DAVID HAMILL

FROM: The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).  P. 704-705.

          David Hamill, general merchant, was born in, County Londonderry, Ireland, February 1, 1836, the son of William and Elizabeth (Crawford) Hamill, natives of Ireland, and born about 1800. They died in 1875 and 1817 respectively. The father, a farmer, came to Philadelphia about 1848 and in 1855 came to St. Clair County, Ill., and resumed farming. In 1863 he returned to Philadelphia where he died. His wife died in Ireland. Five of their eight children are living. Our subject was eleven years old when he came to America, and was educated chiefly in the public schools of Pennsylvania, When seventeen he was apprenticed at Morocco finishing, but two years later, on account of delicate health, was compelled to give it up for out-door life. In 1857 he came to St. Clair County and taught for one term.  November 15, 1859, he married Sarah A., daughter of Isaac Phillips, born in St. Clair County, in 1840. Their children are Clara A. (wife of C. L. York), Mattie L., Mamie R. and Samuel T. In 1865 he bought 240 acres near McLeansboro. Since 1871 he has been in his present business at Thackeray----its first merchant and postmaster. From 1872 to the present time be was railway agent at Thackeray, and resigned June 13, 1885, rather than attend to railroad business on Sunday. He is a good business man, and carries a well-selected stock of goods. Politically he is a Democrat, first voting for Douglas. After ten years as director he was in 1886 elected school trustee. He is a Mason, of Polk Lodge, McLeansboro. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he has been Sunday-school superintendent for the past eight years.