Hamilton

Hamilton was laid out in 1852 by several men in the area, including Samuel Gordon, who furnished a 160-acre tract of land. This land was purchased in 1833 by his father, John, for $150.00. Artois Hamilton, of Carthage, was also active in the early history of the town. Mr. Hamilton was thought to hold money bags of considerable size, so the new town was named “Hamilton”, in the hope that the honor might induce him to ‘shell out’. Other names were presented and discussed, including “Bartlett”, ‘Rapids City’ and ‘East Keokuk’, but the possible contribution of money was the clear winner in identifying a name for the town. John Gordon — the first settler in 1883. Mr. Gordon, his wife Elizabeth, and their two sons, traveled from New Hampshire and built the first log cabin at 240 North 9th Street. The site of the old homestead can still be viewed today. Read more about the Gordon family. Henry Dickinson, who set up shop in 1849 as a carpenter. In 1850, he and his brother-in-law, Bryant Bartlett, obtained a charter for a ferry between the Keokuk and Hamilton shores. The ferry was successful until “the great iron bridge” was constructed in 1871. Dickinson also served as Mayor of Hamilton, alderman, and as an Assessor of Montebello Township. Stephen F. Safford, a native of Massachusetts, came to Hamilton with his family in 1856. After a few years of teaching school, they became owners of a small farm. As great philanthropists, the Safford family did a great deal for the City of Hamilton. Back in the early 1900’s, it was not uncommon to see cattle crossing the bridge. A gentleman by the name of Mr. Hyndman drove large herds of cattle across the bridge to Missouri. Before the structure was built, a ferry boat transported folks across the river. In 1871 a single deck bridge was built which was to be used for vehicular, railroad, and wagon traffic. There was also a toll house at each end of the bridge, just in case Mr. Hyndman and his cows wanted to go west, just as a train was planning an easterly trip across the bridge. Built at a cost of $1,005,000, the huge iron structure was a project of the Keystone Bridge Company of Pittsburgh. President of this company was Andrew Carnegie of New York. Opened to the public in June, 1871, it was constructed entirely of iron, except the road bed, which was of heavy-sawed white-oak lumber. It took nearly 2 years to build, delayed at several times by ice and high water. It was 2,194 feet long, and rested on eleven stone piers. Its draw, for the passage of steamboats and other river craft, was 378 feet in length, turned by steam machinery on a pivot in the center. In the early 1900’s, it was determined that something was needed to aid river navigation and harness the wealth of water power inherent in the mighty Mississippi. A bill was introduced in 1904 which granted the Keokuk and Hamilton Water Power Company the right to construct a dam across the river at the foot of the rapids. A year later, Hugh L. Cooper, a hydro-electric engineer, took an option to build the dam for $20,000,000. The proportions of this lock and dam were immense: There were some delays in the construction of the lock and dam (namely, flooded cofferdams and ice buildups). However, the project was completed on schedule, and the opening of the locks was heralded with 2 riverboats passing through the locks together on June 12, 1913. Electricity was transmitted to St. Louis on June 30, 1913, and the project was completed. Charles Dadant came to this country from France with his wife in 1863. His primary goal had been to raise grapes for wine. However, due to the soil and weather conditions of this state, the raising of the champagne-type grapes did not look promising. Because of experience in beekeeping in his native land, the enterprising Dadant purchased hives, and built their main source of income around beekeeping. The business grew and prospered, and in 1925, Dadant bought the large brick building on Highway 136 between Broad