Butte County
Biographies
PERCY LEE HAMILTON, M. D.
The high traditions and excellence of the medical profession of California are well reflected in the career of Dr. Percy Lee Hamilton, physician and surgeon of Chico, who has won an outstanding reputation for the successful conduct of his professional duties, and for the thorough attention he has given to the ethical aspects of medical science. His practice is deservedly large. While he is possessed of well developed talents in medicine and surgery, he has likewise given proof of his capability in many other directions.
Percy Lee Hamilton was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, December 11, 1874, a son of Frederic Alexander and Mary E. (Shanklin) Hamilton. The father, also a physician and surgeon, was a graduate of the Cincinnati Medical College. His studies at this Ohio school were interrupted by the Civil War, however, and in that conflict he served until 1865 as a solider in a Missouri regiment, resuming his professional preparation after the close of hostilities. He graduated in 1867, and in 1883 came to California, locating for practice at Meridian, Sutter county. In 1898 he came to Chico to join his son, Dr. Percy Lee Hamilton, and here died in 1899. His wife survives him, now being in her ninety-second year. They were the parents of three sons, Harry Louis Hamilton, born in 1870, was also a graduate physician, who joined his brother, Dr. Percy Lee Hamilton, upon the death of their father in 1899, and died in 1904; Percy Lee Hamilton the immediate subject of this sketch, is the second son. Ortis L., born in 1878, is now engaged in the real estate business at San Jose, California.
Percy Lee Hamilton was educated in the public schools of Stockton, California, then attended high school at San Francisco. He entered upon his medical education at the California Medical College, at San Francisco, and received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1896. He then engaged in practice at Colusa, California, for one year, after which he had an office in Los Angeles for a period of eight months. In 1898 he came to Chico, Butte county, where he has continuously engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery to the present time. Doctor Hamilton holds membership in the Butte County Medical Association, the California State Medical Association, the Northern District Medical Association, and American Medical Association. He is assistant surgeon for the Sacramento Northern Railroad; surgeon for the General Electric Telephone and Telegraph Company; surgeon for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company; physician and surgeon for the United States Pension Examiners in this district; and surgeon for the United States Forest Survey.
Although he has never aspired to public office, ‘Doctor’ Hamilton has always been a warm supporter of the republican party. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Chico and to the Encampment, of which he is past chief patriarch; to Chico Lodge, No. 423, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, of which he is past exalted ruler; and the church connection of himself and family is with the Presbyterian denomination. He has never cultivated any special hobbies, as his professional activities have been his work and diversion alike.
In 1907 Doctor Hamilton was married to Miss Frances B. Nelson, a daughter of Edward T. and Laura (Day) Nelson, the former a pioneer lumberman, who resided at Chico until his demise in 1928. His wife now lives at Roseville, California. Doctor and Mrs. Hamilton are the parents of two children: Louis Billie, who was born at Chico in 1909, and now lives with is maternal grandmother at Roseville; and Madia Lee, is now in her senior year at the Manlin School for Girls, a private institution, at San Francisco, where she has been specializing in art.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: Wooldridge, J.W. Major History of the Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 2 Pages 50-51. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Joyce Rugeroni.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies