Thomas Benton " T. B." Hamilton

Thomas Benton Hamilton born in Columbus, Franklin county Ohio. Aug. 7, 1865 died on Feb. 18, 1939 Evanston, Cook county Illinois; the son of Dr. John Waterman Hamilton Dr. (1823-1898) and Rachel Hannah Worden (1826-1912

He retired on April 30, 1932 He graduated from Princeton in the Class of ’88 and joined the PRR as a rodeman on the Louisville Division that November. He was Superintendent of the Erie & Ashtabula Division (1910-1903), Superintendent of the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Division (1903-11), General Superintendent of the Central System, Lines West (1912-1914), General Manager of the Vandalia RR (1914-1916) he was appointed 1 Feb. 1914 to replace Am. Shroyer; resident VP at St. Louis (1917-1920), General Manager of the Northwestern Region (1920-1924); VP & GM of the Northwestern Region (1924-1925); VP & GM of the Western Region (1925-1929), and VP-Chicago (1929-1932). This informatation came from Rob Schoenberg and Chris Baer railroad buffs on the Pennsylvania Railroad.

married January 26, 1897 Flora Deshler Brent born December 23, 1872, at Fort D. A. Russell, Cheyenne, Wyoming DEATH 07 JUL 1933 Union, Marshall, Indiana, daughter of Thomas Lee Brent and Flora Deshler.

Flora Deshler Brent Hamilton and her two oldest children John Worden Hamilton and Winifred Lee Hamilton

The Hamilton's came to Lake Maxinkuckee each summer since 1914, until May 1, 1932, when Mr. Hamilton retired and they made their permanent home in Culver, moving here from Chicago.

Flora was a dominant force in ther family. She was born amidst the backdrop of the Wild West, spent her early childhood in Washington, D.C., under the shadow of the White House, and matured into a young woman in Bismarck's Germany. Unlike her sisters who married Europeans, she ended up marrying an American from her mother's hometown of Columbus, Thomas Benton Hamilton. For a woman who grew up in sophisticated European circles, the life of a wife of a Midwestern businessman must have been to Flora stifling. Eventually, she would take annual trips to Europe, and there is speculation in the family that this was a source of conflict between Flora and Thomas. Our great-grandmother was quite an intellectual who fancied herself as an artist and poet, having some of her work published privately. She also did not seem to mind scandalizing people a little, such as sun bathing in the nude at her summer home in Culver, Indiana. In later years Flora and her husband alternated between their summer home in Culver and their apartment on Michigan Ave in Chicago. In the summer of 1933 at Culver, Flora came down with strep throat, and because anti-biotics were not in existence, she quickly succumbed to the illness.

Both are buried at burial Culver Masonic cemetery Culver, Marshall county Indiana.

They had:

Malby Rollen 'Mal' Failey

m. 11 Mar 1922 Chicago, Cook, Illinois, James Howard "J. H." Bishop, Captain of the Culver Military faculty BIRTH 04 NOV 1893 Spalding, Ralls, Missouri DEATH 12 MAY 1961 Burial 15 May 1961 Culver, Marshall, Indiana Marriage of Miss Hamilton

Miss Winified Lee Hamilton of Chicago and Liet. Bishop of the academic staff of the academy were married in Chicago last Satruday.

The bride is the daughter of Thomas B. Hamilton, northwestern regional manager of the Pennsylvania Lines, and with his charming wife and daughters a member of Lake Maxinkuckee's summer colony. Mrs. and Mrs. Bishop expect to remain in Chicago several days, after which they will come to Culver - Citizen 15 Mar 1922

James was CMA Dept. Chair of History. Served from 1924-1958. Died in an automobile accident. James and Winifred had daughters Winifred and Flora. James married 2nd 1936 Mabel Robbins Bishop1899–1980

Flora Brent Hamilton BIRTH 06 DEC 1903 Newcastle, Pennsylvania DEATH 10 MAY 1978 Olympia, Thurston, Washington married 06 Jul 1927 Culver, Marshall, Indiana Charles Turner Cravens Sr. BIRTH 06 DEC 1904 Siloam Springs, Benton, Arkansas DEATH 20 JUN 1981 Olympia, Thurston, Washington

