EDWARD T. HAMILTON, a resident of Milton, was born on the 19th day of January, 1819, in Allegany County, N.Y., and is a son of Freeborn and Tacy (Green) Hamilton. He was one of a family of twelve children, seven of whom are now living.
The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood in his native State, receiving his education in the common schools. Thinking that the opportunities afforded young men were better in the West than in the older states of the East, he came to Wisconsin in 1842, and bought land in the town of Harmony. After some months he sold his land to his brother Horace G. and returned to New York, where in 1843 he was united in marriage with Miss Welthy M. Burdick, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Burdick. They had a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, all of whom are still living, with one exception. Daniel M. and Waite S., the two eldest of the family are still living in New York State. Harriet E. is now deceased. The others are Edon P., Benjamin F., John A., Mrs. Hamilton, Charles R. and Abigail. Mrs. Hamilton was born on the 23d day of May, 1824. She has had five children. Albert E., born March 2d, 1845, is the first in order of birth; a lawyer by profession, living in Harper, Kan. Elnora, born July 23, 1847, is living in Milton; Charles W., born March 30, 1849, was married and died in 1880; Hattie L. born May 19, 1852, is now deceased; and Ida M. was born June 22, 1855.
Shortly after their marriage Mr. Hamilton and his young wife came to Rock County, and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Lima Township, he entering an 80-acre tract and purchasing the remainder. He there engaged in farming, developing the wild land and making many useful improvements until his farm became one of the best in the community. In 1861 he removed with his family to Milton, but retained the ownership of the land on which he first settled until 1881, when he sold out. For some time he engaged in stock dealing, making a specialty of horses and was quite successful in that line of business. Financially, he is a self-made man. Starting out in life with no capital, he was steadily worked his way upward, gaining by good management, industry and enterprise, a comfortable competency which enables him to pass his declining years in retirement from the more active duties of life. Previous to the war he was a supporter of the Abolition party, but now casts his ballot with the Prohibition party. Throughout his life he has taken a deep interest in temperance work, and aided in the promotion of temperance principles. He is a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, of Milton, and is numbered among the early settlers of that town, in the enterprises of which he has ever been found in the foremost public spirited citizen, he is well known throughout Rock County, and is held in high regard as a man of sterling wealth.
