At age 2, his father moved the family to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, where he was educated through the public schools.

After high school, he joined a U.S. survey of Lake Superior and entered the University of Michigan in 1868, graduating as a mining engineer in 1869.

[2] After his Assembly term, he focused on his business interests and was an incorporator of the Menominee Chemical Company in 1883, to manufacture drug supplies.

The incumbent, Conrad Krez, however, refused to give up the office, citing an 1889 act of the Wisconsin Legislature which extended the city attorney's term to four years.

[6] Hamilton ultimately only served three years of his term, resigning in May 1897 to receive an appointment as special assistant city attorney, a position created by a new law.