Sacramento County
Biographies
IVAN KNOX HAMILTON
IVAN KNOX HAMILTON.--A representative
business man of Sacramento County,
whose extensive operations are of increasing importance to California
agriculture, is Ivan Knox Hamilton, a native of Rio Vista, where he was born on
September 13, 1884. His parents were
James and Margaret (Cook) Hamilton natives of New Brunswick,
where they lived on the Carlo River. His father came to California
about 1861, and in 1867 settled at Rio Vista.
He had large holdings of land on Sherman
Island, including much swamp and
tule land. About eleven years ago the
father died at the age of sixty-seven; but his devoted and highly-esteemed wife
is still living at the old home place at Rio Vista.
Ivan
went to school in his home district, and then joined his father in farming in
the delta region. Now he is a partner
with Libby, McNeill, Libby & Company in the cultivation of 1,077 acres of
land on Tyler Island,
all devoted to the growing of asparagus; and he is also associated with his
brother, Neil R., as a partner, in farming extensively in the Sacramento
delta county. They have 1,200 acres
devoted to asparagus, beans, barley and wheat, and never fail to get excellent
results. On the incorporation of
Isleton, Mr. Hamilton was appointed the first city recorder; and as in all
matters he undertakes, he is filling the position of city judge with dignity
and fairness.
In San
Francisco, on May 6, 1922, Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Ella R.
Hardy, a native of the Bay City. Her father was born in England,
and for years was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Australia. Then he came to California,
and the Standard Oil Company, ever alert for the superior man, drew him into
their service. Mrs. Hamilton is the
youngest in a family of five children. Arthur,
the eldest brother, is an architect and builder; Leslie is a lumberman in Humboldt
County; and the others are Ethel,
now Mrs. Ballsmeier, and Melba. Ella
Hardy attended the San Francisco
grammar and high schools. Mr. Hamilton
is a past master of the Rio Vista Lodge of Masons; he is a member of the Royal
Arch Chapter in Suisun, and of the Vacaville Commandery, Knight Templars, and a
life member of Islam Temple,
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in San Francisco,
as well as of the Order of the Eastern Star.
He is also a member and a past grand of Rio Vista Lodge No. 180, I. O.O.
F., and with his wife is a member of Isleton Rebekah Lodge. Indorsing cooperation as the best method of
marketing farm produce, Mr. Hamilton has been a member of the California Asparagus
Growers’ Association from the time of its organization.
Transcribed
by Patricia Seabolt.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 672. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Patricia Seabolt.