Virginia Rachel Hamilton BIRTH 17 AUG 1914 St Louis, Missouri DEATH 12 JAN 1955 Needham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, 1935 Falmouth, Barnstable, Massachusetts John Harris Wright of Wesley Hills, Mass. John Harris Wright BIRTH 24 JAN 1906 Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts DEATH 10 APR 1999 Columbia, Howard, Maryland

One of my summer playmates was Virginia Hamilton, whose Father was vice president of Pennsylvania Railroad. They had a big summer cottage and came with their servants to vacation. Mr. Hamilton came often in his private railroad car, which was set on the siding behind the cottage. He brought gifts to Virginia and me from the city. One time he brought pogo sticks. I learned to jump all up and down the block, go up and down steps and keep from falling off for quite a period of time. They were great fun. I remember going to dinner at their place and being attended by a butler. I was quite awed by all this, but the butler liked little girls. He would wink at us when Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton were not looking and it broke the tension. - Donna Medbourn Edgington

Private Car to Culver - The special car of geneal Manager Hamilton of the Vandalia, passed trhough the city yesterday, enroute to Culver , Ind. Mrs. Hamilton was the only occupant of the car. The family has engaged a cottage at Lake Maxinkuckee for the summer. pg. 5 Jun. 8, 1915 Logansport Journal Tribune.

25 Feb 1920
Culver Citizen

The Pennsylvania Railroad

When the railroads are restored to the owners on March 1 the Pennsylvania will be divided into four regions - Eastern, Central, Southeastern and Southwestern.

The old "Vandalia" will be included in the South western, the general manager of which will be T. B. Hamilton whose headquarters will be Chicago.

The superintendent of the Michigan division will be D. Y. Geddes with headquarters at Logansport

5 Nov 1924
Culver Citizen

Hamilton Promoted

T. B. Hamilton, general manager of the Northwestern Region since its organization in 1920, will become vice president of the region on Nov. 15, in a series of promotions which will makre Gen. W. W> Atterbury vice president of the Pennsylvania Railroad and take Vice-President E. T. Whiter, now in charge of this region, to the vice-presidency of the Central Region at Pittsburg

Mr. Hamilton is well known to Culver people since he has a cottage on the banks of Lake Maxinkuckee and has spent a part of a great many summers in this vicinity.

The new vice-repsiden has a wide railroad knowledge and brings to his new position a wealth of operating experience. BOrn in 1865, Mr. Hamilton has been an emploe of the Pennsylvania since 1888, when he entered the service of the Louisville Division as a rodman. He had just graduated from Princeton University, and climbed through a succession of promotions in the engineering department until he became superintendent of the Erie and Ashtabula Division in 1901

Mr Hamilton became superintendent of the Cleveland and Pittsburg Division in 1903, and in 1912 was made general superintendent of the then existing Central System, Pennsylvania lines west. On Feb. 1, 1914 he became general manager of the Vandalia railroad, and when it was merged withthe Pan-Handle, Mr. Hamilton became resident vice-rpesident of the Pennsylvania System at St. Louis.

3 Jun 1925
Culver Citizen

T. B. Hamilton Acquires Increased Jurisdiction

T. B. Hamilton, vice-president and genral manager of the Northwestern region of the Pennsylvania, has been given charge of the SOuthwestern region also, the two departments to be known as the Western Region.

Mr.Hamilton and his family are summer residents of Culver and this announcement will be of interest to their many firends here

Logansport Press 26 Nov 1931
Annul Marriage Of Hamilton Girl

Plymouth, ind., Nov. 25 - Judge Albert Chipman today annulled the marriage of Virginia Hamilton, daughter of the Pennsylvania railroad vice -president, Chicago, and Thornwell Jacobs Jr., son of the president of Oglethorpe; University The marriage was performed here Monday. Complaint was filed by the bride's mother Flora Hamilton, who her daughter is a minor.

