Notes:

Birth:
Resided 1930

Family/Spouse: Evelyn M ANDERSON. Evelyn was born on 16 Oct 1911 in Washington, District of Columbia; died on 27 Nov 1990 in Alameda Co., California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Melvin J. is the son of Rose Warner & J. Hunziker.

M. Hunziker, 25 Acres, Ganges, Allegan Co., on Lake Michigan, One farm over is his father-in-law, Alex Hamilton.
Hunziker family was from Switzerland.

. 1892 Chicago Voter Registration, Wm. M J Hunziker.

. 1908 May 2 - Wanted Colt or mare in foal in exchange for a driving mare. M J Hunziker, Kent City, Mich. Bell Phone.
Ref: Gand Rapids Press.

. 1916 Jan 11 - 'Dead' Woman appears suit over will ends
Fennville. Mourned as dead for many years a woman appeared in the circuit court at Allegan as a witness in the Scott will case & brought the litigation to a sudden termination.
For days the case brought by Melvin Hunziker of Florida, to break the will of this half-sister, Miss Fanny A Scott, had been on & witnesses had testified to & against Mrs. Scott's sanity, when the missing sister of Mrs Scott walked into the court. As a result of her unexpected appearance the case this week will be settled out of court & she will receive one fourth of the estate consisting of 235 acres & some money.
Mrs Scott left a will giving $500 to a nurse & neighbor & a dollar to her half sister Eva, & half brother ], Melvin Hunziker. The balance of the estate was to be distributed between the 3 Margot brothers, nephew of Mrs Scott & heirs of her own broth. How the remaining 3/4 of the property will be distributed has not been made public, but an amicable settle will be made, it is said.
Ref: St. Joseph Daily press. - - -

Birth:
(Alt Name: Hunzicker, Hunsiker)

Died:


Buried:
Indiana.

Melvin married Alice Rebecca HAMILTON, .1 on 29 Sep 1897 in Niles, Berrien Co., Michigan. Alice (daughter of Alexander HAMILTON and Sophia CLARISSA ENSIGN) was born on 29 Sep 1874 in Saugatuck, Allegan Co., Michigan; died on 17 Apr 1932 in Tampa, Hillsborough Co., Florida; was buried in St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

.The Lake Shore Commercial Record Newspaper, for the Saugatuck-Douglas, Michigan Area, Pub. every Saturday morning:
29 May, 1885 - Little Alice Hamilton's May party is indeed worthy of mention. It came off last Saturday. The day was fine & the little folks were out in their finest suits & pleasure beamed on every face. Alice was chosen Queen of May. After a sumptuous repast, to which ample justice was done, the little folks went home in the twilight, having spend a very pleasant day.

- Verify this Alice. Little' seems inappropriate, if she is aged 16?

1930 Census Howard Twp., Cass Co., Michigan
Alice H Hunziker, age 57 /1873
Harrold E, age 21 /1909
Lloyd A, age 20 /1910
M J Hunziker, age 63 /1867.

. 1924 Aug 18 - Mrs. J W Huziker & children left Sunday for a visit with her mother & other relatives in Washington. D.C.
Ref: Tampa Tribune.

. 1932 Apr 18 -Obituary: Mrs. Alice Hunziker
Mrs Alice Hunziker, 58, of Niles, Mich., died in a hospital yesterday. She is survived by her husband M. J. Hunziker of Niles; her mother, Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, of Tallahassee;
3 sons, Alexander, Harold & Lloyd Hunziker, of Niles,
a daughter, Miss Marguerite Hunziker, of white Plans, NY;
a sister, Mrs. Blanche Robinson, Bangor, Mich.;
2 brothers, Harry Hamilton, Tallahasee & William Hamilton, Bangor, Mich.,
Mr & Mrs. Hunziker were visiting their relatives Mr & Mrs J P Hamilton of Hamilton Heath. The body will be sent to Niles.
Ref: Tampa Tribune. - - -

Birth:
Census 1880, age 6 /1874.

Died:
Aged 58y 6m 18d.

Buried:
Granger, St. Joseph Co., Indiana. Blue ground maker.

Notes:

Married:
Michigan Marriage Certificate # 2686 married by Alice's father, James Hamilton, Min. of Gospel, Wit; Harry E Hamilton of Bangor [bride's brother], Mich and Mary G White of Ganges, Mich.

Notes:

Alexander Hamilton's in-law, John McCutcheon, farmed next lot to Alex, in Saugatack, 1870.

PART ONE, Canada:

. Alex's birth year conflicts with his brother Richard L Hamilton's verified DOB as 1836 APR 20th.*
Note1: As supported by Ontario Census of 1861, 1870 & 1881
& brother Richard Hamilton's Wellington County Death Certificate.
Saugatuck Allegan Co., Michigan, gives Alex's DOB as 1837.
"Though but eighteen years old, he assumed the care of the family' (1855 father dies, minus 18 years = born 1837).

Witness:
. This Certifies that the rite of Holy Matrimony was celebrated between
Richard Hamilton of Acton & Jane M McCutcheon of Erin Township
on Thursday Jane 24th, 1861 at Hugh McCutcheons
by Rev. Joseph Munsworth, Congregational Ministries, Georgetown.
Wit: Stewart McCutcheon, Alex Hamilton.
Ref: Bible of Jane Matilda McCutcheon Hamilton.

. 1861 March, Flamborough W Twp., Wentworth Co, Ontario, Canada:
Richard Hamilton, Age 26, b 1835, Carpenter, born Upper Canada, frame house 1.5 stories.
Alex Hamilton, Age 23, b 1838, Nursery Agent, born Upper Canada.

. 1870 Jun 25 Census, Saugatuck, Allegan Co., Michigan: Alexander 33 y/ 1837, B Canada, Nursery man; Sophia, 1846, Ohio & Blanche Hamilton, age 1, b Michigan.
. Sister Hadassah Hamilton McCutcheon & family live beside Alex Hamilton.
. 1880 Jun 24 - Saugatack, Allegan, 1910 Census Van Buren, MI., gives DOB 1837
. 1900 Census Van Burren, MI. gives DOB 1836 Oct. Date of emigration to Michigan remains consistent at 1864.
In the c.1895 photo, Richard & Alex appear to be a similar age, but not enough to say if Richard is actually the elder.

* Photo taken with Hamilton siblings at Erin, Ontario about 1895.

. Obituary: Dies after lingering illness
Alexander Hamilton formerly of this place & who lives in Ganges for a number of years before moving to Bangor, where he has resided ever since, died at his home, Monday Oct 10 & was buried from the house Wednesday of this week.
Mr. Hamilton was widely known as a a nurseryman & had many personal friends in this vicinity. He was born Oct 1, 1836 & his well lived life was an example to his neighbors wherever he lived. The large number of flowers sent & the crowds of friends who attended the funeral from far & near indicates the esteem in which he was held. The remains were laid to rest in the Arlington Cemetery at Bangor.

. 1985 Illustrated Atlas of Saugatuck, Allegan Co., Mich. shows A. Hamilton's property is beside his brother-in-law, Sam'l Wanner. 40 acres each, two concessions from Lake Michigan. The school house was situated on the neighbours connecting the backside of Alex Hamilton's property.

. 1910 May 6 - Acton, Ontario - Rev. T. Albert Moore, D.D. was undergoing treatment in the hospital a few weeks ago ... Dr. Moore is the fourth of Acton's sons, that we know of, to receive a coveted honor, thee of whom were at one time members of the same Sunday School class: Rev. Dr. Chas A Cook, of Spikane, Wash.; Rev. D. J. E. Farmer, of Dekalb, Illinois & himself. Rev. Dr. James Hamilton, of Grand Rapids, Mich., is the other. Perhaps there are more. The Free Press has much pleasure in extending hearty congratulations to its former editor.
Newspaper clipping with photo of T A Moore included.
Ref: Acton Free Press. Newspaper clipping was found in the Bible of Ella Hamilton Walker, the niece of of a James Hamilton. For a paper over a hundred years old, the clipping appears in excellent quality.

1892 BIOGRAPHY.2

. ALEXANDER HAMILTON. This gentleman is one of the influential & respected residents of Ganges Twp., Allegan County, residing on section 20. He is extensively engage in fruit-growing & the nursery business. He was born October 3, 1836, in Halton County, Canada, to James & Rebecca Hamilton.

Our subject began working out at the age of seventeen, at the death of his father.
Note2: If Alexander was born in 1836 + 17 years, means James Hamilton died 1853 (or more likely in 1854, owing to the conflict here of Alexander's date of birth. - PJA.

