USGenWeb Project- Montgomery County Indiana

Montgomery County, Indiana USGenWeb Project

BIOGRAPHY

Col. R.T. B. Hamilton

History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW Bowen, 1913, pp 791-792.

COL. R. T. B. HAMILTON

One of the men of Montgomery county who needs no introduction to our readers is R. T. B. Hamilton, familiarly known as "Colonel" Hamilton, one of the leading and most popular auctioneers of the state of Indiana, and one of the most successful and enterprising agriculturists in Montgomery county, a man who would have succeeded at whatever line of endeavor he might have selected for he possesses the proper attributes, and is a good mixer, thus enjoying the friendship and good will of a vast acquaintance.

Colonel Hamilton was born on May 7, 1852, in Montgomery county, Indiana. He is a son of Nathaniel and Jane (Keeney) Hamilton. The father was born in Ohio, and the mother was born in Kentucky. The father was a carpenter by trade. Politically, he was a Republican, but was not a public man. He was twice married.

Colonel Hamilton received a good education in the common schools. He was married first to Lizzie Barnett, a native of Montgomery county. She is now deceased. Our subject was married the second time, his last wife being Rose Ballard, born in Montgomery county. Mrs. Hamilton was educated in the public schools.

Eight children were born to Colonel Hamilton and his first wife, six of whom are still living, namely: Mabel, Jennie, Albert, Hector B., Jessie and Wallace. To the last marriage one child was born, Walter.

Our subject made his start in life on the farm and this work has claimed his chief attention through life until today, having prospered with advancing years he is the owner of several good farms in Montgomery county, and he spends his summers in the country and his winters at his commodious home in Crawfordsville. He started as an auctioneer in 1878, having had a great deal of natural ability in that direction, as all must have who make a success, and he soon had quite a reputation here in his native county, and his reputation continued to grow, covering surrounding territory, and soon he found that his services were in great demand in Indianapolis, and he has been a successful and popular auctioneer in that city for the past twenty years, and he is well known throughout the state. One of his finest farms is that of three hundred and fifty acres in the western part of the county which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He believes in adopting all modern methods, wherein they are applicable to farming in this section of the country, and he studied modern methods of all kinds. He is a lover of fine live stock and some excellent grades are always to be seen on his farms.

Colonel Hamilton was reared in the faith of the Methodist church. Fraternally, he belongs to Lodge No. 223, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and to the Tribe of Ben-Hur, also the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Politically, he is a Progressive, and he made the race for sheriff of Montgomery County on that ticket in the campaign of 1912, but was defeated with the rest of the ticket, although making a splendid race.

Waveland Independent
Waveland, Montgomery County, Indiana
April 25, 1919

Col. R.T. B. Hamilton died at his home in Crawfordsville on Sat. morning after an illness of about two months. Fun. serv. were held at the home on Tues. and burial was at Oak Hill. Col. Hamilton was well known here having lived for a while on the George Hanna farm south of town, which he owned at that time. Mrs. Charles Lamson is a daughter of Col. Hamilton. Col. Hamilton was one of the most widely known auctioneers of the state, having acted in that capacity for the firm of Blair & Baker Sales Co, Indianapolis, which he was a member of. He was noted as a fine stock salesman.

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