James Hamilton (biography)

[genealogynut]

Taken from History of the State of Kansas, by William G. Cutler

JAMES HAMILTON, stock-raiser, P.O. Howard, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, in 1842.  In 1862, emigrated to America, locating in Ohio, where he was employed as bookeeper.  In 1863, went to San Francisco, Cal., and was employed as bookkeeper at different places for a time, when he secured a postion in the Quartermaster's Department at Fort Biddle, Cal., remaining there nearly three years, when he was removed to Camp Halleck, Nevada, remaining there until 1870, when he, in company with another party, bought a stock of Texas cattle and came to Kansas, where they commenced feeding and shipping stock.  Was located at Emporia and had a ranch in the southwest part of Lyon County, handling about 500 head per annum.  He sold out his interest in Emporia and came to Howard and bought a farm of 160 acres, lying on Elk River, in Section 12, Township 30, Range 12*.  Has a fine body of timber on the river, which makes a desirable place to shelter stock, and has arranged his feeding yards there to accommodate 500 head of cattle.  His place is considered one of the best in Southern Kansas for stock.  Has 106 acres under plow, has a fine blue grass meadow.  The place is nearly all fenced with stone wall; has a fine peach orchard and small fruits; neat frame house, good barn, and only one-half mile from Howard.  Besides feeding and shipping 500 head of cattle per annum, buys and ships about as many more, and raises and ships from 300 to 400 hogs per annum.  Is one of the best stockmen in the State and has been very successful, starting in this county without a dollar. By close attention to business, he has made a showing which is not only a benefit to him, but to the public at large, as he is one of the largest tax-payers in the county.  In 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah D. Campbell, of Howard.  Mr. Hamiton is a member of the Masonic order.


* This Range No. 12 that appears in the Cutler History is incorrect.  According to the official records that should be Range 10.   Notation made 1-25-2007.

[genealogynut]

Since his place was only about 1/2 miles from Howard, I am wondering in which direction.  Am wondering who may own the property today and what the place looks like now.  That was quite some undertaking if his place was nearly all fenced with stone wall at that time.  Wonder if any of the stone wall may still be standing.

[Wilma]

Something is wrong here.  Township 30, Range 12 is directly north of Longton.  If the legal description is right he was a lot more than 1/2 mile from Howard.  Howard lies in the northeast corner of Township 30, Range 10, which is some 10 or 12 miles west of the given description.  Now I am curious as to what the description should have been.  If it were Township 30, Range 10, it would have been about 1/2 mile from Howard.  South if it were on the river.  I don't know who owns land down there now.  I think the legal description should have read Range 10 instead of 12.  Incidentally, the City of Howard takes up most of Section 12.

[genealogynut]

I went back and checked my copy of the biography and it states "Section 12, Township 30, Range 12."  It could be that someone made a typo when transcribing this orginally from the book, or could it be an error on the plat map you are using?  That leaves me scratching my head wondering......

I have been told that even the records in the Register of Deeds office are not always accurate, as the information turned in to them sometimes was incorrect.

[W. Gray]

On my municipal township map, a small part of northwest Longton Township hugs the southeast line of Howard Township.

I don't have my survey township map handy but could it be he was one-half mile from Howard Township?

Back when municipal townships were in reality miniature counties complete with their own lower level state court, people many times identified with a municipal township rather than with a town. 

[Wilma]

I am using a 1988 ownership map of Elk County.  The fact that he was located on Elk River seems to indicate that he was indeed close to Howard.  I think the error was probably made  back when the book was made.

[hhjacobs]

I don't know how he raised 500 hunrded head on 160 acres and 106 of it was crop land. That's not counting the acres the timber and river took up.    ??

[Wilma]

He bought a lot of feed and hay.  It sounds like he had a feed lot.

[genealogynut]

I did notice that the words "accommodate" and "per annum" were used in the bio.  Maybe that would make a difference in how the bio is interpreted. (?)

[hhjacobs]

I still think that's a bit off. 400 hundred head of hogs and all those cattle on that small of farm would have been very smelly. I don't think you would be able to smell the fruit trees bloom!