From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902.

Typed by Carol Taylor Lanza.

Pages 770 & 773

CHARLES P. HAMILTON, a prominent architect and builder of Wheeling, 
West Virginia, has followed that line of work in many states of the 
Union, and is unexcelled in his professional capacity.  He was born at 
Wellsburg, Virginia, June 15, 1849, and is a son of S. C. A. Hamilton, 
concerning whom mention may be found in the biographical sketch of N. 
C. Hamilton, on another page of this volume.

Mr. Hamilton attended the public schools of Wheeling, and in 1869 took 
a mathematical course of study in Bethany College.  He also studied 
architecture with Messrs. Frank Coen and Charles C. Kemple of Wheeling.  
He continued with these gentlemen three years, and then went to 
Philadelphia, and later to Baltimore, where he remained about six 
months, a part of the time under the instruction of Robert Riddle, at 
that time, 1872, one of the best mechanics in the United States.  He 
returned to Wheeling, opened an office on Market Street, near Twentieth 
Street, and engaged in architectural work and general contracting until 
1876, when he moved to California and Oregon, where he followed the 
same line of business until 1879.  In that year he returned to 
Wheeling, where he continued his business successfully until 1885.  He 
then located successively  in Toledo, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan, 
where he was employed in erecting buildings for the manufacture of 
glass, in what was then known as the new "glass belt."  He continued 
thus until 1890, since which time his attention has been devoted to 
contracting and building and general architectural work at Wheeling.  
He has met with much success in his profession, and has built some of 
the largest glass-plants in the country, among them the Libby Glass 
Works in Toledo; the Crystal Glass Works in Bridgeport; the Over Glass 
Works in Muncie, Indiana; the Fostoria Glass Works of Fostoria (since 
removed to Moundsville); the North Wheeling Glass Works; the Riverside 
Glass Works of Wellsburg, and many others.  He made drawings for the 
City Bank building of Wheeling; Baer's Warehouse; Greer & Laing's 
Store; and Johnson's store on Main Street. He enjoys a fair share of 
public patronage, and is highly respected by all with whom he comes in 
contact. 

In 1870, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage with Maria Baer, a 
daughter of Alexander C. Baer, who died in California about 1851.  Her 
mother was Elizabeth Crouse, who was born in Washington County, Ohio, 
of German parentage, and whose great-grandmother was Eve Schley.  Mrs. 
Hamilton is a granddaughter of Maj. Philip Baer, a pioneer resident of 
Wheeling, and a second cousin of Rear-Admiral W. S. Schley.  Mr. And 
Mrs. Hamilton became the parents of seven children, of whom five are 
now living, as follows:  Charles C., an architect, of New York City, 
who is establishing an excellent reputation in his profession; 
Elizabeth, wife of John H. Rosenberg; Patience Elliott, wife of Wallace 
Smith of Wheeling; George Edward; and Allen Walker.  Mr. And Mrs. 
Hamilton are faithful member of the Christian Church.  Mr. Hamilton 
served for eight months during the Civil War as ambulance driver for 
Colonel Boyden, who had charge of the hospital corps under General 
Sheridan .  In politics, he is an unswerving supporter of the 
Republican party.  He is a member of Nelson Lodge, No. 30, A. F. & A. 
M.