For a number of years past, in connection 
with  his farming interests, he has been engaged in the selling of farm machinery.
 
In March, 1870, Mr. Hamilton was bereft of his wife by death, and in 1871 married Mrs. Julia P. Casler.  He had seven 
children by his first marriage, five of whom are living, namely:  Mrs. Adeline Chester, Alfred D., who resides in the town 
of Hancock; Perkins C., a resident of the same town; Edwin M., of Plainfield; Frank S., of Minocqua, Wis.; Lydia and Laura, 
died at the ages of four and a half years.
 
As has been seen Mr. Hamilton is not only one of the early settlers of Waushara County, but is also a pioneer of 
Wisconsin, having arrived in the Territory fifty-three years ago.  Few men have witnessed more of its changes.  He 
has seen it transformed from an almost primeval condition as but few white settlements had then been made within 
her borders, to a condition of wealth and civilization that places her high in the list of the sisterhood of States.  
He is widely known throughout central Wisconsin and is an esteemed and respected citizen of Plainfield, who has ever 
been prominently connected with the development and progress of Waushara County.  In politics he affiliates with the 
Republican party and frequently officiates as a delegate in its conventions, being strongly attached to the principles 
of the party.  He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Andrew Jackson, voted for William Henry Harrison, in 1840, 
and for his grandson in 1888.  He has voted for every Republican candidate for President except Gen. Fremont in 1856 
when he sided with a Democrat as he was necessarily absent from home when the election took place.
 
In religious conviction, Mr. Hamilton is a Methodist, but is not identified as a member with any religious body.  He 
is liberal in the support of church and schools and of every enterprise which tends to promote the moral and religious 
growth of the community in which he lives.
 
 




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