He was the oldest son at home & help to educate his younger brothers & sisters. He completed his own education after the age of 21 years [i.e. about 1857 or 1858.]

In 1864 he came to Michigan, locating at Benton Harbor on a small fruit farm, where he made good financial success, but lie a great many people in that city, he wanted to go West & after taking an extensive trip in different Western States, came to the conclusion that Michigan was a good enough State for him & so, in 1866, came back to this State & located in Allegan County; here he now resides.

Here Mr. Hamilton has given his attending to fruit-growing & the nursery business. He has been very successful in this line of of pursuits & has an orchard 1,000 trees now bearing. He raises annually 100,000 peach trees for market & until about 1880 all was raised on his farm in this county. The greater part of his nursery is now situated near Grand Rapids, Kent County. His largest sales are in this county & he sold one year 100,000 trees within a radius of ten miles of his own home. His trees & fruits are of the choicest varieties & he is visited by customers from all the counties around. He is well liked for square dealing & his genial manners & he has secured a competence as a result of personal industry & good judgement, put forth in a field wisely selected.

The original of this biography was married on 26th of May, 1868, to Miss Sophia Ensign. Mrs. Hamilton is a native of Ohio & one of 14 children born of Horace & Lucinda Ensign, natives of Massachusetts. Nine of this family are yet living. They are Caleb, Electa, Lysander, Sophia (Mrs. Hamilton), Cora, George, Hattie, Summer & Denning. Our subject & his amiable wife are parents of 5 children:
Blanche, the wife of A. G. Robinson, Maude, deceased, Alice, Harry & Willie.

The parents of this family are members of the County & Mrs. Hamilton is a member of the Congregationalist Church. In politics, Mr. Hamilton votes for the man he think best qualified for the position, irrespective of the party.
Ref: Portrait & biographical record of Kalamazoo, Allegan & Van Burren Counties, Michigan. Printed 1892, Chicago.

. 1864 Alex Hamilton had gone to (Ohio) & Michigan to work. Did Alex Hamilton visit with cousin Daniel T. Lawrence was then living in Ohio & who was also a tree farmer? - PJ Ahlberg 2013.

. Michigan Naturalization Records, Allan Co., Michigan, Box 1, Folio, Page 322 (*no date noted). *

. THE SAUGATUCK & GANGES POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 30 Sept 1871, at the village of Douglas, Alexander Hamilton - Director. In Mar 1880 Alex. was the again the Director of the Society.

. ILLUSTRATED ATLAS OF ALLEGAN CO. MICHIGAN, Published 1895) Ganges: PEACH BELT NURSERIES:
We make a speciality of growing healthy, hardy Peach Trees of the surest bearing & most profitable market varieties. We also have now growing in these nurseries of the best money-making kings, a large stock of Currant & Gooseberry plants, 2 year old Grape Vines, 2y old Asparagus Plants, nursery grown Blackberry & other Berry Plants. In addition to the above we can furnish in small quantities at bottom prices, a fine stock of young & thrifty apple, Pear, Plum & Cherry Trees. Call or address: A Hamilton, Ganges, or J C Maynard No. 156 W Bridge Street, Grand Rapids.

. 1855 several thousand baskets of peaches -mostly Crawfords - were being shipped to Chicago annually. The fruit was sold for three dollars per bushel; the peaches were then peddled by street vendors for ten cents each. The great Berrien County peach boom came to an end with refrigeration.
Ref: May/June 1993 issue of Michigan History. - . -

PART TWO, Michigan News:

. 1880 March The Saugatuck & Ganges Pomological Society
The society was organized Sep 30, 1871 at the Village of Douglas...2 western town of Allegan Co....Treasurer: Alexander Hamilton. The Charter members numbered 85.

. The Lake Shore Commercial Record Newspaper, for the Saugatuck-Douglas, Michigan Area, Pub. every Saturday morning:
1 Jun, 1882 - Dec. 31 Meeting of the Saugatuck & Ganges Pomological Society, Douglas, Masonic Hall. An essay will be found on the 5th P. of this paper from the pen of A Hamilton, on varieties of peaches to plant. It was read before the last meeting of the S G Pomological Society & is a most excellent article. ... Mr. Hamilton read a paper on varieties of peaches to plant, which caused considerable discussion & brought out some very desirable information. Summary of article:
When peaches are scare as they were this year, almost any kind / quality will sell at remunerative prices, but when they are plentiful as last year, only the very choicest will well: The most remarkable of these trees: The Reeks peach ripens with the Amsden & Alexander, a third larger, quite beautiful. The Ensfield peach ripens a few days after the Hale's Early: it does not rot as that variety usually does & has been shipped sound without any special attention year after year;
The Lewis Chili ripens between the Early Rivers & the Early Crawford. size & general outside appearance resembles the Hale, but the flesh is more sold & creamy white & parts from the pit freely. It is valued chiefly on account of its early ripening. The Bandle peach is very large, high colored, round, yellow peach, ripens a few days before the Early Crawford & sold last year for $3 a crate, other peaches were scarcely paying expenses. The Purday peach is a marvel of wonderful size, surpassing beauty & unequalled excellence & ripens a few days before the Late Crawfords. Last year $3 to $5 / basket, other good peaches were selling at 50¢ /basket. One tree yielded 25 baskets last year.

. 1882 Jan 27 - The essay read by Alex. Hamilton at the last S & G Pomological Society meting, which appeared in the COMMERCIAL soon after, has been republished in many of the leading papers of the state.
. 1882 Sept 29ch yielded him 176 Bushels. & still some farmers are discontented with their crop, Mr. H. however, is quite happy over his good fortune.

. 1883 Jul 22 - Pomological Society (Saugetuck & Ganges) meets last Saturday each month in Masonic Hall, Douglas. H Bird Jr. Sec. J F Taylor, Pres.
. 1884 Jan 11 - Saugatuck. Of the 30,000 peach trees grown & purchased by A. Hamilton, Peach Belt, 5,000 including 20 Kinds, are still for sale.
. 1884 Feb 22 - Mr. A. Hamilton is in receipt of some 5 bushels of Tenne? seed grown peach pits.
1884 May 16 - On the way to Mr. A. Hamilton's early Monday morning, we noticed that Dr. Brunson is putting up a new house on his farm in this twp.
. Peach Belt Clippings. A. Hamilton's trees arrived in good shape on Saturday evening.
1884 Sep 5 - Walter but Little Ahead.,- G W Wanner budded, at the Peach Belt Nursery, for A Hamilton, 26, 516 peach trees in 12 days of nine hours each, which would be an average of 2,455 for each ten hours work. The wood was taken out of buds & each one inserted as soon as removed form the stick of buds. Gilbert Desser did the tying. John Hones, a boy 14 years of age, put, 1,030 to 1,200 per day & did it nicely. Saugatuck township has made a good record this year & there are still 2 nurseries yet to be heard from.

. 1885 Feb 13 - Pomological Points. Feb. Meeting, re-elected A Hamilton.
. 1885 Apr 24 - Mr. Hamilton has returned from a business trip to the State of Ohio.
. 1885 May 5 - A. Hamilton, who has been at Johnsville for 3 weeks, returned home Tuesday.
. 1885 May 15 - Peach Belt Pick Ups, Frank Augustine went to Johnsville, Saturday to work Mr. Hamilton's farm three.
. 1885 Aug 28 - Jimmie Hamilton of Johnsville, is visiting his Uncle Alexander.

. 1886 Jan 29 - Alexander Hamilton, of Ganges, dropped in to shake hands with the printer this week.
. 1886 Feb 12 - Pomological Meeting, Douglas, Sat. Feb 6, at 2 p.m. Elected VP. A. Hamilton.

. 1890 Jan 17 - Alexander Hamilton visited Grand Rapids this week on purpose to confer wit the promoters of railroad from Gr to Benton harbor. Mr. Hamilton was told that the new company was disposed to favourably consider a crossing of the Kalamazoo R at Saugatuck, but the CL*MR had secured such land ...Mr H. was further informed that if the projected road was built that operations would begin not later than the first of next August.
. 1890 Feb 21 - Over a year ago Alexander Hamilton wrote the C&WMR in regard to building a side track from some point on their line into the peach section of Ganges Twp. He called their attention to the large shipments of fruit made each year from that section, but his letter was unheeded. Mr. Hamilton has lately rec. a replay indicating their willingness to favorable consider the side track matter. The people of Ganges, however, are not now to be waned from the the more important project of a lake shore Rd. by & by when the Grand Rapids & Lake Mich. Rd. gets in more practicable shape...

. 1890 Mar 17 - The people of Ganges have already begun the work of securing subscriptions to furnish the right of way for the GR & Lake Mich R. ...Alex Hamilton & Hutchinson were summed to GR this week to confer with those who have the project in hand. ... to cross the Kalamazoo River at Saugatuck ferry, Village of Douglas, then branch off to the S. 7 W through the Twp. of Ganges between the Hooter & Chase roads.

. 1891 Jan 23 Jan - S G Pomological Society, Masonic Hall, Douglas, last Sat., Elected A Hamilton VP for Ganges. Membership fee was fixed at 50 cents.
1891 Feb 13 - Peach Crop. AH, one of the big fruit men of Allegan Co., says there least 1,500,000 baskets of peaches now in sight in his section incase the buds all get through. He claims to have made a personal canvass of the big orchards.

. 1894 Jun 7, Muskegon, West Michigan, fruit Growers meet here Jun 14 -15. Executive committee consists of Walter Phillips, A. Hamilton. Afternoon Session, The cause of the decline in the price of fruit, by Alexander Hamilton, Ganges.

. 1894 Jun 14, Among the Fruit Growers R M Kellogg of Ionia says the prospects for fruit in that locality are very promising. Grand Rapids grapes were retarded by the frost, but not materially injured. Alex Hamilton of Ganges, Allegan County, is a large fruit grower in that locality. A. Hamilton stayed at the Wierengo Hotel, Muskegon.

. 1894 Jun 15 - "The cause of the decline - the price of fruit" appear red by Alex Hamilton of Ganges ... like other things, are usually cause by over production takes place when there is more produce than is required. Under consumption when times are hard & money is scarce & Common & poorer people are unable to purchase what fruit they need & pay a good price for it. At present a large portion of our people are unable to buy fruit.The western Michigan farmer cannot afford to buy peaches here at a pice that would afford us a profit while he is obliged to sell his wheat for 50¢ a bushel."
The low prices of farm products was given as one cause of low prices for fruits. The Legislation decreased the supply of paper & metallic money. ... The judge urged fruit growers of Mich. to plant potatoes to compete with the world. The speaker replied to Alex Hamilton of Ganges, who thought the judge had criticized his paper on the cause of fruit prices. One swallow doesn't bring summer, one one financial mismanagement is not the sole cause of our present depression.
Ref: Muskegon Chronicle Daily, published Jun 21,1894.

. 1895 Mar 7 - Grand Rapids, the West Michigan Fruit Growers Association elected as treasurer, A. Hamilton, of Ganges. Ref. Grand Rapids Herald.

. 1898 Feb 10 - Grand Rapids, Held at County building Feb 15-18, Long Fruit Institute of Farmers' instate assoc., Evening spearer A. Hamilton. Feb 18th: San Jose scale, whence it was brought in fruit shipments from Chile. Great effort were made to kill it. The only effective means was by fumigating the trees by covering them with tents & inflating the tents with certain deadly gases. The pest hen was noted in NJ. a Hamilton of Bangor said the Ganges & Naugatuck Pomological Society had condemned the Santa Jose Scale Law by resolutions.
Ref: Grand Rapids Herald.
. 1898 Jun 16 - Mich. Horticultural Society at the court house, Thus & Fri., Jun 23 -24: "Why I do not like the Mich. Scale Law & in what respects I would have it Amended" AH of Bangor.
Ref: Muskegon Chronicle.
. 1899 Aug 12 - Douglas, Mich. State Horticultural society were held her yesterday. Afternoon session, "How should our frozen orchards be treated?" Alexander Hamilton of Bangor.
Ref: Grand Rapids Herald.
. 1889 Dec 12 - State News: Alexander Hamilton the Peach Belt Nursery, Ganges, his just received from Green County, Tenn., a carload (459 bushels) of natural peach seed. This is the first carload of peach seed ever shipped into Michigan.
Ref: Muskegon Chronicle Newspaper: Jackson Citizen Patriot Newspaper

. 1900 Jun 21 - Newaygo July 11-12, Summer meeting of Mich. Sate Horticultural Society. Varieties of Peach Not Likely to Be Injured by Leaf Curl, A. Hamilton, Bangor. . - .

PART THREE:

. BIOGRAPHY.2 1912
A. Hamilton & Sons. The firm A. Hamilton & Sons is widely known & it is the proud privilege of Horace & William Hamilton not only to carry on the business which their father's enterprise created & made to flourish, but to have received from him a heritage beyond price in the memory of his spotless & kindly life & the influence of his nobility of character.

Alexander Hamilton was the second son of James & Rebecca (Lawrence) Hamilton, both of whom belonged to prominent families in Ireland & England, respectively, the former to the Scotch Irish branch of the Hamilton family, of whom the Duke of Abercorn is the head as far as titles & dignities are concerned, while the latter was the youngest daughter of Captain Richard Lawrence, related to the Lawrence-Townley-Widdrington families of England. Mr. Hamilton's grandfather above named was a United Empire Loyalist, which gave to him the same standing in Canada & England that our revolutionary sires have in this country; & the sons & daughters of the U.E.L. are as proud of their lineage as are the S.A.R. & D.A.R. of America.

James Hamilton, the father of Alexander, was born in County Tyrone, near Strabane, Ireland & came to Canada in 1828. Shortly after immigrating he was married to Rebecca Lawrence. In Ireland he had been engaged in linen weaving, but immediately on coming to Canada took up farming & later went into the real estate business. He was successful in both these ventures & might have become a wealthy man if he had not placed too much confidence in his friends & wreaked his own fortune by going security for others. At his death there was nothing left for his wife & family of 7 children, all of whom were under age.

It was in this crisis that Alexander Hamilton's sterling character made itself evident. Though but eighteen years old [1855], he assumed the care of the family & until the day of his death none of them ever went to him in vain for assistance of any sort. His devotion to his mother was particularly beautiful & even when the others were able to contribute to her comfort he never yielded his privilege of being the first to bear burdens in her behalf; & this even when hard times often made it difficult to provide for his own family as he wished.

Mr. Hamilton was 27 when he first came to Michigan in the spring of 1864, [= born 1837*] as he was born October 3, 1836, in Halton County, Ontario. Within a week of their arrival he & a friend (Lewis Williams) prepared to plant an orchard & nursery on a 20 acre plot of ground where the city of Benton Harbor now stands; but the price of land rose with remarkable rapidity, going from 80 to 200 & $50 per acre in a few months, so Mr. Hamilton decided to sell here & look elsewhere for a home & a suitable place for his proposed industry.

In December 1865 he went to Missouri but no liking that country soon returned to Michigan & in the spring of 1866 commenced in a small way the nursery & fruit growing business in western Allegan county. The demand for trees by local planters rapidly increased & in order to supply his growing trade Mr. Hamilton established branch nurseries at Hart, Grand Rapids, Schoolcraft & Kent City. In 1896, to be near a good shipping point, he moved to Van Buren county & settled just outside the corporation of Bangor. Here he developed the extensive business which was operated at the time of his death under the firm name of A. Hamilton & Sons. During the period of his business career Mr. Hamilton was instrumental in helping to organize the Saugatuck & Ganges Pomological Society & was also for years an active worker in the Western Michigan Horticultural Society. He had early realized the possibilities of the fruit industry in his section of the state & devoted himself to the development of the country, not merely to promote his own profit, but with the broad-minded intention of improving general conditions.

It was in 1866 that Mr. Hamilton made the acquaintance of the young lady who on May 26, 1868, became his wife. This was Miss Sophia C. Ensign, the daughter of a prosperous farmer living near Bryan, Ohio & at whose home the wedding was celebrated. The children of their union were Blanche A., Cecelia M., Alice R., Horace E. & William L., all of whom are living except Cecelia, who died in infancy.

It was Mr. Hamilton's privilege to successfully work out the plan of his life, but the competence he acquired for himself resulted in material prosperity for many others. It is a question, however, if even the impetus he gave to the valuable industry of fruit growers in this region can compare with the good he did by merely being what he was; a man with absolute integrity of soul, indomitable will, high courage & great patience, tempered by tenderness & humor; a man who exemplified the Golden Rule & made his life one lone "confession of faith."

Research & transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg. Thank you. - - -

Birth:
Mich. 1910 Census: 3 Oct. 1837. This seems to be correct. - PJA 2010

Died:
Aged 74y 0 months 8d. =1836. COD: Uremia with arterio-sclerosis. [i.e. Kidney failure.]

Buried:
Bangor, MI.

Alexander married Sophia CLARISSA ENSIGN on 25 May 1868 in Williams Center, Defiance Co., Ohio. Sophia (daughter of Horace Lyman ENSIGN and Lucinda CECILLIA PARKS) was born on 22 Oct 1845 in Rootstown, Portage Co., Ohio; died on 4 Aug 1935 in Tallahasee, Leon Co., Florida; was buried on 13 Oct 1910 in Arlington Hill Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married at her father's house near Bryan, Ohio.

. 1860 Census, Farmer Twp., Defiance, Ohio
Sophia Ensign, age 42 b 1818, Massachusetts.

. 1900 June 11 Census. Sophia states 5 children, 4 living:
C Maude Hamilton, died 5 Dec 1874.

The Lake Shore Commercial Record Newspaper, for the Saugatuck-Douglas, Michigan Area, Pub. every Saturday morning:
. 1883 Jul 27 - Peach Belt Pick-Ups. Mrs. C. Ensign of Chicago, is visiting Mrs. Hamilton.
. 1883 Oct 5 - Peach Belt Pick-Ups. Miss Hattie E. Ensign, of Ohio, is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Hamilton.
. 1884 Sep 19 - Peach Belt Pick-Ups. Miss Hattie Ensign, of Ohio, is the guest of her sister, Mrs. Hamilton.
. 1884 May 29 - Mrs. Hamilton assisted at the Sabbath school organization Sunday.
. 1885 Sep 18 - Mr. Ensign of Ohio, is the guest of his daughter, Mrs. A. Hamilton.

. Obituary: Widow of Alexander
Mrs. Sophie Hamilton dies at the home of her son Harry at Tallahasee, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 4 after an illness of 2 months.
She was born Oct 22, 1846; the widow of Alexander Hamilton & lived in Ganges for several years before moving to Bangor where they lived from 1896 till 22 years ago they moved to Florida following Mr. Hamilton's death.
Those surviving are a daughter & 2 sons, Mrs. Blanche Robinson,
W L Hamilton of Bangor and
Harry of Florida,
Six grandchildren, 4 great grandchild, 1 sister and 3 brothers.
Funeral services were hale Aug 8, at Sherrod's chapel, Bangor, Rev. Harold Hamilton officiating. Burial was Arlington Hill Cemetery at Bangor. - - -

Birth:
(near Bryan, Ohio,)

Died:

Notes:

Married:
Alt Date 26 May 1868.

Notes:

PART ONE:

James Hamilton, born 23 June 1801, Baptized 28 Jan 1801, at Church of Ireland (Anglican), Drumragh Old Church, Blackfort Road, Drumragh Townland, Drumragh, County Tyrone.
Father James Hamilton, Mother not listed. (The graveyard is also called Drumragh Graveyard.)
. Strabane is situated in the civil parish of Donacavey. The relevant Church of Ireland, Anglican, records are divided between the following parishes: Bar, Clanabogan & Findonagh, or The relevant Presbyterian records are in Fintona.

. 1828 Jul 4, LANDED: James Hamilton, Steerage Passenger Ticket 46, Cost: £2 15s 6s, Paid.
Departure: Quebec, Lower Canada, Arrival Montreal, Lower Canada.
Vessel: St. Lawrence Steamship fee was 11th Tup. upwards.
Note1: Well not definitively verified that this is our James Hamilton, however, he is the only James Hamilton listed for 1828 (single, i.e. no wife or family accompanying him.)

. Hamilton J. H., in Canada Company's office, 4 Richmond St., [1833.]
. Hamilton James, Land Agent, King St. West [1837 Directory]
. & perhaps also: Hamilton, James, Camelion Tavern, Church St. Toronto
. (purchased:) Hamilton James, Con 4 Lots 4 & 5; Con 3, Lot 22, Chinquacousy Twp., E of Hurontario Street.

1837 Toronto & Home District Directory
. Tavernkeeper at George Third Inn, Town of York & Camelion Tavern 1837.
. Hamilton, Ja's, Con 4, Lot 4*, Chinguacousy, East of Hurontario Street
. Hamilton, James, Con 4, Lot 5, Chinguacousy East, Halton Co., Ontario
. Hamilton, James, Con 4, Lot 1, Chinguacousy East
. Hamilton, James, Con 3, Lot 22, Chinguacousy East.

Note2: * On the adjoining Lot 4, but in Con 3 was located Aeneas Shaw, Jr. - his father (Col.) Major A Shaw Senior, was an American Revolution acquaintance & gave reference for John Willson, the grandfather of Mrs. Rebecca Lawrence Hamilton'.
Previous owner C4 L4: The early tax assessment rolls (beginning in 1827) & the 1851 & 1861 census enumerations for Chinguacousy list several residents with "square lumber" & "plank" dwellings. This is evidence that plank construction was feasible during this early period. The James Forrest mill on Lot 4, Concession 4, WHS, is listed in the 1827 tax roll. It is not known if the Forrest mill or a more distant mill was in operation by 1822. If built by 1822 using sawn planks, the subject dwelling would be among the earliest examples of plank construction in the township.
Ref: Heritage Background Report - Plank Dwelling (LeFlarpland House), City of Brampton, 2012.9.77. for Lot 9, Con 4, Chinguacousy.

Note3: Now 12911 Creditview Rd., 1875, brick farm house. Ref: H54.3.
Address reference point: is now near Mayfair United Church. Originally the 3rd Line.
Lot W1/2 Lot 23, Con 3 is now & 13089 Creditview Rd.
Part E. half Lot 24, Con 4, # 13278 Creditview Rd., the Taylor - Eclin House)
Part E. half Lot 23, Con 4 is now # 1488 Old School Rd. near Mississauga Rd., the 1879 Sharpe Schoolhouse).

. 1840, Jul 16, Thus. - Heir & Devisee Claim 213
James Hamilton of Chinguacousy Twp. & William McConnell of the same place, yeoman, claims as executors in the WILL of James Hamilton, deceased.*
Lot East half 5, Con. 4 East of H. Street, Chinguacousy, Home District, Original Nominee James Hamilton, Claim allow.
Ref: Upper Canada Heir & Devisee, H1151, p202, Archives of Canada.
Note4* Perplexing!
This would seem to imply James Hamilton Senior was the executor of HIS father's will. No mention of is found in the two Hamilton biography's about his father accompanying him to Canada. It is a little too much of a co-incidence that our James Hamilton would live on the same Lot 5, Con 4 as another James Hamilton. Further research is required. - P J Ahlberg.

. 1852 Agricultural Census Chinguacousy Twp., Peel Co., Ontario
Hamilton, Con. 4, Lot 1, Chinguacousy, 100 Acres, 75 A. cultivated 43 A. under crops in 1851; 31 A under pasture 1851, 1 A. garden or orchard; 25 A under wild wood; 25 A. produced 400 bushels of wheat.
4 A. produced 80 Bsh peas; 4A. produced 150 bsh. oats; 10 Acres produced 15 tons of hay, 47 lbs. wool; 5 bulls, oxen or steers, 5 milch cows, 5 horses, 24 sheep, 4 pigs, 300 lbs. beef; 21 cwts. Pork.
> REMARKS on the January 1852 CENSUS, written by Allen Bowfield (b. c1825, also farmer in Chingoucousy.)
In reference to the soils: The nature of the soil will be best explained by stating that there are 2 kinds of land in the ward. The one may be called sandy loam. In the neighbourhood of which soil in a few cases most excellent building sand is founded. The sandy loam with sharp subsoil grows good wheat, barley & peas; The other goes by the name of clay land has a deep black top soil with heavy clay below. Grows first rate vegetables as good crops of hays & oats. Ward No. 2 is not as favourably situated for water as some localities. In many instances the farmer depends principally upon the well. The water of which is generally of superior quality. There are a few living streams. On one of which there is a grist mill. Incapable, however of doing must dry weather for want of bountiful supply of water. The average valve of land throughout the Ward is about £7 per acre.
Note5: - No Fulled cloth or linen or Flannel. i.e. James Hamilton no longer weaving.
. James Hamilton owned an high number of animals in comparison with most neighbors whose average was 2 bulls, 4 milk cows & double the number of sheep! These were likely raised for the market. Also indicates a dependable water supply. Not for nothing was James Hamilton a Canada Land Agent. - PJA 2011.

. 1877 Peel Co. Atlas
Richard Hamilton, Farmer, Settled 1831, Brampton Post office, 1877 [deeded from his father?]
Mrs. Hamilton, Con 2, NDS, Lot 11, 100 Acres, non-resident 1877, Non Resident;
Ada Hamilton, Con 4 E, Lot 2, Chinguacousy South, (now Peel Co.), 50 Acres, Non Resident.
Note6: By 1855 Transferred by his WILL: Richard Hamilton, Con 4 Lot 4, freeholder, Chinguacousy Twp. Halton. &
James Hamilton, Con 4, Lot 1, Chingoucousy Twp.;
John Hamilton, Con 4, Lot 5 also a John Hamilton Con 6, Lot 25 house. Chinguacousy Twp. [i.e. Caledon]
Note7: Concession 4 East is now located between Bramalea Rd. & Heart Lake Road, Peel Co., it was split in half, with the northern half becoming part of the town of Caledon & the southern half, along with the township of Toronto Gore, joining the town of Brampton. - PJA 2010.

PART TWO

. 1912 BIOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHY1: James Hamilton, the father of Alexander Hamilton, was born in County Tyrone, near Strabane, Ireland & came to Canada in 1828. Shortly after emigrating he was married to Rebecca Lawrence. In Ireland he had been engaged in linen weaving, but immediately on coming to Canada took up farming & later went into the real estate business. He was successful in both these ventures & might have become a wealthy man if he had not placed too much confidence in his friends & wreaked his own fortune by going security for others. At his death there was nothing left for his wife & family of seven children, all of whom were under age.

For further research: In 1861 wife Rebecca Lawrence Hamilton was the toll keeper on the Snake Road, at Burlington. The toll house belong to the Hamilton & Milton Road Company. Did James have business dealings with the Hamilton & Milton Rd. Co.? - PJA.

. Summary: Hamilton & Flamborough Road Co. vs. Binkley for the recover of $10 toll paid by him. The plaintiffs' toll-gate being the only one on their Townline or Brock Road, 6 miles in length.
Hamilton & Brock Road Co. was incorporated 1853 Dec 5 to construct a plank, macadamized graveled road from the Upper Burlington Bridge at Freeman's Tavern on Brock Rd., between the Twps. of East & West Flamborough.' Later on 1867 Dec 9 they amalgamated with Hamilton, Waterdown & Carlise Rd. to be called the Hamilton Milton Road Co.
Ref: Ontario Reports, Vol. 9, Ontario High Court of Justice, 1885. . - .

PART THREE: 1892 BIOGRAPHY2:

ALEXANDER HAMILTON. This gentleman is one of the influential & respected residents of Ganges Twp., Allegan County, (Michigan) residing on section 20. He is extensively engage in fruit-growing & the nursery business. He was born October 3, 1836, in Halton County, Canada, to James & Rebecca Hamilton.

James Hamilton was born in the North of Ireland & was there reared to farm pursuits, his education being limited to the common schools. In early life, he learned the linen weaver's trade, but never followed his trade after coming to America, which was about 1828. He locate in Halton, Canada, where he was married to Rebecca Lawrence, a daughter of Capt. Richard Lawrence. Her father died when she was very young & she was reared by an older sister. Nine children were given to this couple, two of whom died when young.

Those living are Richard, of Canada,
Note8: He resided Acton - died Erin, Ontario;

Alexander, our subject;
Mary J., wife of Samuel Wanner;
Hadassah, widow of John McCutcheon;
Note9: John McCutcheon, born Ontario - died 28 Mar 1911.
The Rev. James, of Coldwater, Michigan, William J., of Canada & R. Lizzie.

Although James Hamilton lived on a farm in Canada, yet his general business was dealing in real estate. Both in Ireland & in Canada, he was a member of the Orangeman's Society. He died in 1858, his wife living until 1890. The parents of James Hamilton were James & Mary Hamilton, natives of the North of Ireland, but of Scotch descent.

Our subject began working out at the age of 17, at the death of his father.
Note10: If Alexander were born in 1836 + 17 years, means James Hamilton died 1853 (or more possibly in 1854, owing to the conflict of Alexander's date of birth.)

He was the oldest son at home & help to educate his younger brothers & sisters. He completed his own education after the age of 21 years (c.1857-8).
[More of this biography continues under this brother, Alexander Hamilton, 1892 Biography.]
Ref: Portrait & Biographical Record of Kalamazoo, Allegan & Van Buren Counties, Michigan. Printed 1892, Chicago, p. 728.

Linen Weaving in Ireland
The preparation of an acre of flax for the spinning wheel required 8 days' work, at different intervals, utilizing 4 men & 8 women & two horses. The profit resulting from an acre of flax land, sowing the crop & converting it at harvest into 11 webs of linen was about 6 pounds. It was the most expensive of all crops, particularly in wet seasons.
The making of linen in Ulster was a domestic industry, carried on in the country home & was organized within the family hierarchy. The father wove, did the marketing & any business associated with it & trained his sons when they were of an appropriate age. The men also did some supplementary farming or fishing, depending on the locality & circumstances. The mother looked after the house, spun the flax, taught the younger children to prepare it for her & in due course trained her daughters in her skills.
During the first half of the 19th century the greatest social problem in Ireland was the problem of poverty, as illustrated in Table 1. Large areas of land were under the control of landowners living in England. The average wage for farm laborers in Ireland was eight pence (8d) a day. This was only a fifth of what could be obtained in the United States & those without land began to seriously consider emigrating to the New World. 
Despite a persistent lobby of support, a major scheme for state-aided emigration was not attempted. A very modest experiment in 1823-5 (about 2,000 were sent to Canada at a cost to the government of over £20 a head) caused misgivings about the prohibitive costs of such schemes & in any case the increasing flow of voluntary emigration suggested that State intervention was not needed. Distressed weavers, particularly from Scotland & the north of England, were also assisted to settle in Canada. The average ocean voyage that season was about 45 days; some vessels took more than 60 days in crossing.
Ref: Ordinance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Parishes of Co. Londonderry; & Ireland Before the Famine, G. O Tuathaigh. - - -

Birth:
Drumragh Parish, born 'near Strabane'. Alt Name: J H Hamilton.

Died:
Note: Two biographies give different death dates.

James married Rebecca LAWRENCE, DUE in c 1831-33 in Halton County, Ontario. Rebecca (daughter of Lieut. Richard LAWRENCE, , UE and Mary WILLSON, DUE) was born on 4 May 1815 in Town of York (Toronto), York Co., Ontario; died on 17 Feb 1890 in Ganges, Allegan Co., Michigan; was buried in Taylor Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. The 1892 Biography of Alexander Hamilton says his grandmother died when Rebecca was but young & she was raised by an older sister. The most like possibilities for the 'older sister' could be:

1. Elizabeth Lawrence Tarbox, living in 1821 at Caledon East, Peel Co. & fairly close to James Hamilton at his farm in Chinguagousy Twp., Peel; or is Rebecca was still in Toronto with:

2. Second eldest sister, Margaret Lawrence Johnston, who lived at 179 King St. East, Toronto, which is based on Richard Hamilton, Rebecca's eldest son's statement that he was born in Toronto. King St. was a principal street in Toronto, where indeed, James Hamilton would have done business with the Canada Land Company.

. DOB 1815; UCLP at age 18, Married c 1833, at about age 18; First child at c. 19 years old.

UCLBooks, 1833 Feb 7, Thursday, York Council Chamber, Present Peter Robinson, Geo. H. Parkland, Jos. Wells.
Rebecca Hamilton, Petition H179, Wife of James Hamilton of Toronto, Yeoman. Praying for a grant of 200 Acres of land, as the Daughter of the late Richard Lawrence, formerly of York, an U.E. Loyalist. Recommended.
Ref: UCLBook, C105 p 354. Note1: Rebecca was age 17y 9m 3d.

. Upper Canada Land Petition #179, 1818 Apr 14,
Patented: 1833 Jul 4: Lot 7, Con 18, Garafraxa Twp., [Gore District], Wellington Co., Ontario.
* [ later transferred to EAST Garafraxa Twp, in Dufferin Co.]
Witnesses to Oath of Rebecca Hamilton, Page 179a, C2052, Home District (Toronto),
We, D'Arcy Boulton the Quarter Chairman & Steven Washburn … Clerk of the Peace certify that Rebecca Hamilton personally appeared at the general quarter Sessions of the Peace in & for said Home District this day & is recognized by the Magistrate to be a Daughter of the late Richard Lawrence of the Township of Harwich in the Western District of London, formerly of the Twp. of York, deceased, who retained his Loyalty during the late war [1812] without suspicion of without suspicion of aiding or assisting the Enemy. Dated at the Court House of York (Toronto), the 28th day of February, 1833.

Quarterly Session of Peace, Home District:
. 1833 Feb 28, Thurs. Present D'Arcy Boulton Jun, Esq. Chairman, Grant Powell, Esq. JP, Clerk of Peace having reported to Court that the Grand Jury summoned them for 1 O'clock this day. Report of David Gibson, Surveyor of Hwys. granted. Rebecca Hamilton appeared in open-Court & was recognized to be the Daughter of the late Richard Lawrence, deceased, an United Empire Loyalist, whereupon a certificate was signed.

. 1834 Dec 19, UC Sundries, Petition of Rebecca & James Hamilton of the Twp. Nassagaweya,
Petitioner Rebecca Hamilton, the daughter of a UE Loyalist received a grant of Lot 7, Con 18, Garafraxa Twp.
Petitioners are residing & cultivating a lot of land in Nassagaweya Twp. , upon which he has nearly 40 Acres of improvement. In consequence of possessing this farm, they are from the distance of the grant, unable to quit their present residence & become occupiers of the Garafraxa Lot. Yet your petitioners part to allow a deed to be issued, upon the grounds they are already settlers in the very District in which the grant is, the value of the same is of importance to them, for the provision their family. Should it be the pleasure of your Excellency to grant them title, the land will be improved by having the power to let it on lease, otherwise your petitioners cannot occupy in person the Lot & will be subject for forfeiture.
Signed for Jas. & Rebecca Hamilton, City of Toronto, 29 Dec 1834, Tos. Talbot.
Envelope: Referred to Comm of Lands to report therein. 31 Dec 1834.
. Cannot be granted under present regulations.1835 Apr 8, John Robison, Com. of Crown Lands Office, Toronto. Forward the report.
Ref: UC Sundries C6884, p1279.
Note2: Lot 18 SW Con 7 was granted 1824.9.21 Patent to Ann Headly & the NE half patent was granted 1824.922 to Jesse Meredith.

. Land Registration Office Dufferin County,
Lot 7, Con 18, East Garafraxa Twp. Abstract Book B20, p42.
. 1836 Mar 11, Patent, crown to Rebecca Hamilton Hamilton, Rebecca.
. 1836 Jun 16, Registered 1836 Jun 29, BN&S, James Hamilton & his wife Rebecca Hamilton, to James Pattulo, 200 Acres.
. 1879 Mar 28, Bargain&Sale James & Robert A. Pattullo, to Kenneth Pattullo, [to both each]. All the timber on 10 acres with right of way.

Note3: Purchaser: James Pattullo. Others settlers began to arrive at an early period, doubtless sent forward by the enterprising Land Agent at York. In the autumn of 1820 Alexander Pattullo, native of Prestonpems, near Edinburg, but more recently a resident of Glasgow, arrived at Rockside, having left behind him his wife & family of 3 sons & 2 daughters, wile he spied out the land & prepared a home for them. In a letter from Paisley dated Apr 2, 1823 he stated that a young man James Pattullo who was about to emigrate to Canada & intended to settle in Caledon along with his father who had preceded him, offered to convey letters.
Ref: Rockside Pioneers.

. Biography: At James Hamilton's death there was nothing left for his wife & family of 7 children, all of whom were under age. It was in this crisis that Alexander Hamilton's sterling character made itself evident. Though but 18 years old, [1854 or 55], he assumed the care of the family & until the day of his death none of them ever went to him in vain for assistance of any sort. His devotion to his mother was particularly beautiful, & even when the others were able to contribute to her comfort he never yielded his privilege of being the first to bear burdens in her behalf; & this even when hard times often made it difficult to provide for his own family as he wished.
Husband James Hamilton died about 1856 to 1858. 'He might have become a wealthy man if he had not placed too much confidence in his friends & wreaked his own fortune by going security for others.' So this would have been a timely investment for him or the widow Rebecca Hamilton. Perhaps the tollgate didn't live up to expectations for development. In the meantime, son Rev. James Hamilton moved to Michigan & number of close relatives were also in Michigan too.
. Rev. James Hamilton, Jr. "God-fear mother dedicated him to the service of the pulpit before he was born" in Feb. 17, 1843, Trafalgar, Ontario. . -.

* XRef: This biography continues at 1892 & 1912 Biographies of Alexander Hamilton & at James Hamilton.

Note4: Husband James Hamilton died in 1855 probably in Esquesing Co., Halton County, Ontario. Rebecca had moved to Flamborough Twp., Wentworth County by the time son James Hamilton was baptized a Methodist.
By 1856 son Richard L Hamilton was living alone in a log cabin near Acton, Ontario. He was working as a carpenter, no doubt earning money to help support his family.
In 1864 Alex Hamilton went to Ohio & afterward to Michigan to make fruit farm to Saughatuck, MI. Mary Jane Hamilton landed in the US in 1866 so it would seem probably she would have lived with her mother Rebecca, at least up to that time.

. 1859 Flamborough West, Canada West., Tp. in Co. Wentworth. For office Post office see: Strabane.
Ref: The New World in 1859: Being the US & Canada.

. 1861 March Census, East Flamborough, Wentworth Co., Ontario, Broken Part Lot 14, 2nd East Concession,
Rebecca Hamilton, age 46, Toll House, W. Methodist, Widow, One half story frame house. *Family member ABSCENT on Census day.
Alex Hamilton, Age 23, b 1838, Nursery Agent, born Upper Canada, W. Methodist.
Richard Hamilton, Age 26, b 1835, Carpenter, born Upper Canada, frame house. *Family member ABSCENT on Census day.
Mary Jane Hamilton, Age 22 b1839, Labourer
Hadassah Hamilton, Age 19, 1842 UC [No occupation listed], *Family member ABSCENT on Census day.
James Hamilton, Age 17 b1844, Nursery Agent, attending school. *Family member ABSCENT on Census day.
Wm. J Hamilton, Age 15 b1846, Labourer, attending school.
Rebecca Hamilton, Age 7, b1854, attending school.

. Description of Flamborough tollhouse: Neighbor murdered previous to Rebecca Hamilton taking up the house which was: The tollhouse is quite a small room & the ceiling is very low & usually a lock was applied to the door. Woodrack rails, likely cedar, surrounded the tollhouse; there was plenty of room in the shanty to stoke a blow with the stick; a 6 o'clock sounded in neighboroughood! Undoubtedly there would be quite a bit of gossip about the tollhouse where Rebecca & family lived.

. 1857 Jan 29th, Extracted from a previous coroner's murder inquest that took place:
The day previous at a shan't on the New Waterdown road, near Burlington Heights, where John Lawry killed another man supposed to have gone to the shanty for the purpose of robbing awry of his money. Lawry is about 60 years of age & Hopkins near as old.
John Smith, a teamster, was going out to the woods for cordwood & was passing the toll gate about 6:30, Wednesday morning when the toll keeper called after him & his comrade that John Hopkins came to the tollhouse about an hour before daylight that he had a letter for the toll keeper who then let him in Hopkins had a stick in his hand about 4 feet 6 inches long such as used woodrack rails & made a blow at him the tollkeeper, John Lawry. There was a fierce encounter till he succeeded in getting the stick & gave Hopkins blows to the head. Witness saw no blood on the floor. The toll keeper wanted to send word to the Watertown police.
John Gilmour resided on the hill about 100 yards from the tollhouse. Half an hour after sunrise Lawry came up the hill & called there was a dead man there near the door. He went to the house where he was told the same story. Lawry looked wild & he was glad to get out of the house, he did not appear to be drunk. The tollhouse is quite a small room & the ceiling is very low. The deceased's cap & handkerchief were lying at his feet. Gilmour asked how the deceased fall. He finally said the fell on his back, but the witness could see from the head wounds he would fall on his side. He had struck him 5 or 6 times after he was down, knocked out 2 teeth & he was determined to rub out the marks.
Lawry was a nice man, a very quiet neighbor, Never saw either of them worse of liquor. Witness has frequently seen the deceased this winter, but never saw the muffling on his feet before; had seen the shawl tied on his head, as if to keep off the cold. There was plenty of room in the shanty to stoke a blow with the stick, but not much blood on the floor inside, measuring about 3 or 4 inch broad. The previous day Hopkins was in witnesses house said he had broke his axe & said he to go to Hamilton to borrow one.
Ann fully deposed she slept at her son-in-law Hopkins' house on Tuesday night. He was going to Hamilton to borrow one. Thinks Hopkins could be about Gilmour's when the 6 o'clock bell rang. Hopkins had worn rans on his feet sine the thaw. Dr. Ryall deposed the deceased's body had contusions on head, face, 2 on thumb, & extensive 5 fractures into the brain.
John Flynn deposed the deceased told him David Smoke proved to lend him an axe & would leave the axe or word at the tollhouse.
[No further followup found, but he did not do jail time as by the 1861 Census he is the toll keeper outside of Waterdown on what is now called Waterdown Road. Back in those days Snake Rd. was called the Waterdown Rd. or the road to Waterdown]
Ref: Toronto Globe & Mail Newspaper.

Note5: One can imagine the widow Rebecca Hamilton taking up residence in this toll house where the neighbors would no doubt remind her & her family of the infamous history of this toll house. Lock you doors!

GANGES, Michigan
. 1878 - Allegan is county seat, 3,000 inhabitants on the Kalamazoo river, 25 miles nw of Kalamazoo, 2 Grand Rapids railroads pass through Allegan. 3 flouring mills, 2 saw mills, 2 planning mills, 1 foundry & 1 woolen mill.
It is an excellent farming twp. & near the lake the land is devoted chiefly to the cultivation of peaches. In the spring of 1880 the number of peach trees reached 84,000, of which 30,000 were 445 years old over. The fruit of Ganges is mainly sent on the Chicago W Michigan Railroad. It was of her son Alexander Hamilton who started these very fruit trees. - PJA
Ref. Polk Michigan State Gazetteer.

. 1887 Michigan Crop Report, Ganges. Large meteor seen through the fog on evening of May 23, first appearing in the east. 45 degrees above the horizon, moving north. Optical phenomena, Ganges 2 May: Solar halos were observed (i.e. weather - planning forecast); Hails 31st May. This phenomena would have been much discussed in the neighbourhood. - PJA.]

. 1888 Jan 7, Benton Harbor. Mrs. John Teetzel died' Wednesday, aged 74 years.
. 1888 Jan 5, Mrs John Teetzel whose death was noted our least issue, left 7 children. Funeral will occur on Friday afternoon.
Mrs. Hamilton, of Peachville, Michigan, a sister of Mrs Teetzel, accompanied by her husband & son Alexander, arrived yesterday afternoon.
Note6: Rather than her late husband, it was her son Rev. James Hamilton, junior, along with Rebecca's other son Alexander Hamilton.) There are several 'Peachvilles' in Michigan. Allegan is the 'Peach Belt' growing area of Michigan. - PJA

. 1890 Michigan Death Registration:
Registration #1600, died 17 Feb 1890, widow, aged 74y 11 months, Ganges Twp., Allegan Co., Michigan.
[Born 17 Mar 1815, compared with her Monument date, equals born 4 May 1815. ] Cause of Death: Slow paralysis.
Born Canada, parents Mary & Richard Lawrence.
Note7: Rebecca Lawrence-Hamilton was living with daughter Mary Jane Wanner at the time of her death.

Transcripts & reach by PJ Ahlberg, U.E., Thank you. - - -

Birth:
Born Lot 25, Con 1 Yonge St., Toronto. Until 1818 her father was living in York/Toronto, ON.

Died:
COD: Slow paralysis. Aged 74y 11m. = 17 Mar 1815. Widowed. Dau. of Mary & Richard Lawrence.

Buried:
Ganges. 74y 9m 13d. 'Mother', Tall grey monument with wheat sheaves. "Hamilton"

Notes:

Married:

Notes:

Horace is the son of Orpan Deming and Dr. Caleb Waldhams Ensign of Dalton, Mass.

JOHN CHITTENDEN, MURDERER
. 1837 Sep 5 - John Chittenden, age 21/1816 married Sally Ann Filley, age 18/1818.
'The above interlineation was made at the request of John M Stevens.'

. 1850 Oct. Census, Randolph Twp., Portage Co.
John Chittenden, age 33, /1817 Ohio, Farmer; married to Sally A, age 31/1819, Conn.
1854, Apr 12, Wednesday - The little daughter of Mr. Ensign, of Rootstown, who was injured on the 22nd alt [i.e. March]., Mr. Chittenden, a crazy man, living in Randolph*, we regret to learn, died on Monday morning, after many days of suffering. Mr. Ensign is expected to recover.
Ref: Portage County Democrat Newspaper, Ravenna, Ohio.
Note: Lucina Ophra Ensign, b 1839 Mar 31 - 10 Apr 1854.

Warning, very graphic details follow.

. 1854 Apr 22, Sat . ATTEMPT OF A MANIC TO MURDER A FAMILY

A horrible tragedy was enacted at Rootstown, Ohio, on the 22nd ult. Notice of it has already been given in the city papers. A private letter from a witness of the scene, furnishes the following details:
It seems that Mr. Horace L Ensign, of Rootstown, had risen on the morning of 22nd & without dressing, was in the act of putting a stick of wood in the kitchen stove, when he was felled by a blow on his head Mr E was standing at the time near door that opened into the woodshed. The door was ajar & the blow as given from some person in the shed.
The correspondent says: Mr. Ensign saw no one, but placing his hands on each side of his head, he hastened through into his dining room, where his wife was; he exclaimed, "I am killed, someone has split my head open with an axe.' He then ran out to the door & cried murder. His wife seeing him bleeding & a gash on his head, just above & also back of the temple, shouted for help. Meantime the children were awakened & came running in; the eldest, a son of 16, on coming down stairs, opened the door leading to the woodshed, thinking his father was in there. On opening the door, the first object that he saw was a man with an uplifted axe, looking like a demon at him. He says: Caleb, what do you want of me? Caleb spring back & shut the door.
. By this time a neighbor came across the street & went to the woodhouse, when the manic addressed him by name, Donald Deming. - that is my name, he replied & continued he, 'John Chittenden, what are you doing with that axe? "I thirst for blood & blood I will have, 'said he. Mr. Deming tried to cool him down & after a few minutes succeeded in getting the axe. However, before he could get it away, Chittenden wrenched it from him.
. [Some of the children had been sent for help, even in their undress.] After loosing his hold upon the axe, Deming retreated to the dining room where Horace sat bleeding & his family around him frightened very much. Deming held the door from the dining room & hoped to keep him from that, but with the axe he shivered the door at once, when Mr. Deming exclaimed, 'run or your lives!'
By this time, another neighbor got there & on seeing what was going on, ran home to get his rifle, thinking it best to shoot the madman. Upon word being given to run, they all left as they thought & Deming shut the outer door, but Lucinda, their eldest daughter, 15 years old, stopped save a little brother 2 & half years old, who had been awakened by the breaking in of the door & had jumped from his bed on the floor & stood screaming from fright. She caught him in time to get her fingers pinched as Deming shut the door. She saw the wretch leap through the door, through where the upper panel had been broken. She called to them to have them open the door, but by this time she received a blow from he head of the axe, which felled her with the little one still in her arms.
Meanwhile Horace had presentment that some child still remained in the house, & had gone around to the back kitchen door & entered, passing into the dining room. There lay Lucinda weltering in her blood & as he supposed, dead. The outside door had been opened; Deming had opened it of the child when she called; Chittenden was in the act of splitting open Lucinda's head; Horace sprang across the dining room, seized the axe handle to avert the blow from J. Chitteneden, finding someone was behind him turned upon him, in the scuffle cut to the bone on the back of Horace's head. Upon that, Horace seized him by the throat & Deming by his leg & by a hard struggle they got him down, he still retaining the axe & Horace still choking him. By this time the woman had called the man back that had gone for his rifle. He came & with much difficulty wrenched the axe from him; (he only held it by one hand; they then got ropes & bound him. Horace was covered with blood & so was the floor.
After he secured, a messenger was posted to Ravenna for medical aid. The word flow like lightning & a general rush ensued. Horace's head was trepanned. His brain lay exposed during his struggle with the man. The pulsation could be seen, but the membrane was not broken. The inside of the bone that was taken off was 1.5 long by quarter inch wide. Upon the outside the bone was more than 2 inches long, besides 2 small pieces that were not measured. He to all appearances will survive, but poor Lucinda is in a very critical situation. The bones were so driven into the brain, that the surgeon thought it best not to do much for her, but her friends insisted upon trying. After 5 hours they proceeded to dress her wound. After pressing the scalp each way, they extracted 6 pieces of bone, some an inch & over. Several of them were nearly buried in the brain. Dr. Pratt extracted them, raising up the scull wherever it was depressed. About 2 spoonfuls of the brain escaped. She still lies in a very critical situation, with but a small hope of recovery.

