History of Delaware County, Indiana 1881 T. B. Helm Surnames in this biography are: Hamilton, Moore, STEPHEN HAMILTON            Mr.Hamilton was born December 21, 1825, in Monongalia County, W. VA. His father,Stephen Hamilton, was a native of Pennsylvania, but moved to West Virginia whena young lad. He was a farmer, and followed that occupation in Monongalia Countyuntil 1829. In that year he came with his wife and eight children to DelawareCounty, Ind. He settled in Hamilton Township, and was identified with its earlysettlement. At the organization of that township, about nine years subsequentto the date of his settlement, it was endowed with his name. He continued toreside in this township until his decease. Although he never held public office,he was a public-spirited man, and was actively      interested in the success of the Whig, and afterward theRepublican, Party. He was an upright, honorable man, and, as highly esteemed byall who knew him. At the date of his removal to this county, the subject ofthis sketch was but four years old. There were no schools near his home, andwhen a system of public education was finally inaugurated, he was almost ayoung man, and felt reluctance to taking his place in the         class with the younger children. Heattended a few terms of school in the winter, however, and acquired a limitedknowledge of the common branches. A naturally bright mind supplied thedeficiency of educaiona1 privileges, and by a careful application of hisleisure hours, he became fitted for an intelligent transaction of the businessof his life.         Until twenty-fouryears of age, he remained at home assisting his father. Then nearly everylocality was aroused by the reports of golden treasures to be found in theState of California. Visions of gold haunted him and, in October 1849, hejoined a company composed of twenty-nine citizens of this county, among whomwere his father and brother Arch. From Muncie they went to Cincinnati, thenceto New Orleans, thence across the Gulf of Mexico to Chagres City, in CentralAmerica, thence across the isthmus to the city of Panama, and from that pointto San Francisco. Mr. Hamilton entered the mines, where, by two years’ hardwork, he accumulated a sufficient sum to give him a good start in life, alwaysavoiding the vices and uncertain speculations in which the miners of those dayswere prone to engage. Two years and two months from the date of his departure,he returned to his home and purchased the farm         upon which he still resides. Here he began work upon aquarter section of timberland, scarcely a tree on the tract having been felledwhen he took possession. In the thirtieth year of his age (October, 1855), he wasunited in marriage with Miss Rachel, daughter of Mark Moore, an early settlerof this county. Her companionship has been spared throughout the interveningyears, and she still lives to share the well-earned opulence that has crownedtheir efforts, and which is the legitimate consequence of honest toil andeconomy. The children who came to bless their home were Charles E.Lillie Z, Anna E. Frank, Henry and Archie A, who are now living, and Mary Ellaand Ivy who are deceased. In politics, Mr. Hamilton is a stanch supporter of theRepublican Party; and while he is not a member of any religious society, he hasalways contributed generously to the erection and support of churches in thecounty. His life has run in a smooth, even channel, and has not been veryeventful; but by his quiet, peaceable and friendly disposition, and the innatenobility of his nature, he has gained a host of friends, by whom he is deeplybeloved.