Santa
Clara County
Biographies
ROBERT HAMILTON
In the evening of his days Robert Hamilton is
enjoying a relaxation from the busy cares of active life, making his home in
San Jose, where he has lived for many years. A native of Ireland, he was born
May 12, 1829, a son of John and Esther (Scott) Hamilton. When only a lad of
fourteen years he came to New York City, and in Brooklyn
he learned the trade of a painter, following it until 1853, when he came to
California by way of Nicaragua, intent upon finding his fortune as so many
thousands were doing----in the gold mines of the state. Unfortunately he caught
a fever on the passage out and his health failed in the new country, and he was
obliged to return east. After his marriage there with Rebeca Gregory he came
again to California, bringing her with him by way of the Isthmus of Panama.
Locating in San Francisco he followed his trade there for four years, after
which he mined for a short time, and then came to San Jose. Here he purchased
five acres of land and erected a house between the city and cemetery, and
engaged in farming operations. For about four years he engaged in sheep
raising, purchasing three hundred sheep for $900, and in four years had a flock
of one thousand. This would have brought him considerable financial returns had
not the drought of 1874 caused him to lose heavily, when he disposed of his
interests in this line and returned to painting. He had sold his ranch in 1870
and built the house where he now lives, and later built the two adjoining
cottages, all this being very valuable property. In 1898 he retired from active
labor, seeking a well-earned rest. He began life with nothing, but pluck and
energy have brought him success, and he merits well the general respect and
esteem in which he is held.
Mr. Hamilton’s wife died in 1885, at
the age of sixty-eight years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom
two only are now living, namely: Mrs. Susie R. Igler,
of Portland, Ore.; and Robert G., who is manager of the Swiss-Italian Colony
Company, of San Francisco. In memory of his first years in the state Mr.
Hamilton is a member of the Pioneer Society.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1372. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.