John Taylor Hamilton (October 16, 1843 – January 25, 1925) was an American businessman from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a one-term Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Iowa's 5th congressional district.

James was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Antrim, New Hampshire.

When James retired he moved to Geneseo, Illinois, and lived there until he died at age 77.

When he was finished with his schooling he worked for a company that sold fire insurance to farmers.

He arrived in the city on February 2 that year and represented C. H. McCormick of Chicago in the reaper business.

Riding a wave of hostility in rural states to Republican economic policies such as the McKinley tariff, Democrats took control of the U.S. House, and for the first time since the Civil War won a majority of the U.S. House races in Iowa, including Hamilton's race against Republican nominee George R.

[3][7] In 1914, Hamilton ran for Governor of Iowa against incumbent Republican George W. Clark.

[1] This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress