OF CAMBRIA COUNTY.

39

MAJOR DAVID HAMILTON.  One whose name and military record is familiar to many people of Cambria county is Major David Hamilton, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He is a son of Robert and Polly (Hoover) Hamilton, and was born August 28, 1822, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The father of Major Hamilton was a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Huntingdon county; later he moved to Frankstown, now in Blair county, where he lived until he removed to Tuckahoe, in Blair County. About 1810 or 1811 he came to Johnstown and died here February 2, 1864.     Major Hamilton received a very limited education under the instruction of one of the old typical Irish schoolmasters of that time. He learned the trade of a carpenter, and followed that occupation, in connection with contracting, until he entered the Civil War, April 16, 1861. He enlisted in the Tenth regiment, Pennsylvania infantry, company H, as a first lieutenant. This was in response to the first call of three months. The end of this term of enlistment was September 30, 1862. This short service did not satisfy the patriotic zeal of our subject, for he re-enlisted, entering the cavalry service in the Eigh-teenth regiment cavalry, company K. He served with honor in this regiment, which was under the command of that dashing cavalry officer, General Kilpatrick, until he was wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor. He was so severely wounded that he could not again rejoin the service. His wound, which was in the left hip, resulted in the paralysis of his legs, and he was kept in the hospital at the Naval school, Maryland. He received the unusual honors of a discharge by a strict order from Edward M. Stanton, Secretary of War. The war record of Major Hamilton shows him to have been a faithful

soldier and worthy of much honor. Before this he had received two wounds, once with a bullet and twice with a sabre. About a year prior to his discharge he served as major, an honorable title, justly bestowed. Since the war Major Hamilton has not engaged in any active work.      He married Jennie Oiler, who died May 30, 1990. He is a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 30, and Camp 1006, Union Veteran Legion.     Major Hamilton has been a republican ever since he has been old enough to think for himself, and has always been an active politician. In 1884 he was elected associate judge of Cambria county.     Major Hamilton was a brave soldier, who gave his blood for the freedom of his country. What more could be said of him? Any more would be superfluous. JOHN D. ROBERTS, cashier of the First National Bank of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is a man of unusual financial ability; a successful man whose success has been gained by industry and thorough mastery of his business.     It is surprising how many of our best men have been reared on a farm and educated largely in the common schools. Mr. Roberts spent the first nineteen years of his life on a farm, meanwhile attending for a number of those years the common schools, which had a three or four months' session each year.     In April, 1864, he entered Iron City college, graduating in June, 1864. After this he came to Johnstown, and for eleven months held the position of clerk in the mercantile house of Wood, Morrell & Co., of which business James McMillan was manager. At the end of this time he obtained a position in the First

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