Hagerstown in Washington County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Hagerstonians in the Civil War
Governor William T. Hamilton, 1820-1888
Photographed By Don Morfe, October 20, 2012
1. Hagerstonians in the Civil War Marker
Inscription.
Hagerstonians in the Civil War. Governor William T. Hamilton, 1820-1888. William T. Hamilton was born in Boonsboro. He attended the Hagerstown Academy and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. Hamilton passed the bar in 1845 and opened a law practice in Hagerstown. After serving one year in the Maryland Legislature, he was elected to three terms in the United States House of Representatives (1849-1855). He served in no public office during the Civil War, however he was one of the party of Hagerstown leaders who arranged for the payment of the Confederate ransom to General McCausland in 1864., After the War, Hamilton served one term as a United States Senator from 1868 to 1874. He was elected the 38th Governor of Maryland and served as the state’s chief executive from 1880 until 1884. Full of the entrepreneurial spirit, he also engaged in many business enterprises, including the construction of the Hamilton and Baldwin House hotels, one block east of here. When Governor Hamilton died in 1888, he was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery., His widow developed the Oak Hill subdivision on the grounds of their summer home in the late 1800,s. , This was the site of Governor Hamilton’s “town” home. He purchased the former Valley Bank building in the 1850’s and converted it for use as a residence. The residence was demolished in 1959.
William T. Hamilton was born in Boonsboro. He attended the Hagerstown Academy and Jefferson College in Pennsylvania. Hamilton passed the bar in 1845 and opened a law practice in Hagerstown. After serving one year in the Maryland Legislature, he was elected to three terms in the United States House of Representatives (1849-1855). He served in no public office during the Civil War, however he was one of the party of Hagerstown leaders who arranged for the payment of the Confederate ransom to General McCausland in 1864.
After the War, Hamilton served one term as a United States Senator from 1868 to 1874. He was elected the 38th Governor of Maryland and served as the state’s chief executive from 1880 until 1884. Full of the entrepreneurial spirit, he also engaged in many business enterprises, including the construction of the Hamilton and Baldwin House hotels, one block east of here. When Governor Hamilton died in 1888, he was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery.
His widow developed the Oak Hill subdivision on the grounds of their summer home in the late 1800,s.
This was the site of Governor Hamilton’s “town” home. He purchased the former Valley Bank building in the 1850’s and converted it for use as a residence. The residence was demolished in 1959.
Erected by
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Maryland Heritage Area.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1845.
Location. 39° 38.652′ N, 77° 43.464′ W. Marker is in Hagerstown, Maryland, in Washington County. Marker is on North Prospect Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8 North Prospect Street, Hagerstown MD 21740, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Senator William T. Hamilton was photographed with his colleagues on the steps of the US Capitol in February, 1874. He is seen in the third row, fourth from the right (as indicated by the arrow.) Many of his colleagues who appeared in this photograph were prominent Civil War figures, including Confederate Generals John B. Gordon and Matt Ransom, Union General John Logan, former Civil War Secretary of War Simon Cameron, Senator John Sherman (author of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act) and Senator Zachariah Chandler, one of President Lincoln's harshest critics within his own party.
Close-up of photo on marker
Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2017
4. William Thomas Hamilton's Grave - Rose Hill Cemetery
William Thomas Hamilton
Born 1820 — Died 1888
Member of Congress 1855 United States Senator 1869-1875. Governor of Maryland 1880-1884
A Pure Patriot, A Devoted Citizen and an Honest Man
Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2017. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 496 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on October 26, 2012, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 24, 2017, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.