Census: 1880 Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin: age 58, farmer

Edward Thatcher Hamilton 1819-1895

"The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis.", 1889, p 742, 743.
EDWARD T. HAMILTON, a resident of Milton, was born on the 19th day of January, 1819, in Allegany County, N.Y., and is a son of Freeborn and Tacy (GREEN) HAMILTON. He was one of a family of twelve children, seven of whom are now living.
The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood in his native State, receiving his education in the common schools. Thinking that the opportunities afforded young men were better in the West than in the older states of the East, he came to Wisconsin in 1842, and bought land in the town of Harmony. After some months he sold his land to his brother Horace G. and returned to New York, where in 1843 he was united in marriage with Miss Welthy M. BURDICK, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth BURDICK. They had a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, all of whom are still living, with one exception. Daniel M. and Waite S., the two eldest of the family are still living in New York State. Harriet E. is now deceased. The others are Edon P., Benjamin F., John A., Mrs. HAMILTON, Charles R. and Abigail. Mrs. HAMILTON was born on the 23d day of May, 1824. She has had five children. Albert E., born March 2d, 1845, is the first in order of birth; a lawyer by profession, living in Harper, Kan. Elnora, born July 23, 1847, is living in Milton; Charles W., born March 30, 1849, was married and died in 1880; Hattie L. born May 19, 1852, is now deceased; and Ida M. was born June 22, 1855.
Shortly after their marriage Mr. HAMILTON and his young wife came to Rock County, and settled on a farm of 160 acres in Lima Township, he entering an 80-acre tract and purchasing the remainder. He there engaged in farming, developing the wild land and making many useful improvements until his farm became one of the best in the community. In 1861 he removed with his family to Milton, but retained the ownership of the land on which he first settled until 1881, when he sold out. For some time he engaged in stock dealing, making a specialty of horses and was quite successful in that line of business. Financially, he is a self-made man. Starting out in life with no capital, he was steadily worked his way upward, gaining by good management, industry and enterprise, a comfortable competency which enables him to pass his declining years in retirement from the more active duties of life. Previous to the war he was a supporter of the Abolition party, but now casts his ballot with the Prohibition party. Throughout his life he has taken a deep interest in temperance work, and aided in the promotion of temperance principles. He is a member of the Seventh Day Baptist Church, of Milton, and is numbered among the early settlers of that town, in the enterprises of which he has ever been found in the foremost public spirited citizen, he is well known throughout Rock County, and is held in high regard as a man of sterling wealth.

"The Milton Journal", Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1895, p 1.
Mr. Edward T. Hamilton passed away quietly on Sunday evening, December 15, aged 76 years, 10 months and 26 days. Paralysis was the cause of his illness and death. He was one of the early settlers in Wisconsin, having lived here about fifty years. He moved to this place from Alfred, N. Y. He left a son and a daughter to survive him, Mr. Eugene Hamilton, a lawyer residing and doing business at Harper, Kan., and Mrs. Ida Wells, who lived with and kept house for her father. The funeral exercises were held at his late home on Tuesday, the 17 inst., Rev. E. M. Dunn officiating, assisted by Rev. Geo. W. Burdick.

Census: 1880 Milton, Rock Co., Wisconsin: age 56

Wealthy Melissa (Burdick) Hamilton 1824-1894
"The Milton Journal", Thursday, July 5, 1894, p 1.
On Saturday morning, June 30, 1894, Mrs. Wealthy M. Hamilton passed gently and peacefully from earth to her heavenly home. She had been gradually sinking for some weeks and the end was not unlooked for.
Mrs. Hamilton was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth Burdick. She was born in Lincklaen, Chenango county, N. Y., May 23, 1824, and was the seventh in a family of nine children, six of whom still survive. When she was quite young her father was accidently killed by a falling tree, leaving the mother with her large family of children in poverty. After a time the mother removed her family to Allegany county, N. Y., where three of Mrs. Hamilton's brothers still reside.
September 19, 1843, the subject of this notice was united in marriage with Edward T. Hamilton, at Alfred Centre, N. Y., and the following year they removed to Milton, Wisconsin, making their residence here 50 years, giving them a place among the pioneer settlers of this part of Rock county.
She had sixty years of Christian experience, having been a member of the S. D. B. church of Lincklaen and Alfred Centre, N. Y., and Milton and Milton Junction.
The funeral services were held at the residence in Milton, Wisconsin, July 2, conducted by her pastor, G. W. Burdick, assisted by E. M. Dunn of Milton.
A brother of Mrs. Hamilton, Rev. Chas. Burdick, a sister, Mrs. R. D. Saunders of Albion, and a grandson, Mr. Bond of Iowa, were among those who attended the funeral.