Vernor Edward Hamilton

  Vernor Edward Hamilton is treasurer of the Huber & Kalbach Company, wholesale and retail dealers in hardware. This is one of the most prominent commercial enterprises of the city of Oskaloosa - an important factor in the business activity. He was born in Grundy county, Illinois, in 1875, and comes of Scotch descent. His great-grandfather was an officer in the Revolutionary war, which indicates that the family was established in America in colonial days. Charles Vernor Hamilton, father of our subject, was born in Fulton, New York, and was engaged in business as a hardware merchant for many years. He possessed excellent business discernment and sound judgment, which, combined with his indefatigable energy, won for him the success which now enables him to live retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. He makes his home in Gardner, Illinois, and is now sixty-one years of age. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, while politically he is a democrat. He married Miss Ellen Huston, who was born in Grundy county, Illinois, is of Scotch-Irish descent and is a daughter of Robert Huston. She is now fifty-three years of age. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, namely: Vernor E., of this review; Robert J, a professor in the Manual Training School, at Indianapolis, Indiana; Charlotte M., the wife of Edward A. Ellis, superintendent of schools at Geneva, Illinois; .Clarence, deceased; Charles, who is with the Huber & Kalbach Company; one who died in infancy; and Frances Willard, who is attending school. The mother is a member of the Presbyterian church.

Vernor E. Hamilton at the usual age entered the public schools of Gardner, Illinois, and steadily advancing through the different grades was eventually graduated from the high school there. He also spent two years in the University of Illinois, and thus well equipped by a liberal education for life's practical and responsible duties he entered business circles as an employee in the wholesale hardware house of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company, at Chicago. He was then eighteen years of age and he served successively as clerk, checker, price clerk, house salesman and traveling salesman, representing that firm in the different capacities for six years. In 1900 he came to Oskaloosa, where he engaged in the retail hardware business with J F. Hamilton under the firm style of Hamilton & Hamilton. This relation was maintained until 1904, when he sold his interest in the business in order to become a stockholder in the Huber & Kalbach Company, wholesale and retail dealers in hardware. He is now treasurer of the company, which is conducting an extensive business, being one of the most prominent commercial enterprises of that city. He became thoroughly familiar with the hardware trade during the early years of his business career and was well- equipped to undertake the arduous duties which devolve upon him in his present connection.

Mr. Hamilton maintains fraternal relations with the Masons and the Elks, but is independent in his political views. It is a noticeable fact in the commercial world that the young men are those who are powerful factors in trade circles, possessing unfaltering enterprise and energy that readily solve intricate business problems and are constantly alert for opportunities for the advancement and for broadening the scope of their undertakings. Mr. Hamilton is a typical representative of this class and each step in his career has been a forward one, leading him nearer and nearer to the goal' of prosperity.