The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 21

HON. GARRISON W. HAMILTON.

The legal fraternity of Benton county is prominently represented in Hon.
Garrison W. Hamilton, who since 1905 has practiced in Prosser, Washington.
Thorough study at one of the best known law schools of the country and long
experience are the foundation stones upon which his reputation has been erected.
He now has a large clientage in Prosser and vicinity and stands high in the
regard of the public, in the estimation of his professional confreres and before
the courts. He was born in Lewisville, Ohio, March 26, 1854, his parents being
Jacob H. and Maria (Robinson) Hamilton, both of whom passed away in Ohio, where
the father followed agricultural pursuits throughout his life with considerable
success.

Garrison W. Hamilton was reared under the parental roof and in the acquirement
of his primary education attended the schools of the neighborhood and other
institutions in order to prepare himself for college. Entering Mount Union
College, he was graduated from that institution in the class of 1877 with the
degree of Ph. B. Having surveyed the various careers open to a young man in
business or professional life, he decided on the profession of the law as best
suited to his tastes and inclinations and for that purpose entered the Law
School of Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in 1880. He then located for
practice at Woodsfield, Ohio, and there continued for twenty-two years, building
up a reputation for ability, reliability and trustworthiness. The far west
always having held attractions for him, he decided to come to Washington,
selecting as his field or labor Spokane, where he maintained an office for about
three years. Then perceiving a field or greater possibilities in the newly
opened Yakima valley, he came to Prosser in 1905 and has remained here ever
since. His practice is of an important character and he has been connected with
many of the better known cases which have come up before the courts of this
district. On account of his ability he has naturally risen, so that today he is
numbered among the most prominent lawyers of Yakima county. His legal learning,
his analytical mind and the readiness with which he grasps the points in an
argument, all combine to make him one of the best lawyers before the courts.
Besides Mr. Hamilton is well versed in legal precedence and ably builds up his
cause upon his knowledge.

In 1885 Mr. Hamilton wedded Miss Emma Bircher, of Summerfield, Ohio, and to this
union were born three children. Dr. B. J. Hamilton, a graduate of the Chicago
College of Medicine, is a well known physician of Detroit, Michigan, where he
enjoys a large practice. Flora J. is the wife of J. Kelly De Priest, of Prosser,
and they are the parents of one child. Miss Marie Hamilton, the youngest of the
family, is at home. In 1910 the family circle was broken by the hand of death
when Mrs. Hamilton passed away. On April 27, 1912, Mr. Hamilton was again
married, his second union being with Nellie J. Lundquist, of Prosser, and they
have a son, Orris Lee. They are popular in the social life of their city and
maintain a hospitable fireside for their many friends.

In his political affiliations Mr. Hamilton is a democrat and has been suite
active in party ranks not only locally but also as far as the state at large is
concerned. During the term of 1906-7 he served in the state legislature, making
his opinion felt upon the floor of the house and in committee rooms and well
representing the interests of his constituents. He is now prosecuting attorney
of Benton county. While in Ohio he served as judge of the probate court of
Monroe county for six years, his continuance in office indicating the
confidence his constituents had in his ability, fairness and impartiality. Mr.
Hamilton is a member of the Benton County and State Bar Associations and takes
an active part in their proceedings. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic
order, belonging to the blue lodge in Prosser, and also is a life member of
Zanesville (Ohio) lodge No. 14, B. P. O. E. He has always taken a deep interest
in the development and progress of his city and the Yakima Valley and has ever
been ready to lend his ability and means to worthy projects. He owns an
excellent farm property near Prosser, which he has developed from the sagebrush
and which yields a gratifying addition to his income. He takes great pride in
this farm, which largely through his own labors and own ideas has been created
out of the wilderness.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.