John Taylor Hamilton

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John Taylor Hamilton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 5th congressional district
In office March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893
Preceded by	Daniel Kerr
Succeeded by	Robert G. Cousins
Born	October 16, 1843 Geneseo, Hamilton County, Illinois
Died	January 25, 1925 Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Sarah Ann Jones

John Taylor Hamilton (October 16, 1843 – January 25, 1925) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Notes 4 References

[edit] Early life

Hamilton was born on October 16, 1843 near Geneseo, Hamilton County, Illinois to James S. Hamilton and Mary E. Taylor.^[1][2] His ancestors came from Ireland, and were Scottish-Irish. James was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and later moved to Antrim, New Hampshire. John's parents were married in Henry County, Illinois, and farmed there. When James retired he moved to Geneso, Illinois, and lived there until he died at age 77. John's mother died at age 82. The Hamiltons were Presbyterian and the Taylors were Unitarian.^[2]

Hamilton got his education from public schools and the Geneseo Seminary. When he was finished with his schooling he worked for a company that sold fire insurance to farmers. After three years the company failed. In 1868, he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He arrived in the city on February 2 that year and represented C. H. McCormick of Chicago in the reaper business. He was anxious to start his own business, and started the agricultural implement company Averill & Hamilton on October 1, 1868.^[2] He married Sarah Ann Jones, daughter of Edward Jones and Phoebe McArthur, on October 16, 1873. They had four children, two of them being James E. and Mabel Fawn.^[3]

[edit] Career

In the fall of 1873, Mr. Averill sold his stock in the company to John R. Amidon and the company was renamed Hamilton & Amidon. Hamilton was elected mayor of Cedar Rapids in 1878.^[3] He served as a member of the Linn County Board of Supervisors from 1882 to 1884.^[1] In May 1883 he became the president of the recently formed Cedar Rapids Savings Bank.^[3] In 1885, he was elected a member of the Iowa House of Representatives and served in the 21st through 23rd assemblies.^[1][3] He was speaker of the house in the 23rd assembly, until his term ended in 1891.^[1][3]

In 1891, Hamilton's brothers W. W. and Porter bought Amidon's stock in his and John's agricultural implement company. The company was then renamed Hamilton Brothers.^[3] After Hamilton's term as state representative ended, he was elected as a Democrat to the 52nd United States Congress, and served from March 4, 1891 to March 3, 1893.^[1] On July 1, 1899, he became the president of the Merchants National Bank. He was also a stockholder and one of the owners of the Cedar Rapids Hotel Company, owner of the Montrose Hotel, and a stockholder in the Acme Fire Insurance Company. From 1903 to 1906 he was a member of the Board of Control of State Institutions. He was first appointed to that position for two years to finish the remainder of Judge Kinnie's term; Judge Kinnie died in office. He was reappointed for a full six-year term, but he resigned a year later.^[3]

In 1914, Hamilton unsuccessfully ran to be Governor of Iowa. He died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on January 25, 1925. He was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.^[1]

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

• Brewer, Luther A.; Barthinius L. Wick (1911). History of Linn County Iowa Volume II Chicago: The Pioneer Publishing Company

Political offices
Preceded by Daniel Kerr	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Iowa's 5th congressional district March 4, 1891 – March 3, 1893	Succeeded by Robert G. Cousins

Persondata
NAME	Hamilton, John Taylor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
DATE OF BIRTH	October 16, 1843
PLACE OF BIRTH	Geneseo, Hamilton County, Illinois
DATE OF DEATH	January 25, 1925
PLACE OF DEATH	Cedar Rapids, Iowa