Union County, Ohio Biographies Project - Thomas Bealmear
Hamilton
THOMAS BEALMEAR HAMILTON
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Thomas Bealmear Hamilton, seventh son of William and Lydia Hamilton,
born June 22, 1836. The middle name was for the old family
doctor, but when grown he chose to be called Thomas Benton, and so
wrote his name when he wrote it in full. He was not two years old
when he came to Union County, and could not take part in the early
struggles of making a home in the wilderness. At an early period
he showed that he possessed an active mind. The times had changed
for the better, and the father concluded to give him an
education. He was sent to Delaware University, and after years of
college life, he graduated with honor in the summer of 1857. He
taught school for some time in Ohio and in Illinois, and then concluded
to study medicine, and entered upon the work with his brother John in
Columbus, and graduated at Starling Medical College in the year
1862. He then went to the State of Illinois, and settled in
Wenona, Marshall County, and commenced the practice of medicine.
All this had been accomplished before he was twenty-five years
old. About this time he married Celia A. Oder of his adopted
State. His business was spreading rapidly, when he felt it to be
his duty, in 1862, to enlist as a volunteer in the United States
service. He entered the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Regiment,
Col. Moore commanding, and was made Assistant Surgeon. He was
faithful as man could be to the trust committed to him. He followed the
fate of his regiment in most of the battles on the Tennessee,
Nashville, Chattanooga, and on the way to Atlanta, and was never off
duty unless compelled to by sickness. Capt. A. E. Lee, formerly
of Delaware, said of him: That he had often seen him when the battle
would be raging, heedless of danger, caring for the wounded and
dying. One man said to the writer: "He saved my life," and
evinced toward him the love of David for Jonathan. He had attacks
of hemorrhage, and his friends plead with him to come home. "No,"
said be, - not until my time is out." He hoped to live, and when
discharged would return to a fond companion, and spend many days of
connubial bliss. But not so. While in hospital at Nashville
he had an attack of hemorrhage, and died suddenly an March 17, 1865,
and was brought to Union County and buried in the Richwood Cemetery, by
the side of his kindred, in his twenty-ninth year. Few men of his
age ever bad a more cheering prospect for doing good to mankind than
he. He was kind and cheerful, and with it mind stored with
knowledge, and with the experience he had as a surgeon in the army, had
he lived, he certainly would have been prominent in his
profession. He was a beautiful singer, and took great pleasure in
giving encouragement to the art. He was a Christian. Had
made a profession of religion when quite a youth, and though gone from
earth, has entered the society of the redeemed where he can sing
forever " Unto Him that hath loved us, and given Himself for us,
to Him be glory."
"Go to the grave, at noon from labor cease,
Rest on thy sheaves, thy harvest work is done;
Come, from the heat of battle, and in peace,
Soldier home, with thee the work is done."