Person:Cyrus Hamilton (2)

Year: 1850; Census Place: Fugit, Decatur, Indiana; Roll: M432_142; Page: 62A; Image: 130
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Family Number Surname Given Name Age Birth Year Gender Birth Place
1 Hamilton Cyrus 50 1800 Male Kentucky
1 Hamilton Polly 51 1799 Female Kentucky
1 Hamilton William 26 1824 Male Indiana
1 Hamilton Orlando 22 1828 Male Indiana
1 Hamilton Cordelia 17 1833 Female Indiana
1 Hamilton Chester 11 1839 Male Indiana
1 Hamilton Everett 8 1842 Male Indiana

p 71-72 -
... Newcomers in 1821 were as follow: Fugit township — ... Cyrus Hamilton ...

p 123 -
The fifty-nine entries of 1821 [in Fugit Township] were as follow: ... Thomas Hamilton, Cyrus Hamilton, ...

p 125-1266 -
... In 1833 the first brick school house in the township, and probably in the county, was erected on the farm of Cyrus Hamilton, in the field southwest of his house. Rev. James McCoy, Elijah Mitchell, Davis Henry and many other excellent old pioneers taught in this building. ...

p 400 - [William Hamilton, son of Cyrus, gives a first hand account of his family's participation in helping fugitive slaves along the underground railroad in the fall of 1848]

p 526 -
... A GLIMPSE OF THE ANTI-MASONIC MOVEMENT. Some of the able debaters of the early days, according to recorded evidence, must have been Joseph Hopkins, Andrew Robison, Thomas and Cyrus Hamilton of the Kingston neighborhood. The story is told that back some time in the late twenties two youthful students at Hanover came to Kingston and issued a challenge to the whole wide world for a discussion of Masonry. Andrew Robison and Cyrus Hamilton, although neither knew a thing about Masonry, agreed to meet them, and, according to one who was present at the discussion, "when it was over, there was only a grease spot on the floor where the students had stood." ...

p 585 -
... About the time that Seth and Rebecca Lowe came to Decatur county [1819], there came also James and Cyrus Hamilton, the Donnells, the McCoys and Hopkinses a year or two later.

[Includes headstone photo]

p 43 -
... Among the very earliest settlers in Fugit, who came to the township in 1820, 1821, 1822 and 1823, we mention the following: ... Cyrus and Thomas Hamilton ...

p 78 -
... Cyrus Hamilton was born July 14, 1800; married to Mary McCoy February 22, 1822 ; died August 19, 1879. ...

p 79 -
... CYRUS HAMILTON, third son of Robert and Mary (Eward) Hamilton, was born in Kentucky July 14, 1800. He assisted in the care of the Kentucky farm until the time of his marriage, which occurred February 22, 1822, when he was united with Mary McCoy. He emigrated to Decatur County in the month of March following, in company with his brother, James E., and entered upon the active career of a pioneer's life, with all the characteristic energy for which the Hamiltons are celebrated. He entered land adjoining his brother's tract, and there remained during the remainder of his years. While James was a silent worker, Cyrus was an active one. He was a fluent talker, and one of the earliest advocates of the temperance cause. He did much toward the organization of temperance societies, and to urge young men to avoid the folly of the drunkard's course. His own habits were an embodiment of the principles he taught. He was an earnest advocate of the anti-slavery sentiments that were adopted by the old Liberty party, and was one of the leaders of that advanced idea which culminated in the overthrow of the institution known as American slavery. He voted for James G. Birney, who was the nominee for President in 1840, and for all other candidates of the Liberty party, State or national, until that party was swallowed up by the Republican party, when he became a firm supporter of its doctrines, and so remained until his death. Though eminently qualified, he never held an office, and probably would not have accepted one of any kind unless convinced that it was his duty to do so. He was fond of debate, and few things gave him more pleasure than the discussion of the topics of his day. He always had an anecdote ready to illustrate his points, and was possessed of a good fund of ready wit. These qualities, united with a genial temperament, gave him a large amount of that peculiar sociability which made him popular with children, as well as with adults. He made the most of life's opportunities socially, as well as in the serious duties of a Christian and a citizen. He became a member of the Sand Creek Presbyterian Church at the time of its organization, when he was received upon a profession of faith. This was on the 4th of September, 1824. Himself and his brother James made the shingles for the house of the first minister, and aided largely in the construction of all the buildings erected by the society for church purposes, or for use as parsonages. His natural love for children and youth, combined with his desire to serve the Master in the great "Vineyard of Truth," made him a most successful Sunday school teacher, in which work he took great interest.

The union of Cyrus Hamilton and Mary McCoy was blessed with children as follows:
- William M., born November 26, 1822. See special biography.
- Melissa, born February 26, 1825. See special biography.
- Orlando, born January 1, 1827. See special biography.
- Cordelia, born August 12, 1832. See special biography.
- Chester, born December 18, 1838. See special biography.
- Everett, born October 16, 1841. See special biography.

... This worthy couple celebrated their golden wedding in 1872. There were assembled here all the children, nineteen grandchildren, and other relatives of the family. Upon this occasion, Mr. Hamilton presented each of his children with a fine family Bible. In doing so, he took the opportunity to address them upon the all-important subject of studying those sacred pages, which, as he then declared, had been the principal source of light to him during a long and prosperous life. His remarks at that time were like a patriarch's blessing, and as such will ever be cherished by his children. At the conclusion of the father's words, his sons presented the venerable sire with a finely wrought golden-headed cane, bearing this inscription: "Cyrus Hamilton, from his sons. Golden Wedding, February 22, 1872." The four alternate faces of the octagonal head are engraved with the names of his four sons, in the order of their respective ages, viz.: William, Orlando, Chester, Everett.* (*This was given to William M. Hamilton, by his mother, after the death of her husband. It is cherished as an heir-loom, and will long be preserved in the family, it is hoped.) At the time of this event, there had been no deaths in the family, which unusual circumstance was referred to in the well-chosen remarks of Rev, B. M. Nyce, a son-in-law of Mr. Hamilton's.

On the 19th of August, 1879, Mr. Hamilton was called from his earthly labors. He died in the fullness of years, having worthily fulfilled the measure of his days. Mrs. Hamilton survived her husband until the 8th of September, 1881, when she, too, was called "to that land from whose bourn no traveler returns." They now rest together in the cemetery of the Kingston Presbyterian Church. ...