GEORGE W. HAMILTON, one of the enterprising and well known citizens of Washington Township, and an ex-soldier of the late war, was born in Fulton County, Illinois, February 6, 1846, a son of John and Barbara Hamilton, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania, the daughter of Jacob Rist. The parents resided for a time in Wisconsin, in which state the father died when George was a babe, leaving a widow and one child, our subject. The mother died when George was twelve years old and was reared by his grandfather Jacob Rist, on a farm in Fulton County, Illinois.

During the great Rebellion at the time of Lincoln's call for 600,000 more men, our subject enlisted, August 9, 1862 at Princeville, Peoria County, Illinois, in the Eighty-Sixth Illinois Infantry, Volunteer Company K, under Colonel irons, who went out with the regiment, but after his death Colonel David McKee took command for a time. He resigned and then Colonel Farnstock had command; the Captain of the company was John French. George W. was out about three years, and was first under fire at Perryville, Kentucky and later at Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and at the two battles of Buzzard's Roost. He was in the great charge at Resaca, where he was wounded June 30, 1864 in the head. His skull was cracked and shattered in several places, and the officials thought he was mortally wounded.

He was confined in the field hospital one week; was then removed to Chattanooga Hospital, where he was confined for another week; was then removed to Nashville for one week, and then to Louisville, Kentucky. He was at that city and Springfield until the second of November, when he was removed to Quincy, Illinois, where he was confined until April 21, 1865. He was then taken to New York City for a short time; was next taken to Morehead, North Carolina, where he remained three days; and finally removed to Alexander, Virginia, where he remained until his discharge, June 27, 1865, and he then returned to Fulton County, Illinois, where he resided one year. Then he went to McDonough County, Illinois, where he remained but a short time, and then went to Henderson County where he lived fifteen years engaged in farming. He came to Pottawattamie County in 1882, and settled on the section where he now resides. Mr. Hamilton now owns 160 acres of good land all in one body.

He was married in Fulton County, Illinois in 1866 to Mary Overman a daughter of Charles and Eveline (Montgomery) Overman. By this marriage there were four children of whom only one is now living - Anna. Mrs. Hamilton died in July 1884 and Mr. Hamilton was married again, September 28, 1888 to Mrs. Mary Taylor, a widow whose first husband was a Mr. Hecker. She was a daughter of James A. Taylor one of the well-known early pioneers of Pottawattamie County.

Mrs. Hamilton was reared and educated in this neighborhood. By her first marriage she had five children: James, Ettie, Lily, Pleasant and Charley. Mr. Hamilton is an independent politically and is a member of the G.A.R., Robert Provard Post, No. 414, in which he is a charter member. He is one of the well-known representative citizens of this township. Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Evangelical church.

Contributed by: Darlene Vergamini