Charles F. Hamilton

Charles F. Hamilton, editor Bradford Independent, was born in Armstrong county, Penn., May 16, 1837. His great grandfather left Ireland at the age of sixteen years, and came to New Jersey before the Revolutionary war. He raised a company of scouts and served as captain during the entire war of the revolution. His grandfather was born in New Jersey in the year 1787, where about the year 1809 he married a Miss Willis. His father was born in Essex county, N. J., in the year 1811. His grandfather moved from New Jersey to Armstrong county, Pa., with his family, and thence to Marshall county, Ills., in 1855, where he died in 1870. Mr. O. F. Hamilton's father married Miss Sarah Callen, of Armstrong county. Pa., in 1836. Moved with his family to Marshall county, Ill., in 1818, but returned to his Pennsylvania home in the spring of 1819. In 1857 he and his family made a permanent settlement at Sparland, Marshall county, Ill., and there his wife died that year. C. F. Hamilton was educated in Pennsylvania. On coming to Illinois he engaged in school teaching, and in 1862 entered the army, as related in the military chapter and in the history of DeWoIf Post, No. 371, Grand Army Republic. After receiving honorable discharge he resumed school teaching at Sparland, Ill., subsequently was in business there. Came to Wyoming in 1880, and here was engaged in the boot and shoe trade for fifteen years. In 1885 he established a boot and shoe store at Bradford, and in June, 1885, founded the Independent, of which he is owner and editor. In 1858 he married Miss Anna, daughter of Martin and Margaret Harmon, of Sparland, Marshall county. Ill. Mr. Harmon came from Germany to Lacon, Marshall county, Ill., in 1855, and to Sparland in 1857. To this marriage ten children were born, of whom nine are living; three are married, namely: C. H., who married Miss Edith, daughter of the widow Clarke, of Bradford; George B., married Miss Delia Aldrich, of Ingersoll, Canada; and Miss Lillian married Walter A. Washburn, of Bradford. A reference to the political and press chapters, as well as to the history of Toulon and Essex townships, and Wyoming village, will point out the part Mr. Hamilton has taken here.