This Chittenden belonged Randolph, the town south of this; has had fits from a child; & ugly tempered man naturally. Of late his friends have thought him deranged at times. The night previous to this attack, he had 3 keepers. He attempted to kill his brother.
His wife was directed to go about half an mile to a neighbor's to stay. In her hurry, in leaping a fence, she sprained her ankle. Of course, she crawled on her hands & knees & by so doing, she probably escaped death, for he broke loose from his keepers, & in pursuing her he passed very near her twice, but the night was dark & she being on the ground, he did not see her.
He left searching for her & went to a neighbor's, called for Mr. Mrs. Ward did not recognize his voice & replied to him that he had gone after John Chittenden. Well, said he with an oath, you shall go too. She then know his voice, watched the candle, & blew it out. Her 2 daughters were upstairs in bed. - She fled up the chamber stairs & held the door. He smashed in a window with a cudgel that he carried with him; he entered through the window, but could not find anyone. He took all the covers off the stove, threw fine about the room piled bed clothes & other things on the stove. He broke out 2 other windows, sash & all, made his exit through one of them. Mrs. Ward smiled the fire & with assistance of her daughters, extinguished it.
All the houses in his neighborhood bear marks of his visit. He eluded his pursuers till after he was taken at Horace's. He bragged that the had sent his pursuers on the wrong track. He know, he said, where they would to to look for him, but retook another road. They wanted to kill him, as he said, but said he, I fixed them; I thirst for blood & blood I'll have. I don't think he cared whose. There was no reason for his attack upon Horace; they never had any difficulty inter lives. I can't describe the scene, if I try. - From the Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 6.
Ref: Sunbury American Newspaper, Sunbury, Northumberland Co., PA. (This is the more complete copy); Daily Evening Star, DC, published 1854.4.19.

. 1860 Census, Randolph Twp., Ohio, John Chittenden, age 43/1817, PAUPER
& Sally A, age 41/1819, Mass., son Gideon Chittenden, age 21, Mason.

. 1886 Nov 29, Monday. Spirit Talk. A Public Test Seance in the People's Theater. Dr. H. F. Merrill of Connecticut, Delivers from large number of people who have passed to the Other Life, where ancient anecdotes appear to haver perennial Interest … the philosophy of Spiritualism. After the singing of a hymn by the Lyceum choir a brief invocation was delivered by Dr. Merrill of Hartford, O., much after the manner of Christian prayer. [& various testimonies] … Horace Ensign & Lucinda Ensign told how they were murdered by John Crittenden, a madman. …The shadows of Olafson & Nancy Wheeler were recognized by a gentleman from Geauga.
Ref: Plain Dealer Newspaper Cleveland, Ohio. Transcripts by PJ Ahlberg, 2016.

VERIFY IDENITY:

. 1859 Jan 4 - Advertisement, The undersigned, take pleasure in recommending to the public the PANORAMA OF SLAVERY
Exhibited by Rev. T Ross Gross. It was painted under the direction supervision of Mr. G, who sketched the scenes from his own experience & observation. It illustrates the mode of growing the staple, agricultural productions of the South & faithfully representing the characteristic of the Peculiar Institution.
Horace Ensign, Madison, Lake Co., Ohio, C. W. Ensign, M T Miller, E L Plimpton, MD, James Leedir, D B Rose, Joseph Davis.
Will be at the following places: Reselvania, Ohio, Tues. evening. Jan 2nd, Belfountain, O. Wed. Jan 4th, De Graff, O., Jan 14th, Sidney, O. Friday, Jan 6th.
Ref: Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Newspaper.

. 1869 Nov 11, Thurs. - Died Ensign, In Madison, Ohio, November 7th Celeslia R Ensign, wife of Deacon Horace, aged 72 years /1797.
Ref: Cleveland Leader Newspaper, Cleveland, Ohio.

. 1880 Jun 23 - Commencement at Madison, Ohio,
The 5th annual Commencement of the Madison Public Schools took place Kellogg's Hall last ending. The following are the mass of the class of 1880, together with the subjects of their essays: Horace Ensign: The Cowardice of Crime.
Ref: Cleveland Leader Newspaper, published 1880 June 25, Friday.

. 1898 Sep 19, Monday, Ervine Franklin Ensign, Obituary
on Aug 29 at his home at Madison, Ohio, Ervine Franklin Ensign passed to the life beyond, Born July 13, 1829, ancestors served with distinction in the Revolutionary War,
His father, Deacon Horace Ensign, from Dalton, Mass., in 1812, located at Madsion. Devon Ensign body championed the cause of anti-slavery, at the cost of social ostracism, The home was a noted station on the underground railway.
At age of 9, EF Ensign participated in many an exciting skirmish with Southern slave gathered & helped many on his way to freedom. He was a deacon of the Congregational Church. Prior to 1885 he was engaged in mercantile business in Cleveland; a trustee of Ohio University.
EFE survived by his wife, daughter of Frances H, secretary of Ohio WCTU & son Horace Raynod, Minneapolis, Min.
Ref: Cleveland Leader Newspaper.
Transcriptions by PJ Ahlberg 2016. Thank you. - - -

Died:
Ohio Death Cert, Consumption, 1814-1896.11.8 at Evansport, Tiffin Twp, Defiance, Ohio.

Buried:
Defiance Co., Ohio

Horace married Lucinda CECILLIA PARKS on 16 Apr 1837 in Dalton, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. Lucinda was born on 28 Aug 1815 in Dalton, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts; died on 19 Sep 1882 in Williams Center, Defiance Co., Ohio; was buried in Farmer Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

. Census 1850, Newton, Ohio
Albert Fowler, age 35, Tinner,
wife Amelia I Towler, Age 33., Lucentia Ensign, age 52, b. Conn. / b. 1798.
& next family:

. E H Ensign, age 29, Tinner, b. Conn.
Lucina C Ensign, Age 22, born PA / b. 1828
Virginia Ensign, Age 4, b. Virginia
May Ensign, age 2, born Virginia.

. and next family, John A Ensign, age 31, Tinner, b. Conn,
wife Sarah P Ensign, age 30, b. Conn,
John P Ensign, age 7, b. Conn.
Lucy H Ensign, Age 4, born Ohio. = b. 1846 Ohio.

. Census 1850, Rootstown, Portage Co., Ohio
Horace L Ensign, M, 35, Massachusetts /born 1817.
Lucinca C Ensign, F, 34, Massachusetts, /born 1816,
Caleb A Ensign, M, 12, Ohio (Caleb Abijah Ensign, 1838-1931), Lucinda C Ensign, F, 11, Ohio /born 1839. (Lucinda Orpah Ensign, 1838-1854),
Mary C Ensign, F, 8, Ohio,
Electa M Ensign, F, 7y, Ohio,
Lysander H Ensign, M, 6, Ohio. (Horace Lysander Ensign 1844-1944),
Sophia C Ensign, F, 4, Ohio,
Oscar Ensign, M, 2 Ohio bon 1848,
Corintha E Ensign, F, age 0, born Ohio,
James A Hazen, M, 21 Ohio.

. and 2nd next family, David Barnand, 42, Farmer, B. Mass, wife Charlotte S, b 1939, Mass.
3rd next family, Donald Derning (Denning?), farmer, wife Royanna, born 45 Conn & children.
4th next family, ensign F Denning, Age 24, Harness, b. Conn., wife Pluma, b. Ohio
5th, Cephlas E Denning, age 40, Farmer, b. Mass, Wife Louisa, age 31, b. Ohio & children.

. Census 1870 June 23, Defiance Co., Farmer Twp., Ohio
Horace L Ensign, M, 55y, Massachusetts
Lucinda C Ensign F, 54y, Massachusetts
Electa M Ensign, F, 27y, Ohio (Electra Maria Ensign,1843.3.1 Rootstown-1932.1.9, Bryan, Williams, Ohio),
George H Ensign, M, 18y, Ohio. (Geo. Henry Ensign, 1851-1926)
Corintha E Ensign,F, 20y, Ohio. (Corinthia Elizabeth Ensign, 1849 & married Wm Stailey),
Hattie E Ensign, F, 17y, Ohio. (Harriet Eames Ensign, 1853 -1931.10.2 Bryan, Ohio),
Charles S Ensign, M ,14y, Ohio. (Chas. Summer Ensign, 1855.6.25 - 1953.1.7)
Giddeon D Ensign, age 12, Ohio .(Gideon Deming Ensign 1858- ).

. Obituary, Mrs Lucinda C Ensign
Died, Sept. 19th, 1882, near William Center, Mrs. Lucinda C. Ensign, 67 years of age. Mrs. Ensign was a native of western Mass., from which state, after her marriage with Horace L. Ensign, she came to Ohio, & resided at Rootstown, Portage county, until 1863, when, with her family, she came to Farmer township, her home at the time of her death. She was the mother of 14 children, none of whom survive her, & of 16 grandchildren.
Mrs. Ensign was a good woman in every relationship of life, a consistent member of the Congregational church for many years, & of Lost Creek Presbyterian church at the time of her death. She filled a large place in her own home circle, & outside of that circle was much esteemed by those who were best acquainted. Her funeral was attended at Williams Center, conducted by Rev. S. S. Hyde, & her burial was in the Farmer cemetery. The large number present at these services attested the estimation in which she was held in the community in which a large part of her life work was done."  - - -

Birth: