Biographies for Cheyenne County Colorado
HAMILTON, Harvey
History of Colorado
Volume IV
By Wilbur Fiske Stone
Chicago
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1919
HARVEY S. HAMILTON.
Cheyenne Wells perhaps never lost a more valuable and more valued citizen
than Harvey S. Hamilton, who was long identified with its banking and other
business
interests and contributed in most substantial measure to the development and
upbuilding of his section of the state. He was born in Lebanon, Indiana, March
5,
1841, a son of Henry and Polly (Parks) Hamilton, who were southern people and
in 1848 removed from Indiana to Iowa.
Harvey S. Hamilton took up the profession of teaching
when a young man but
afterward turned his attention to carpentering, which he followed for three
years.
At a subsequent period he engaged in the lumber business in California, rafting
lumber
on the bay. He remained in the Golden state for three years, after which he
returned to Iowa, where he again spent a few months. He then came to Colorado,
settling at Cheyenne Wells in 1887. Here he purchased an interest in a
mercantile
store in connection with Mr. Hickman. Cheyenne county was organized in January,
1889, and with its development and progress Mr. Hamilton was associated to the
time
of his death. He continued to engage in merchandising with fair success until
1893.
In 1896 he entered the field of banking, being instrumental in organizing the
Cheyenne
County State Bank, of which he was a half owner. He remained president of the
bank from the beginning until his death, which occurred on the 1st of January,
1912.
He proved a friend in need to many. On many occasions
people who could not get
anyone to endorse their personal notes, when hard pushed for money, would take
their
case to Mr. Hamilton, who after carefully considering the question would endorse
the
notes, so the cashier of the bank would then loan them money. He was very
liberal and
Just in everything, had confidence in the integrity of his fellowmen and rarely
was this
confidence betrayed. He indeed proved a friend in need and a friend indeed and
there
are many who have reason to revere his memory for his timely assistance to them.
In
1908 he, with the Hickman brothers, purchased the controlling interest in the
bank of
Windsor, Colorado, while in 1906 he had become identified with the sheep
industry.
During the last six years of his life he was in ill health but he remained
active in
business to the last and successfully and wisely controlled his interests. The
capital
of the Cheyenne County State Bank of Cheyenne Wells was increased from fifteen
thousand to forty thousand dollars, showing the success of the institution. Mrs.
Hamilton still remains a member of its board of directors. As the years passed
Mr.
Hamilton prospered, winning a substantial measure of success which the most
envious
could not grudge him, so worthily was it gained and so honorably used. He was
also interested in the Keyless Lock Company, now the American Keyless Lock
Company,
and he owned land in Florida and had large real estate holdings in Colorado,
making Judicious investment of his money in farm property in the state.
On the 30th of May, 1889, Mr. Hamilton was united in
marriage to Miss Margaret
Woodrow, a daughter of Jeremiah and Parmelia (Byers) Woodrow, both of whom were
natives of Ohio and were among the pioneers there, Mr. Woodrow following farming
and prospering in his undertakings. He passed away October 2, 1918. The maternal
grandfather, Ed Byers, was born in Kentucky and was a great hunter and trapper
of southern Ohio. His wife lived to be one hundred and five years of age,
passing'
away in the year 1884. She lived through the period when all manner of work was
done by the women of the household and she spun many a hank of flax thread. The
father of Mrs. Hamilton was a cousin of President Wilson. Mrs. Hamilton was the
second child in her father's family. She was educated in the public schools and
later took up dressmaking. She came to Cheyenne county, Colorado, in 1888 and
here met Mr. Hamilton. They were married in 1889, their marriage being the first
on the records of Cheyenne county. For thirty years she has lived in her present
home. At the time of her arrival there were in Cheyenne Wells but two stores, a
depot, a land office and a schoolhouse. Her garden produced the first rose that
ever
bloomed in Cheyenne county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton was born a son, Harry
Woodrow Hamilton, whose birth occurred January 19, 1899. He acquired a public
school education and after his father's death he and his mother went to Ohio in
order
to forget their deep sorrow. They lived in that state for three years and then
returned
to Cheyenne Wells, where the son completed his education in the high school.
He did some splendid work in manual training, especially along the line of
cabinet
work, evidence of which is seen in his home. On the llth of December, 1917, he
went to Denver to enlist in the first division of Company B of the Marine Corps
and
was sent to Mare Island. After a few months he was promoted to first private and
several responsible duties were assigned him, including guard duty at the navy
yard.
He was afterward one of seven selected to go to Virginia to prepare for overseas
service and left for France in October, 1918.
Mrs. Hamilton is very prominent in Red Cross work and
is chairman of the
chapter of Cheyenne county. Since her husband's death she has purchased the
elevator
at Cheyenne Wells and she is also interested in the cheese factory, which is a
profitable concern. It was her son who conceived the idea of investing therein
about
two years ago and the mother carried out the plan. No woman has for a longer
period
been a resident of Cheyenne Wells than Mrs. Hamilton, who is thoroughly familiar
with every phase of its history and development. She is most highly esteemed by
reason
of her personal worth and the memory of her husband is enshrined in the hearts
of all who knew him because of his sterling traits of character, his business
ability,
his spirit of accommodation and friendliness. His record is Indeed one well
worthy
of emulation and there are many who might profitably follow his example.
Submitted by Vicki Hartman