4 May 1932
Culver CItizen

T. B. Hamilton Retires As Offical of Pennsy

T. B. H amilton, a vice presidnet of the Pennsylvania railroad, retried the first of the week in Chicago after 43 years in the service of the line.

Mr. Hamilton, who is 66 years old, enterd the Pennsylvania service in 1888 as a roadman in the engineering corps at Louisville, Ky.

The Hamiltons are now in Culver remodeling their beutiful summer home into an all-year structure as they plan to make Culver their permanent residence.

They have been coming to Lake Maxinkuckee for 17 summers

12 Jul . 1933
Culver Citizen

Mrs. T. B. Hamilton, Dies of Heart Attack
wife of Retired Official of Pennsylvania Railroad

Mrs. Flora Brent Hamilton, wife of Thomas B. Hamilton, retired vice-president of the Pennsylvania railroad, passed away Friday at their home, "Villa Primavera" on Lake Maxinkuckee, after an attack of heart trouble. She was 61 years of age.

She had suffered a previous attack this spring which confined her at her home for several weeks. She had resumed her usual activities when stricken again with this attack lasting a few days before proving fatal.

Mrs. Hamilton was born December 23, 1872, at Fort D. A. Russell, Cheyenne, Wyoming, where her father, Thomas L. Brent, was stationed as an officer in the army. She was educated in the Germany and Switzerland, and was married January 26, 1897 to Thomas B. Hamilton.

The Hamilton's had been coming to Lake Maxinkuckee each summer since 1914, until May 1, 1932, when Mr. Hamilton retired and they made their permanent home in Culver , moving here from Chicago.

Mrs. Hamilton was gifted with many accomplishments her duties a adivated mother and gracious hostess she found ability in verse and prose. In 1927 a collection of prose by Mrs. Hamilton was published under the title, "When Lilacs Bloom". A second edition of this charming work is now on the press. A complete volume of her sonnets and other poems is now being published and will be announced within the next few months.

Probably her greatest literary achievement had just been finished, except for the reading of a few galley proofs, before her illness in the spring. This was the translation of the poems by Henri de Trengies, of the French Academy and one of the forty immortals. This book will be announced in September.

Mrs. Hamilton's literary work had won from many of the outstanding men of letters and her death cut short still finer writings for which she was now finding time.

Surviving are the widower; three daughters, Mrs. J. H. Bishop, of the Culver Military fac ulty, Mrs. Flora Cravens of Louisville, Ky. and Miss Virginia Hamilton, art student of Boston, Mass; and one son John W. Hamilton, of Evanston, Ill.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the home, Father William J. Cordick, of the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Plymouth officiating. Internment was in the Culver Masonic Cemetery.

Saturday, July 8, 1933 Rochester Sentinel

Culver , Ind., July 8. - Mrs. Flora HAMILTON, wife of T.B. HAMILTON, retired vice president of the Pennsylvania railroad, died this afternoon at the Hamilton summer home on Lake Maxinkuckee.

She had been suffering only a short time with heart trouble.

Surviving are the husband, three daughters [daughters], Mrs. J. H. BISHOP, wife of Cap. BISHOP of the Culver Military Academy faculty; Mrs. Flora CRAVEN'S, Louisville, Ky., and Miss Virginia HAMILTON, Boston, Mass., art student and a son, John W. HAMILTON of Evantston [Evanston], Ill.

22 Feb. 1939
Culver Citizen

T. B. Hamilton, Former Railroad Executive
Dies in Evanston, Ill.

Thomas B. Hamilton, former vice-president of the Pennsylvania railroad, passed away in the Evanston Hospital, Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Feb. 18, following a critical illness of only a few days.

Mr. Hamilton was born in Columbus, O. Aug. 7, 1865, and was graduated from Princeton University in 1888. He became a rodman on the Louisville division of the Pennsylvania Railroad lines in November of the same year. Having been transferred to the engineering corps on the Pittsburgh division in 1890, he was appointed assistant engineer on Jan. 1, 1896. After service on the Toledo, Cincinnati and Cleveland and Pittsburgh divisions, he was appointed superintendent of the Erie and Ashtab ula division in the same capacity, Dec. 21, 1903.

