"An Illustrated History of Whitman County, state of Washington." San Francisco:
W. H. Lever, 1901.  p. 283.

ORTIS HAMILTON

     To this young man belongs the proud distinction of being the first white
child born in Whitman county, and it is due to him to say that his splendid
efforts to fit himself for a highly useful career and his success since he
completed his education prove him a worthy son of the great county. He is a
young man of energy, ability and sterling worth of character, and these
qualities, fully developed in him in some of the leading institutions of
learning east and west, give token of his becoming a light in the affairs and
counsels of the Palouse country and the state.
     Mr. Hamilton was born on September 22, 1873, his parents being W. J. and
Lulu (Holt) Hamilton. He took his first steps in the pursuit of knowledge in the
public schools of the county, and in due course matriculated in Colfax College.
He afterward spent three years in a military school at Portland, Oregon, and
completed his education in Yale University, of New Haven, Connecticut,
graduating from the English and law course of that institution in 1897.  He
thereupon returned to Colfax, where he farmed for three years. He has also had
some experience in the hardware and implement business. On January 14, 1901, he
was appointed deputy sheriff, and he has been discharging his duties as such
ever since with faithfulness and ability.
     Fraternally, Mr. Hamilton is identified with the Improved Order of Red Men
and the United Artisans. He has served as delegate to the great council of the
former order and has the distinction of being the first past officer of Kamiac
Tribe, No. 18. On August 3, 1898, he formally organized Company L, First
Regiment, N. G. W., of which he was elected captain. He received his commission
from Governor Rogers shortly afterward and has continued to act in that capacity
ever since. He is also considerably interested in political matters, and during
the recent campaign acted as secretary of the Democratic Central Committee.
     In Pullman, Washington, on October 27, 1897, our subject married Miss Mary
E. Savage, a native of California, and they have one daughter, Helen E. Mrs.
Hamilton's parents. are residents of the vicinity of Pullman.
     Mr. Hamilton took and passed the examination for promotion to majority of
the Third Battalion, N. G. W., on April 12, 1901, which position he now holds.
 

*******************

Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in July 2011 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.