My Genealogy Hound

William P. Hamilton, of the firm of Hamilton & Tindel, proprietors and owners of the Hamilton flour and saw-mills and rail factory, one mile east of Evening Shade, was born in Independence County in 1850, and is a son of James A. and Catherine E. (Metcalf) Hamilton, natives of North Carolina, and born in 1822 and 1830, respectively. The parents were married in that State, and in 1849 moved to Independence County, Ark. The following year they came to what is now Sharp County, and located near Evening Shade, and in 1868 the family settled on the farm where William P. Hamilton now resides. The saw-mill was erected in 1865, and purchased by the elder Hamilton in 1868, who immediately established a flour-mill and rail factory, which business he continued with great success until his death, in 1884. The present firm, however, was established in 1872. The flour-mills have a capacity of 100 bushels of wheat and 200 bushels of corn per day; the saw mill a capacity of 1,200 feet of lumber per day. The elder Hamilton was a member of the A. F. & A. M., Evening Shade lodge, and with his wife attended the Christian Church a great number of years. Mrs. Hamilton, who is still living, is a daughter of Andrew K. Metcalf, of North Carolina; he was born in that State in 1808, moving to Independence County in 1849, where he resided six years, and then came to what is now Sharp County. His wife is still living at the age of seventy-nine years. William P. Hamilton was married, in 1872, to Ruth J., daughter of Young and Jane Richie. His wife was born in Mississippi, where her mother died when the daughter was very young, and where the father still resides. She moved to Arkansas with an uncle, and was here married to Mr. Hamilton. This union has given them two sons and one daughter. Mr. Hamilton has lived on the old farm ever since 1868, and has about forty-five acres of land under cultivation, owning altogether 160 acres. He is a Democrat in politics, and has been a member of the I. O. O. F. since 1874, holding the offices of secretary and grand secretary during that time. He also belongs to the Evening Shade Masonic Lodge, and has held the offices of junior warden, master and several others. Mr. Hamilton and his wife and oldest son are members of the Christian Church. They are a well-known family in this vicinity, and are held in the highest esteem by their neighbors.