In 1912 he became general superintendent of the central system and on Feb. 1, 1914, general manager of the Vandalia railroad upon the consolidation of this road with the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis railroad. He became resident vice-resident at St. Louis on Jan. 1, 1917. Throughout the period of federal contrail he served as gerneral superintendent of the St. Louis system of the Pennsylvania.

On March 1, 1920, after the termination of federal control, Mr. Hamilton was appointed general manager of the northwestern region of the Pennsylvania railroad with offices in Chicago. On Nov. 15, 1924, he received the title of vice-president and general manager, on Sept 16, 1926 he was relieved of the duties of general manager and in June 1929, was appointed vice-president Chicago, which office he held until May 1, 1932, when he retired under the company pension reg ulation.

Mr. Hamilton was largely responsible for the development of the ore dock facilities at Cleveland, and for the details incident of the company's entrance into Detroit. His work as chairman of the American Railway Associations committee appointed to study and report upon the feasibility of extending locomotive runs, was an outstanding contribution to the railroad industry.

Mr. Hamilton's record speaks for itself and reflects a lifetime of loyal and devoted service and marked accomplishment.

The Hamilton's had been summer cottagers on Lake Maxinkuckee for a number of years and upon Mr. Hamilton's retirement made this their year around home on the west shore of the lake.

Surviving are three children: John W. of Evanston, Ill., Mrs. Charles T. Cravens of Evanston, Ill. and Mrs. John H. Wright of Wesley Hills, Mass., ten grandchildren and a wide circle of friends.

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the home here, Father Roland of the Plymouth Episcopal church officiating. Internment was in the Culver Masonic Cemetery.

1870 United States Federal Census 
Name:	Thomas B Hamelton [Hamilton]
Age in 1870:	4
Birth Date:	abt 1866
Birthplace:	Ohio
Dwelling Number:	158
Home in 1870:	Columbus Ward 8, Franklin, Ohio
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Post Office:	Columbus
Occupation:	At Home
Inferred Father:	
John W Hamelton
Inferred Mother:	
Racheal Hamelton
Household Members	Age
John W Hamelton 47
Racheal Hamelton 44
Caroline R Hamelton
William P Hamelton 10
Charles S Hamelton 6
Thomas B Hamelton	4
Eloise Hamelton 3
Louisa B Hamelton 7
Baidget Kelly 31
Anna Brady 23

U.S., School Catalogs, 1765-1935 
Name:	Mr Thomas Benton Hamilton
Publication Year:	1871
Publication Place:	Ohio
School Name:	Ohio Wesleyan University

1880 United States Federal Census 
Name:	Thomas Hamilton
Age:	14
Birth Date:	Abt 1866
Birthplace:	Ohio
Home in 1880:	Columbus, Franklin, Ohio, USA
Street:	Fourth Street
House Number:	107
Dwelling Number:	26
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Son
Marital Status:	Single
Father's Name:	J. W. Hamilton
Father's Birthplace:	Ohio
Mother's Name:	Racheal Hamilton
Mother's Birthplace:	Ohio
Attended School:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members	Age	Relationship
J. W. Hamilton 56	Self (Head)
Racheal Hamilton 51	Wife
William T. Hamilton 20	Son
Chas Hamilton 16	Son
Thomas Hamilton	14	Son
Lulu Hamilton 17	Niece

