Jones S. Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jones Stewart Hamilton
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| Mississippi State Senator | |
| In office 1884–1888 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | April 19, 1833 Wilkinson County, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Died | January 21, 1907 (aged 73) Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouses | Caroline Augusta Stewart Fannie Buck |
| Children | 5 sons, 2 daughters |
| Parents | William Hamilton Eliza Stewart |
| Residence | Belhaven |
| Alma mater | Centenary College of Louisiana at Jackson |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Confederate States of America (1861–1865) |
| Service/ |
 Confederate States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1865 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant Colonel |
| Unit |  Power's Mississippi Cavalry |
Jones Stewart Hamilton (born April 19, 1833 – died January 21, 1907) was an important American businessman and politician from Mississippi. He served as a sheriff and a state senator. He also fought in the American Civil War. After the war, he became very wealthy, earning a lot of money from his businesses, especially railroads. His large home, Belhaven, gave its name to Belhaven University.
Contents
Early Life
Jones S. Hamilton was born on April 19, 1833, in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. His parents were William Hamilton and Eliza Stewart. His family had roots in Scotland. He went to college at Centenary College in Jackson, Louisiana, and graduated from there.
His Career and Businesses
Hamilton started his career working in law enforcement. He was the sheriff of Wilkinson County from 1854 to 1858. When the American Civil War began, he joined the Confederate States Army and served during the war.
Building His Wealth
After the war, Hamilton became very successful in business. He made a lot of money through a system where he used prisoners to work on his projects. This helped him build many public works. He owned several businesses, including the gas works in Jackson and a race track. He also owned a few hotels.
From 1865 to 1867, he was involved with publishing The Clarion Ledger, a newspaper. In the early 1880s, he helped start the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad. He became a millionaire because of his investments in these railroads, which grew with the help of the labor system he used. Some people called him a "southern-style robber baron" because of how he built his fortune.
Public Service
Besides his business ventures, Hamilton also served in government. He was a member of the Mississippi State Senate. He represented Hinds County from 1884 to 1888. During his time as a senator, he helped make laws for the state.
His Family and Legacy
Jones Hamilton was married twice. In 1856, he married Caroline Augusta Stewart. They had a son and a daughter together. Sadly, Caroline died in 1861. Later, in 1877, he married his second wife, Fannie Buck. With Fannie, he had four sons and one daughter.
Hamilton passed away on January 21, 1907, in Jackson, Mississippi. He left his large home in Jackson, called Belhaven, to Belhaven College. Even though the mansion burned down in 1895, the college kept the name. Today, it is known as Belhaven University. The area where his mansion was located is also called the Belhaven Neighborhood, named after his famous home.
