My Genealogy Hound

John H. Hamilton was born in Marion County, Ala., on July 28, 1855, and is a son of John and Jane (Hamilton) Hamilton, of Irish and German descent, respectively. John Hamilton, the father, was born in North Carolina in 1818, and when a boy went to Tennessee. By trade he was a mechanic and blacksmith, but he also engaged in merchandising, farming and stock-raising. When the Civil War broke out he had accumulated considerable wealth, but all went in the lost cause. He enlisted in the Confederate army (although voting the Union ticket), and served until February, 1862, when he sickened and died, near Knoxville, Tenn. His wife was born in South Carolina in 1816, and died in 1877. John H. Hamilton was reared on a farm in Alabama. Owing to the effects of the Civil War he was forced to work hard in early life to support his mother and four sisters. He learned the tanner’s trade, but only followed it for two years, and by persistent effort he and his sisters secured common-school educations. His literary training was finished at the high-school at Vernon, Ala., after which he engaged in merchandising at Detroit, Ala., and although he at one time lost his stock, a large flouring and grist-mill and cotton-gins by fire and suffered losses in the panic of 1873, he continued very successfully until 1880, when, on account of poor health, he removed to Eureka Springs. Here he was engaged in the boot and shoe business until 1881, and in 1882 he was elected city clerk, and served until 1883. He was then elected circuit clerk for the Western District of Carroll County, and served until 1885. In 1886 he was appointed postmaster of Eureka Springs, and is the present incumbent. In January, 1876, he was united in marriage with Michiael D. Key, of Hamilton, Ala. She is a native of Georgia. To them have been born five children, one of whom, Paul, is living. Politically Mr. Hamilton is a stanch Democrat. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of H., and is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.