1910 United States Federal Census 
Name:	Thomas B Homton [Thomas B Hamilton]
Age in 1910:	43
Birth Date:	1867 [1867]
Birthplace:	Ohio
Home in 1910:	Cleveland Ward 21, Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA
Street:	East 71 Street
House Number:	2033
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Flora B Hamilton
Father's Birthplace:	Ohio
Mother's Birthplace:	Ohio
Native Tongue:	English
Occupation:	Superintendent
Industry:	Steam Railroad
Employer, Employee or Other:	Wage Earner
Home Owned or Rented:	Rent
Farm or House:	House
Able to read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Years Married:	13
Out of Work:	N
Number of Weeks Out of Work:	0
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members	Age	Relationship
Thomas B Homton	43	Head
Flora B Hamilton 38	Wife
Winifred Lee Hamilton 12	Daughter
John W Hamilton 10	Son
Flora B Hamilton 6	Daughter
Mary Mc Laughlin 19	Servant
Bertha Litscky 14	Servant

1920 United States Federal Census 
Name:	Thomas Hamilton
Age:	53
Birth Year:	abt 1867
Birthplace:	Ohio
Home in 1920:	Indianapolis Ward 8, Marion, Indiana
Street:	New Jersey St.
House Number:	1241
Residence Date:	1920
Race:	White
Gender:	Male
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Marital Status:	Married
Spouse's Name:	Flora Hamilton
Father's Birthplace:	Ohio
Mother's Birthplace:	Ohio
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Suprintendent
Industry:	Pa. R.R.
Employment Field:	Wage or Salary
Home Owned or Rented:	Rented
Able to read:	Yes
Able to Write:	Yes
Neighbors:	View others on page
Household Members	Age	Relationship
Thomas Hamilton	53	Head
Flora Hamilton 46	Wife
Winifred Hamilton 23	Daughter
Flora Hamilton 16	Daughter
Virgina Hamilton 5	Daughter
Ella Hawkins 30	Servant

1930 United States Federal Census 
Name:	Thomas B Hamilton
Birth Year:	abt 1866
Gender:	Male
Race:	White
Age in 1930:	64
Birthplace:	Ohio
Marital Status:	Married
Relation to Head of House:	Head
Home in 1930:	Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA
Map of Home:	Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Street Address:	Lake Shore Drive
Ward of City:	48
Institution:	Lake Shore Towers
House Number:	3920
Dwelling Number:	1
Family Number:	2
Home Owned or Rented:	Rented
Home Value:	310
Radio Set:	Yes
Lives on Farm:	No
Age at First Marriage:	31
Attended School:	No
Able to Read and Write:	Yes
Father's Birthplace:	Ohio
Mother's Birthplace:	Ohio
Able to Speak English:	Yes
Occupation:	Vice President
Industry:	Railroad
Class of Worker:	Wage or salary worker
Employment:	Yes
Household Members	Age	Relationship
Thomas B Hamilton	64	Head
Flora B Hamilton 58	Wife
Virginia Hamilton 16	Daughter
John W Hamilton 31	Son
Eleanor Hamilton 23	Daughter-in-law


 ndiana, U.S., Death Certificates, 1899-2011 
Name:	Flora B Hamilton [Flora B Bunt] 
Gender:	Female
Race:	White
Age:	60
Marital status:	Married
Birth Date:	23 Dec 1872
Birth Place:	Virginia
Death Date:	7 Jul 1933
Death Place:	Union, Marshall, Indiana, USA
Father:	Thomas L Bunt
Mother:	Flora Bunt
Spouse:	F. B. Hamilton

Illinois, U.S., Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 
Name:	Thomas B. Hamilton
Birth Date:	7 Aug 1865
Birth Place:	Columbus, Ohio
Death Date:	18 Feb 1939
Death Place:	Evanston, Cook Co , Ill
Burial Date:	20 Feb 1939
Burial Place:	Culver, Indiana
Cemetery Name:	Culver Masonic
Death Age:	73
Occupation:	Retired
Race:	White
Marital status:	W
Gender:	Male
Residence:	Culver, Indiana
Father Name:	John A. Hamilton
Father Birth Place:	Ohio
Mother Name:	Rachel Lo...Den
Mother Birth Place:	Ohio
Spouse Name:	Flora Hamilton
FHL Film Number:	1819605

Lake Maxinkuckee Its Intrigue History & Genealogy Culver, Marshall, Indiana

Thomas Benton " T. B." Hamilton