Pvt. George Washington Hamilton, (USA)

Private George W. Hamilton, Co. K, 86th Illinois

George W. Hamilton was born on February 6, 1846 in Fulton County, Illinois, the son of John Hamilton and Barbara (Rist) Hamilton. After his birth, the parents moved for a short time to Wisconsin, where his father died while George was still a baby. His mother died when George was 12 and George was reared by his grandfather, Jacob Rist, in Fulton Co. IL.

Four years later, on August 9, 1862, at the age of 16, George lied about his age, claiming he was 19, and enlisted in a company of men which was being raised in Princeville, Illinois for service in the Civil War. He claimed his residence at that time was Princeville. This may or may not be true. He may have gone there just to enlist figuring no one there would be able to dispute his claim that he was 19 or he may in fact have gone there for work on a local farm.

ILLINOIS CIVIL WAR DETAIL REPORT
Name HAMILTON, GEORGE W
Rank PVT Company K Unit 86 IL US INF

Personal Characteristics
Residence PRINCEVILLE, PEORIA CO, IL Age 19 Height 5' 9 1/2 Hair BLACK
Eyes HAZEL Complexion FAIR Marital Status SINGLE Occupation FARMER
Nativity YOUNG HICKORY, FULTON CO, IL

Service Record
Joined When AUG 9, 1862 Joined Where PRINCEVILLE, IL
Joined By Whom CPT FRENCH Period 3 YRS
Muster In AUG 27, 1862 Muster In Where PEORIA, IL
Muster In By Whom N/A Muster Out JUN 20, 1865
Muster Out Where WASHINGTON, DC Muster Out By Whom CPT PORTER
Remarks WOUNDED JUN 27, 1864 AT KENESAW MOUNTAIN GA

In any case, he had a great desire to enlist in the service and on August 27, 1862 he was mustered into the service at Camp Lyon, near present day Glen Oak Park, in Peoria, Illinois, with the Princeville boys, who were asigned as Co. K of the 86th Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry.

For the next two years, George served faithfully in Co. K, participating in and witnessing some of the most brutal and bloody fighting in the Western Theatre of the war. This included the Battles of Perryville, Kentucky; Chickamauga, Georgia; Resaca, Georgia; and Rome, Georgia. But, it was on June 27, 1864, that the men of the 86th suffered the most. It was on that day that the men of the 86th Illinois were in the center of McCook's Brigade of the 14th Army Corps when they made the assault of the Confederate fortifications on Cheatham Hill of Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia. During this 30 minute assault, McCook's Brigade suffered about 30% casualties, which included just over 500 men of McCook's Brigade and just over 100 men of the 86th Illinois. Though the assault failed to break the Confederate lines, the men of McCook's Brigade was able to gain a foothold on the mountain, just 30 yards from the Confederate line and they held this line for over a week, before the Confederates withdrew from their position. During this weeklong period, there was almost constant sniping back and forth. George was severely wounded in the head on June 30, 1864 during this period on Cheatham Hill of Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia.

George's skull was cracked and shattered in several places and surgeons initially thought his wound was mortal. George was first confined for a week in a field hospital on Kennesaw Mountain. He then was sent to a Army Hospital in Chattanooga, Teneessee and from there spent time in Army Hospitals in Nashville, Louisville, Springfield, Quincy, New York City, and Alexandria, Virginia. He was finally dicharged from the service in Washington, D.C on June 20, 1865 and he returned to his home in Fulton Co. IL.

There in Fulton County on August 9, 1866, George was married to Mary C. Overman, the daughter of Charles and Eveline (Montgomery) Overman. It was also in 1866, that George and Mary moved to McDonough County, Illinois for a year before moving on to Henderson Co., IL where they would remain 15 years, raising at least four children. They include;
1. Katherine Hamilton, born c. 1868/69 in Illinois.

2. George Anna "Georgie" Hamilton, born c. 1871/72 in Illinois

At the time of the 1880 census, the Hamiltons are found in Warren, Henderson County, Illinois, where George is farming;
George Hamilton Self M 35 Illinois
Katherin Hamilton Daughter F 11 Illinois
Georgie Ann Hamilton Daughter F 8 Illinois
Mary C Hamilton Wife F 33 Illinois

In 1882, George and Mary moved to Pottawattamie Co. Iowa, settling in Washington Township. It was there that in July of 1884 that Mary died. George was married for the 2nd time to a widow, Mrs. Mary E. (Taylor) Hecker on September 28, 1888. Mary was born in 1859 or 1860, the daughter of James A. & Maria E. (Piles) Taylor, early settlers of Pottawattamie County. Mary had five children from her previous marriage to Joseph Hecker, including James, Ettie, Lilly, Pleasant and Charlie Hecker.
Four children are believed to have been born to George and Mary E. (Taylor) Hecker Hamilton. They are;
1. Raymond B. Hamilton, born April 25, 1891 in Iowa. Ray was living in Carson, Iowa in 1927. At the time of the 1920 census, Ray and his family are found in Washington, Pottawattamie County, Iowa;
Ray Hamilton Head M 28 Iowa
Hazel Hamilton Wife F 26 Iowa
Dorothy Hamilton Daughter F 4 Iowa
Twilla Hamilton Daughter F 1 Iowa

