Placer
County
Biographies
GEN. JO. HAMILTON
Much
of the early history of California centered in Placer, Nevada, and surrounding
counties, and during the gold rush it was in this locality that the romantic
episodes of pioneer days kept accumulating, and went down through the fifties
and sixties, both as to early mining activities and also in exciting events
brought on by the rough, and often dangerous, characters who were attracted
here by the mines and kindred pursuits.
Thus it was that many brilliant legal men were prominent here during the
three decades making up early state history, and their names became well-known
throughout the country. Among these Gen. Jo. Hamilton must be mentioned; one of the
most noted attorneys in California, he was prominent in politics and a
brilliant jury lawyer with a gift for oratory which made him feared by opposing
counsel. A native of Kentucky, he was
admitted to the bar in Georgia, and in 1858 sold his horse, saddle and bridle
to secure money to come to California.
First
settling in Placer County, at that early date, he then wore, like all true
Southerners, a silk hat and Prince Albert, but this did not deter him from
accepting work chopping wood on a ranch.
He also worked in the mines for a time at Forest Hill. His first case at law was defending a man
accused of murder, with a fee of one hundred dollars, which looked big to him
and gave him encouragement to continue practicing. He located in Auburn in 1860, and began
practicing law and that same year was elected district attorney of Placer
County. He was reelected in 1862 and
served until 1865. During this time he
prosecuted a man, as district attorney; the trial was delayed and when he went
out of office he defended this same man and acquitted him!
General
Hamilton continued the practice of law in Auburn until 1899. He was twice elected Attorney General of
California, the first time in 1871, under Governor Haight’s administration, and
reelected in 1874, during Governor Irwin’s term. He served a number of years as trustee of the
State Library, and was at one time slated as a candidate for governor of the
state, but was taken with a severe illness and could not carry out his plans;
this was at the time of the election of Governor Stoneman. During his many years of law practice the
General was pitted against some of the most prominent lawyers of the
state. He had offices at Oroville,
Colusa and Sacramento, and was very successful.
General Hamilton owned and operated for twenty-five years a 2,500-acre
ranch in Colusa County, known as the Hamilton Ranch. He retired from practice in 1899, and in 1909
his death occurred. His marriage had
united him with Miss Nancy Blair a native of Georgia, and seven children were
born to them, five of them now living:
Mrs. M. W. Ward, of Woodland; Mrs. George N. Dyson, of San Francisco;
George W., of Auburn; Mrs. W. A. Shephard, of Auburn; and Mrs. Mary H. Wallace.
George
W. Hamilton, the only son of General Hamilton, was born in Auburn July 27,
1865, was educated in the public schools and the Sierra Normal College of his
native city, and studied law in his father’s office; he was admitted to the bar
on his twenty-first birthday, July 27, 1886.
After a number of years spent on the home ranch in Colusa County, he
returned to Auburn in 1901, where he has since practiced law; he has served as
district attorney of Placer County, and also as a member of the state
legislature. His marriage occurring at
Placerville on December 21, 1891, united him with Ella J. Dimon,
born in Placerville, and one son has blessed their union, Jo.,
a resident of San Francisco.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“History of Placer & Nevada Counties,
California”, by W. B. Lardner & M. J. Brock. Pages 468-469.
Historic Record Co., Los Angeles 1924.
© 2013
V. Gerald Iaquinta.