Cumberland County, Maine - Clinton M. Hamilton ********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: C. Wendland SilverDrusilla@aol.com Copyright © 2005 by C. Wendland Caitlin's Gold Award Project, Girl Scouts USA, Rio Grande Girl Scout Council, El Paso, Texas ********************************************************************** Biography Clinton M. Hamilton Biographical Review Cumberland County, Maine Boston Biographical Review Publishing Company 1896 Page 687-688 Clinton M. Hamilton, who was born December 16, 1856, on Chebeague Island, in the town of Cumberland, Me., is of Scotch extraction, and the worthy representative of a distinguished pioneer of the island. His great-great-grandfather, Ambrose Hamilton, Sr., emigrated from Scotland to America in Colonial days. He married Betsey Franzy, and to them were born three sons - Ambrose, Jr.; Roland; and John. Roland settled on Cousins Island; John on Walnut Hill; and Ambrose, Jr., on Chebeague Island, locating here in 1760, and being the third permanent settler of the island. He and his wife, Deborah Soule, were the parents of seven sons and seven daughters; and their grandchildren numbered seventy-one. Their son James, the next in line of descent, born in 1770, was a lifelong resident of Chebeague Island. He was a farmer by occupation, and attained the ripe old age of ninety years. He was twice married, his first wife being Mary Webber, a native of Harpswell, Me., who bore him nine children. After her death he married Sarah Littlefield, who was born and reared on the island. The only child of this union was a daughter, Mrs. David Ross, who still lives on the island, and has two children - Fostena and Herbert. Both wives were members of the Methodist church. Mr. James Hamilton in politics was an old-time Whig. John Hamilton, son of James, was born in 1803. In his younger days he followed the sea, being master of a sloop for many years, and carrying freight, principally stone, from one Maine port to another, although he made several voyages to the West Indies. He afterward became the owner of several sloops, which he sailed from Portland Harbor. In his later years he retired to his farm, which consisted of twenty-five acres of land, all under cultivation. In. 1823 he married Mary. Henley, daughter of John Henley, of Chebeague Island. Of their eight children, five are now living; namely, Mrs. Reuben Hill, Benjamin, James M., John, and Jeremiah. James M. Hamilton, father of Clinton, was born on Chebeague Island in 1832, and has here spent his entire life, being one of the leading men of the place. He has been closely associated with the mercantile and industrial interests of the island, having established the store now owned by himself and son Clinton, when but twenty years of age. He has taken an active part in the management of town affairs, and for several years served as one of the Selectmen. He married Eunice, daughter of Rufus Soule, of Chebeague Island. Five children were born to them, and of these four are now living, namely: Clinton M., the eldest; Melissa, wife of Joseph A. Brewer, of the island, who has three children - Frederick, Gertrude, and Harold; Charles M., whose wife, Elizabeth Hamilton, is the daughter of Henry W. Hamilton, who is of entirely different stock; and Bertha, who resides with her parents. Clinton M. Hamilton was educated at the Greeley Institute in Cumberland and at the Portland Business College. On leaving school he began working for his father, who in 1879 admitted him into an equal partnership, the business having since been conducted under the firm name of Hamilton & Co. They have a general store and carry on an extensive trade in grain and coal; but their specialty is clam bait, which they ship in large quantities to Portland, Boston, and even to foreign countries, having sent several lots to Portugal. Their business in this line is very large, often aggregating twelve thousand barrels a year. Mr. Hamilton takes an intelligent interest in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of his native town, which he has served with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents, in official capacities having been Selectman at various times, and in 1885, 1887, and 1889 having represented the town in the State legislature. In politics he is a straightforward Republican, faithful to his party. Mr. Hamilton married Addie D, daughter of Isaac Strout, of Limington, Me. They have two children - Marion L., born June 20, 1883; and James C., born February 5, 1892. Mr. Hamilton is a regular attendant of the Methodist church, of which his wife is a valued member.