At the time of the 1940 census, Ray and his family are found in Washington Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa;
Ray Hamilton Head M 48 Iowa
Hazel Hamilton Wife F 47 Iowa
Twyla Hamilton Daughter F 21 Iowa
Betty Hamilton Daughter F 18 Iowa

Raymond B. Hamilton died on December __, 1974 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. His mortal remains were laid in the _____________ Cemetery in

2. Cora Hamilton, born c. 1893/94 in Iowa. Cora was married to a Edgar Wilson on July 13, 1912 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Edgar is listed as being 21 at the time and his parents as Joseph K Wilson and Martee Wilson. Cora is listed as 19 at the time and her parents as George W Hamilton and Mary E Hamilton.
At the time of the 1910 census, Edgar Wilson and his family are found in Boyer, Harrison County, Iowa;
Joseph K Wilson Head M 53 Iowa
Myrtle C Wilson Wife F 41 Iowa
Pearl J Wilson Daughter F 21 Iowa
Edgar Wilson Son M 16 Iowa
Hazel C Wilson Daughter F 12 Iowa
Evan F Wilson Son M 11 Iowa
Leonard P Wilson Son M 6 Iowa
Lucile L Wilson Daughter F 4 Iowa
Baby Wilson Son M 6 m Iowa

In 1927, Cora and Edgar are known to have been residing in Omaha, Iowa.

3. Vera Marie Hamilton, born c. 1898/99 in Iowa; married to a Mr. Earl M. Drew. At the time of the 1920 census, Vera and her family are found residing in Carson, Pottawattamie County, Iowa;
Earl M Drew Head M 23 Iowa
Vera M Drew Wife F 20 Iowa
George E Drew Son M 2 Iowa

In 1927, they are believed to have been residing in Salem, Oregon, but, by 1930, Vera and Earl were divorced and at the time of the 1930 census, Vera is found divorced and living with her mother in Carson, Pottawattamie County, Iowa;
Mary E Hamilton Head F 70 Iowa
Pleasant Hecker Son M 44 Iowa
Vera M Drew Daughter F 31 Iowa
George E Drew Grandson M 13 Iowa

(Note: George E Drew may be the George E. Drew who was born on March 19, 1917 in Iowa and who died on 28 Jan 1996 in Norwood, Massachusetts.)

4. ____________ Hamilton; born ____________ __, 18__

At the time of the 1900 census, George and his family are found in Washington Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa;
George W Hamilton Head M Feb 1845 55 Illinois
Mary E Hamilton Wife F 40 Iowa
Ettie M Hecker Stepdaughter F 20 Iowa
Lillie M Hecker Stepdaughter F 18 Iowa
Cora M Hecker Daughter F 16 Iowa
Pleasant Hecker Stepson M 14 Iowa
Ray B Hecker Son M 9 Iowa
Vera M Hecker Daughter F 1 Iowa

At the time of the 1905 Iowa State census, the Hamiltons are found in Pottawattamie County, Iowa;
George W. Hamilton
Mary E. Hamilton 45 Iowa
Ray Hamilton 13 Iowa
Cora Hamilton 11 Iowa
Vera Marie Hamilton 6 Iowa

Through the years, George was a close friend of William P. Pigg, whom he served with in Co. K of the 86th Illinois during the war. George is mentioned in William P. Pigg's obituary, which can be seen on his Find A Grave site.
At the time of the 1920 census, the Hamiltons are found in Carson, Pottawattamie County, Iowa;
George W Hamilton Head M 75 Illinois
Mary E Hamilton Wife F 60 Iowa

Private George W. Hamilton died on December 29, 1927. At the time of the 1930 census, Mary is living with her somn and divorced daughter in Carson, Pottawattamie County, Iowa;
Mary E Hamilton Head F 70 Iowa
Pleasant Hecker Son M 44 Iowa
Vera M Drew Daughter F 31 Iowa
George E Drew Grandson M 13 Iowa

At the time of the 1940 census, Mary is found living alone and widowed in Carson, Carson Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. She is listed as being 80 years of age.

Mary E. died on ____________ __, 1947. They were laid to rest in the Carson Cemetery in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.

by Baxter B. Fite III

(Baxter Fite would love to hear from anyone, especially descendants, who might have more information about George W. Hamilton and his family. Baxter would also love to get copies of any photographs that still may exist of Private George W. Hamilton, especially any which may show him in his uniform from his days in the 86th, for his biography and for the Princeville Historical Society.)