HAMILTON-Nathaniel - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Nathaniel Hamilton One of the leading agriculturists and business men of the northwestern part of Montgomery County is Nathaniel Hamilton, a scion of one of the sterling old families of this locality, and here he has been content to spent his life. While laboring for his individual advancement he has not neglected his larger duties as a neighbor and citizen. By deeds of kindness extending through a long period of years he has won and retained strong personal attachments, and though having passed his 62nd milestone on the journey of life he is still in possession of his faculties, physical and mental and bids fair to round out many more years of a happy old age. Mr. Hamilton was born Oct 21, 1840 in Fountain County and he is a son of James and Louisa Thompson Hamilton. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Kentucky. The former came to Montgomery County in 1832, when the country was little improved and he later moved to Fountain County where he remained until 1850 when he returned to Montgomery, locating on the farm of 200 acres which our subject now owns. He devoted his life to farming. His family consisted of six children: Catherine who married Alfred Lofland; Nathaniel of this review; Jane who married Solon H. Brown; Albert lives in Waynetown; Sarah Louisa married John C. Bible; Melville who lives in this county. Nathaniel Hamilton received a good common school education in Montgomery County then entered an academy where he remained some time. In August 1862, he enlisted in Company E, 72nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry then joined Wilder's famous brigade, being mounted and he participated in the battles of Hoover's Gap; Chickamauga; Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain. He was in the army of the Cumberland under General Girard in General Thomas' division. He proved to be a very faithful soldier, according to his comrades and he was honorably discharged and mustered out at Indianapolis in 1865. After the war he returned home and resumed farming, which he has continued on a large scale and with great success to the present time. He has accumulated a competency and is VP of the Farmers Bank at Wingate. He has a finely improved farm and a commodious dwelling and a good grade of livestock is always to be seen about his place. Mr. Hamilton was married on May 20, 1880 to Mary Hunt, daughter of William and Mary Rose Hunt. They were from Ohio and were early settlers here. Four children have been born to our subject and wife: Galen is deceased; Hattie married Walter Haney; Clinton is deceased; William Fay is at home. Politically, Mr. Hamilton is a Republican. He was township assessor for one term. Fraternally, he belongs to the Free and Accepted Masons at Wingate. He belongs to the Methodist Church.