Hamilton - Rilen T. B.
Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW
Bowen, 1913, pp 791-792.
One of the men of Montgomery county who needs no introduction
to our readers is R. T. B. Hamilton, familiarly known as "Colonel"
Hamilton, one of the leading and most popular auctioneers of
the state of Indiana, and one of the most successful and enterprising
agriculturists in Montgomery county, a man who would have succeeded
at whatever line of endeavor he might have selected for he possesses
the proper attributes, and is a good mixer, thus enjoying the
friendship and good will of a vast acquaintance.
Colonel Hamilton was born on May 7, 1852, in Montgomery county,
Indiana. He is a son of Nathaniel and Jane (Keeney) Hamilton.
The father was born in Ohio, and the mother was born in Kentucky.
The father was a carpenter by trade. Politically, he was a Republican,
but was not a public man. He was twice married.
Colonel Hamilton received a good education in the common schools.
He was married first to Lizzie Barnett, a native of Montgomery
county. She is now deceased. Our subject was married the second
time, his last wife being Rose Ballard, born in Montgomery county.
Mrs. Hamilton was educated in the public schools.
Eight children were born to Colonel Hamilton and his first
wife, six of whom are still living, namely: Mabel, Jennie, Albert,
Hector B., Jessie and Wallace. To the last marriage one child
was born, Walter.
Our subject made his start in life on the farm and this work
has claimed his chief attention through life until today, having
prospered with advancing years he is the owner of several good
farms in Montgomery county, and he spends his summers in the
country and his winters at his commodious home in Crawfordsville.
He started as an auctioneer in 1878, having had a great deal
of natural ability in that direction, as all must have who make
a success, and he soon had quite a reputation here in his native
county, and his reputation continued to grow, covering surrounding
territory, and soon he found that his services were in great
demand in Indianapolis, and he has been a successful and popular
auctioneer in that city for the past twenty years, and he is
well known throughout the state. One of his finest farms is
that of three hundred and fifty acres in the western part of
the county which is well improved and under a high state of
cultivation. He believes in adopting all modern methods, wherein
they are applicable to farming in this section of the country,
and he studied modern methods of all kinds. He is a lover of
fine live stock and some excellent grades are always to be seen
on his farms.
Colonel Hamilton was reared in the faith of the Methodist church.
Fraternally, he belongs to Lodge No. 223, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, and to the Tribe of Ben-Hur, also the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks. Politically, he is a Progressive,
and he made the race for sheriff of Montgomery County on that
ticket in the campaign of 1912, but was defeated with the rest
of the ticket, although making a splendid race.