History of Hamilton, (Madison County) New York United States of America

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Biographies:

George Washington Eaton, educator, was born in Henderson, Huntington county, Pa., July 3, 1804. His father died when he was young and he was brought up by his mother. He was a student at Ohio university, Athens, 1822-24, and was engaged in teaching, 1824-27. He was graduated at Union college, Schenectady, N.Y., in 1829, and was a tutor in the Belleville, N.Y., academy in 1830. He was professor of ancient languages in Georgetown college, Ky., 1831-33, and acting president during six months of 1832-33. He was professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at Hamilton literary and theological institution (afterward Madison university), 1833-37; professor of ecclesiastical and civil history there, 1837-50; president of Madison university, and professor of systematic theology, 1850-61; professor of intellectual and moral philosophy there, 1856-68; and president of Hamilton theological seminary and professor of homiletics, 1861-71. He received the honorary degree of D. D. from Union college in 1844. He died at Hamilton, N.Y., Aug. 3, 1872.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Helen Kendrick Johnson, author, was born at Hamilton, N.Y., Jan. 4, 1843; daughter of Asahel Clark and Anne (Hopkins) Kendrick; granddaughter of the Rev. Dr. Clark and Esther (Thompson) Kendrick; and a descendant of John Kenrick, who was born in York, England, in 1604, settled in Boston, Mass., about 1630, and removed in 1656 to his farm in Newton, Mass., at a point still called Kenrick's Bridge; and of Dr. Sewall and Prudence (Hart) Hopkins. She was educated at the Oread institute at Worcester, Mass. She was married to Rossiter Johnson, May 20, 1869, and from that date till 1873 their home was in Concord, N.H. They then removed to New York city. She originated and founded, in 1886, The Meridian, a woman's club to meet at noonday for discussion of social, literary and economic topics. Mrs. Johnson was editor of the American Woman's Journal, 1893-94; and also compiled and edited the following books: Tears for the Little Ones (1878); Our Familiar Songs and Those Who Made Them (1881); Poems and Songs for Young People (1884); The Nutshell Series (6 vols., 1885); A Dictionary of Quotations (1895), She is the author of The Roddy Books (3 vols., 1874-76); Raleigh Westgate (1889); Woman and the Republic (1897), and frequent contributions to periodicals.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Phineas Densmore Gurley, clergyman, was born in Hamilton, N.Y., Nov. 12, 1816; son of Phineas and Elizabeth (Fox) Gurley. His father, a Quaker, was descended from Scotch covenanters, and his mother was a Methodist. He was taken to Parishville, N.Y., in his infancy and was graduated at Union college at the head of the class of 1837 and at the Princeton theological seminary in 1840. He was licensed to preach in April, 1840, was ordained by the Presbytery of Indianapolis, Dec. 15, 1840, and was pastor of Presbyterian churches at Indianapolis, Ind., 1840-49, Dayton, Ohio, 1850-54, and Washington, D.C., 1854-68. He was chaplain of the U.S. senate during the 36th congress and was present in 1865 at the death-bed of President Lincoln, preaching his funeral sermon in the White House. He was an important factor in bringing about a reunion of the old and new school Presbyterians. He was a director of Princeton theological seminary, 1855-68, was a member of the general assembly in 1861 and chairman of the judicial committee, and was moderator of the general assembly in 1867. He received the degree of D.D. He died in Washington, D.C., Sept. 30, 1868.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Henry B. Payne, senator, was born in Hamilton, Madison county, N.Y., Nov. 30, 1810; son of Judge Elisha and Esther (Douglass) Payne. He was graduated at Hamilton, college, A.B. 1832, and practised law in Cleveland, Ohio, 1834-46. He was a presidential elector on the Cass and Butler ticket in 1848; a Democratic state senator, 1849-51; was defeated for the U.S. senate by Benjamin F. Wade, after an exciting canvass in 1851, and for governor of Ohio by Salmon P. Chase in 1857, by 1,503 votes. He was a delegate to the Democratic national conventions of 1856, 1860 and 1872, and chairman of the Ohio delegation at the last named. He was a Democratic representative from the twentieth Ohio district in the 44th congress, 1875-77, being chairman of the committee on banking and currency, and reported a bill for the gradual resumption of specie payment. He was also chairman of the conference committee on the silver bill; of the committee on the electoral bill; of the conference committee on the counting of the electoral votes for president and vice-president, and a member of the electoral commission. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1880 and 1884, and succeeded George H. Pendleton as U.S. senator, serving, 1885-91. Subsequently he was connected with railroad corporations, was a heavy investor in Lake Superior mining stocks, and at his death his estate was estimated at over $5,000,000. He was married to a daughter of Nathan Perry, a pioneer merchant of Ohio; his son, Nathan Perry Payne, was mayor of Cleveland, and another son, Oliver H. Payne, was colonel of the 124th Ohio volunteers during the civil war, and afterwards treasurer of the Standard Oil company. Senator Payne died in Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 9, 1896.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor