Chapter 4

JOHN STEINBECK'S ROOTS

Draft

Donald G. Kohrs
Copyright © 2021

THE HAMILTON BOYS

THOMAS SCOTT HAMILTON

Samuel and Elizabeth Hamilton’s eldest son, Thomas Scott Hamilton, was born in San Jose, California in September 1855. The property record archives for the County of Santa Clara has a deed of property dated September 11, 1862 from Samuel Hamilton to Thomas Hamilton. The existence of this deed suggests Sam may have gifted his son a portion of his Santa Teresa holdings. Tom Hamilton’s name also appears in a lawsuit related to the Rancho Santa Teresa Mexican Land Grant (William A. Senter, et. al Plantiffs vs. Blanda Castro De Bernal et als.).[1] Six years later the San Jose weekly Mercury, for October 1, 1868, had mentioned a transaction by Robert Hamilton to Thomas Hamilton, 5 acre on Monterey Road for $2,000.[2]

As previously mentioned, Robert Hamilton had a sheep ranch in the vicinity, where he had lost his livestock to drought in 1874. Fast forward fifteen years later, one finds Thomas Hamilton listed as a farmer on Monterey Road, ten miles Southeast of San Jose in The Handbook and Directory of Santa Clara County for 1875.[3]This location was adjacent to, or property once owned by either his father Samuel Hamilton, or his uncle Robert Hamilton. These references suggest Tom Hamilton remained in San Jose for a time, as he was not listed as living with the Hamilton family in the 1880 census for Salinas. Thomas Hamilton, then twenty-five years old, may well have been the farmer on Monterey Road, 10 miles Southeast of San Jose.

By 1882, Tom had joined the family in Salinas, as suggested by a voter registration record (October 7, 1882) at Salinas Precinct No. 2, Salinas, California when he was age of twenty-seven.[4]

By 1900, Tom Hamilton had moved to South Monterey County, and was the only sibling listed on the census with his parents, Sam and Eliza Hamilton, on the homestead ranch near San Lucas, California.[5]

On May 7, 1908, the Salinas Daily Index commented that Thomas Hamilton of King City had visited his brother, William J. Hamilton, and had continued on to San Francisco to view the U. S. Navy Atlantic Fleet that had recently arrived.

In June 1909, the Salinas Daily Index mentioned that Beth Steinbeck, daughter of John and Olive Steinbeck, traveled from Salinas to visit her grandmother, Eliza on the Hamilton Ranch.[6]

One year later, according to the Federal Census of 1910, Tom Hamilton, age fifty-four, with his father, Sam Hamilton having passed away, and his mother, Eliza Hamilton, having moved to a cottage in Pacific Grove, was the only Hamilton living on the family ranch near San Lucas, California. Residing on the ranch with Tom were two boarders/farm laborers, George Rice, age fifty-one, born in New York, and William Raymond, age twenty-seven, born in Ohio.[7]

In April 1911, Tom Hamilton had a disagreement with a John Barioni, manager of the neighboring Carlson Ranch.  The mention that appeared in the King City Rustler read “Tom Hamilton and John Barioni have been having a misunderstanding in which a road and a fence figure. Wednesday Mr. Hamilton appeared before Recorder Griswold charged by Mr. Barioni with threats on the latter’s life. Each swore positively to stories that were "diametrically opposite in trend,” and as there were no witnesses to corroborate either, his honor dismissed the case.”” [8]  Two weeks later, a mention appeared in the Rustler informing the reader that Tom was now the owner of a new car. “Tom Hamilton now disports himself in a choo-choo car. It’s a Ford runabout.” [9] A car he purchased years before his brother Will Hamilton, established the Hamilton & Gause's Camino Garage in King City.

A year later, in March 1912, one finds Tom Hamilton returning to a trip from San Francisco, where he may have traveled with his brother Will, who’d also traveled to the city. “Tom Hamilton returned Sunday from a trip to San Francisco…. W. J. Hamilton of the H-A-F Co. returned from a business trip to San Francisco the first of the week.” [10]

According to the San Luis Obispo Daily Telegram for April 5, 1912, Tom Hamilton traveled to San Luis Obispo and visited with his brother, George W. Hamilton.[11]

Four months later, in August 1912, Tom Hamilton, who was thought to have been experiencing periods of depression, committed suicide. He was found near the ranch, along San Lucas Road, dead of a self-inflicted gunshot. The funeral was held at John and Olive Steinbeck’s home ins Salinas, attended by family and friends, with services conducted by Reverend George McCormick of the United Presbyterian Church.[12]At the time, John Steinbeck was ten years old, and may have attended the services.

The funeral of the late Thomas S. Hamilton of King City took place this morning from the residence of his brother-in-law, J. E. Steinbeck, corner of Central avenue and Stone Streets… The news of Mr. Hamilton’s death came as a great shock to his relatives and friends. He was usually of a jovial, happy nature, and no cause can be assigned by them by the rash act.[13]  
                  According to the Salinas Daily Index September 06, 1912, in an article titled, Hamilton’s Will Filed For Probate. King City Man Bequeathed Valuable Estate To Relatives, at the time of his passing Thomas Hamilton, was considered well to do, as stated in the newspaper article which announced his will had been filed for probate, leaving his estate, “estimated not to exceed $15,000 in value, and consisting of 516 acres of farming land near King City, cattle and horses, cash and hay.”[14]
            One is left wonder if Tom Hamilton, an apparently well to do rancher and owner of new Ford roundabout  actually committed suicide, or if his dispute with John Barioni, a year earlier, had led to something more sinister. Whatever the case, Tom was dead and by the end of the year portion of his ranch had been divided and sold. According to the King City Rustler
            Shortly after Tom Hamilton’s passing, portions of the Hamilton ranch were purchased by Fred Burchard and Will Eade.[15]

WILLIAM JOHN HAMILTON

            William John "Will" Hamilton was born 1864 in San Jose, California. Six years later, the Federal Census of 1870 recorded William, age seven, living with his family in Salinas.[16]  A decade later, Will Hamilton, age seventeen, was listed on the 1880 Federal Census as living in San Jose, attending school, and residing with his eldest sister, Lizzie and his cousin, John E. Richards.[17]The next primary source of information identifying Will Hamilton’s where abouts finds him, age twenty-two, registering to vote on September 23, 1886 in Salinas Precinct No. 2, Monterey County, California.[18]  Four years later, one finds Will, age twenty six, living in King City.

VANDERHURST AND SANBORN

KING CITY (1890-1896)

In 1890, W. J. Hamilton and brother George Hamilton were among the first officers to serve the newly established Native Sons of the Golden West Organization in King City.[19] Also during the year of 1890, W. J. held the title of Master Mason of the Santa Lucia Masonic Lodge No. 302. At the time, John Ernst Steinbeck held the position of Senior Deacon (the fourth ranking officer) in the Santa Lucia Masonic Lodge.[20] As one was eligible to join a Masonic lodge at age twenty-one, Will Hamilton may have first become a member of the Salinas Lodge, but no record to date has been found of his having joined the Freemasons until King City.

Over the course of the next several decades William J. Hamilton, remained a member of the Santa Lucia Masonic Lodge No. 302, during which time he served in the positions of Worshipful Master and Past Master.[21]

On October 10, 1892, Will Hamilton, age twenty-eight, registered to vote in San Lucas, Monterey, California.[22] which suggests he may have been living on the Hamilton Ranch. Furthermore, the Directory for Monterey County - King City for 1892, identifies William J. Hamilton, along with his father Sam Hamilton and older brother Tom, as farmers, and younger brother, George Hamilton, a clerk.[23] Recent findings suggests that George may have been employed as a clerk for the Central Milling Company or Southern Pacific Milling Company in King City.

In 1893, a William Hamilton served as clerk and a Miss Adela Winckler as treasurer of the St. Mark’s Missionary.[24] Also in 1893, Will J. Hamilton was elected to serve as Senior Warden of Santa Lucia Masonic Lodge No. 302.[25]

In 1894, Will was hiredas a hardware clerk at the Vanderhurst and Sanborn Company story in King City.[26]Two years later on March 25, 1896, William J. Hamilton and Adela H. Winckler applied for a marriage license at the Monterey County courthouse.[27] The couple was married one month later, on April 25, 1896, in St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, King City by Rev. C. M. Hoge (St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Registry).[28]

After their marriage William and Adela Hamilton resided in King City, where Will registered to vote on May 14, 1896 at the age of thirty-two.[29]According to the King City Settler, in June 1896, W.J. Hamilton who had for the two years held the position of hardware clerk in the Vanderhurst and Sanborn Company story in King City, left to fill a similar position for the firm in Salinas.[30]

VANDERHURST AND SANBORN

SALINAS (1897-1908)

The following year, Will and Adela Hamilton moved to Salinas, with Will working for Vanderhurst And Sanborn Co. The Salinas Index dated September 05, 1897 mentioned Samuel Hamilton was up from King City “to visit his son, Will J. Hamilton, head of the grocery department of the V. S. Co.’s Salinas store.” [31] Findings suggests the couple remained in Salinas for more than a decade.

Just two years later, in 1898, a mention in the Salinas Index mentioned Mrs. William Hamilton as a participant in a “A Patriotic Tea” hosted by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Guild in Salinas.^[32] Adela Hamilton’s participation in the Tea further suggests the couple were Episcopalian having been married at St. Mark’s Church in King City and possibly members of St. Paul’s Church in Salinas.

According to the Federal Census of 1900 William and Adela Hamilton were living Salinas, California.^[33] During that yearWJ Hamilton traveled to King City to witness the Freemason degree work at the Santa Lucia Lodge No. 302, F. and A.M.^[34] While living in Salinas, Will was a member of Salinas Masonic Lodge 204, during which time John Steinbeck Sr., was a member of Salinas Chapter No. 59, Royal Arch Masonry (R. A. M.).^[35]

According to the Salinas Daily Index, in September 1908, W. J. Hamilton was building himself a new house on his property on South Main Street, in the new Spring addition.^[36] According to the Salinas Californian, Friday January 2, 1959, Do You Remember? 50 Years Ago, on January 2, 1909, “Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton moved into their new and splendid home on South Main street in time to spend the New Year’s day under their own roof”.

An article that appeared in the Mercury Herald, August 21, 1909, mentioned Adela Hamilton as a member of the Salinas Wanderers Study Club, with the couple living on South Main Street.[37]Three newspaper articles outlining the Wanderers meeting during 1908 and 1909 mention a Mrs. WJ Hamilton as a participant.

During these years, Will Hamilton continued his employment at, what was now, the Ford and Sanborn Company in Salinas, where he was in charge of the grocery department.[38]

H. A. F. MERCANTILE COMPANY

KING CITY

In March 1909, the La Posa Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was established in King City with twenty charter members. Many members of the Reveille Chapter from Salinas were present, assisting in the ceremonies, including Mr. and Mrs. Steinbeck and Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Hamilton. J. E. Steinbeck conferred the degrees as the representative of the grand chapter. Speeches at the banquet were presented by J.E. Steinbeck, W. J. Hamilton, Mrs. Eva M. Porter and George P. Henry.^[39]

In 1909, the Ford and Sanborn branch store located at 420 Broadway in King City was sold to Robert R. Allen and John C. Falkenberg of that town and William J. Hamilton of Salinas.[40]^{, [41]} As a partner in the Hamilton, Allen and Falkenberg Mercantile Company (H. A. F. Mercantile Company), Hamilton then left his employer - Ford and Sanborn - in Salinas in 1909 and moved to King City, where he engaged successfully for a number of years as a partner in the mercantile business.

According to King City Rustler November 27, 1909 “Messrs. Hamilton, Falkenberg and Allen, purchasers of the Ford & Sanborn Co. department store here, expect to take possession about December 1. We have not yet learned how the new firm will be styled. Mr. Hamilton will be manager and Mr. Allen bookkeeper, while Mr. Falkenberg, we hear, will handle the grocery department. These gentlemen are all three very popular with our people, are good business men who will not spend a dollar away from King City that they can avoid, and the combination sure spells s-u-c-c-e-s-s.”[42]

For those interested in the history of the property, the original Vanderhurst and Sanborn Co., later became Porter and Sanborn Co., then Ford and Sanborn Co. The next proprietors in the building was the Hamilton, Allen and Falkenberg Mercantile Company (H-A-F) and later Burns Co. and Carlson and Son, it then was the location for A-D-H Co. and Ace Hardware and today, El Rey Market.[43]  

For many years, W. J. Hamilton, became very involved in the community served as a board member on the King City Chamber of Commerce from1911 through 1928. Will and Adela owned several properties within the South Monterey County community. [44],[45],[46]

That very year, it appears Will Hamilton purchased farmland in the Salinas Valley where he began to grow alfalfa hay.  As reported in the King City Rustler, Mr. Hamilton, who bought the J. T. Anderson acreage, has cut, stacked and sold his second cutting of alfalfa hay. He got $l2 per ton and the yield was over two tons to the acre. The first cutting sold for $l5 per acre in the bale.[47]

As for the property of Sam Hamilton’s, one finds in the King City Rustler that a portion of the ranch had been leased, apparently for cattle grazing.  Release of Lease. Hyas Land and Cattle Company to Mrs. Eliza Hamilton et al., 2640 acres of S. Hamilton and Dessa Hamilton lands in Township 20. south range 9, east. [48]

The Rustler also reported other properties Will Hamilton owned and sold: Adela H Hamilton and W J Hamilton to Peter Johnson —lots 318 and 319 Blk. S, King City.[49] (Court And Other Notes: King City Rustler, Volume X, Number 29, 19 November 1910)

According to the Federal Census of 1910, William and Adela Hamilton held residences in both Salinas (Hamilton listed as a store proprietor)(residence: 711 Main Street, Salinas California)^[50]  and King City^. (Hamilton listed as a merchant of a Department Store) (residence: 231 Bassett Street, in King City); an address located directly across the street from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.[51]

A mention in the King City Rustler, September 1912, stated that Will and George Hamilton had purchased a ranch, located three miles from town, on which they had plans for growing alfalfa. W. J. and George Hamilton are making extensive improvements or their recently acquired ranch, formerly the Walker tract, nine hundred acres are being checked up for alfalfa and a pumping plant will be put in to irrigate the same.[52]

During the holiday season of 1912, George Hamilton spent time visiting with his brother Will in King City[53] During the visit the two very likely discussed, among other things,  plans for their recently acquired ranch.

In March 1913, H-A-F began efforts to construct a new building for their mercantile business as mentioned in an article in the King City Rustler. Post office Removal. W. J. Hamilton has purchased the post office building, which is today being moved, though it is not yet decided whether it goes to the city lot on Third street or alongside the bank on Broadway. On the vacated lot will be erected a reinforced concrete building 16x60, by the H-A-F Co.[54]

During the summer of 1914, Will Hamilton purchased 50 cows, with the idea of establishing a dairy farm and raise hogs on the alfalfa ranch.[55]

Meanwhile efforts with constructing proved a successful venture with the grand opening of H-A-F Company’s new building in September 1914.  Gala Crowd Enjoyed H-A-F Co. Fall Opening: Tuesday night the three big departments—hardware, groceries and dry goods—of the H-A-F Co. were artistically decorated, with lines carried in the respective departments well displayed. McReynolds' orchestra discoursed beautiful selection throughout the evening, which were highly appreciated by the throngs present Punch and confection were served by the wife of W. J. Hamilton, the company manager. The occasion was the fall opening, and it was a decided success. No sale were allowed to be made, though the clerks were kept busy demonstrating.[56]

The following month, in October 1914, Will and Adela Hamilton traveled to San Diego to attend California’s Grand Chapter meeting of the Order of the Eastern Star and visit Tia Juana, Mexico.[57]

EL CAMINO GARAGE

KING CITY

In early May 1915, W. J. Hamilton and wife traveled to San Francisco returning to King City on Sunday evening with a new Case “25” touring car.[58] 

Also in May 1915, WJ Hamilton has resigned from his management position at the H-A-F Co, and began selling the Idaho “Case” harvesters to the grain farmers in the Salinas Valley.[59]^,[60],[61],[62] Later that year, W. J. Hamilton and Frank E. Gause became partners establishing the Hamilton & Gause -El Camino- automotive garage in King City.[63]

Will and Adela Hamilton did not spend all their time working, as in September 1915, the couple vacationed on three-week automobile trip visiting San Francisco, Sacramento and various locations in the San Joaquin Valley.[64]  

Several years after opening the El Camino Garage automotive garage, Hamilton began sell not only Ford automobiles, but Fordson tractors to the farmers of the Salinas Valley.[65]^, [66]

A description of the the El Camino Garage located at 141 Broadway Street appeared in the journal, Building and Engineering News in November 1922.

Clean Walls and Orderly Shop is one of the greatest drawing influences that can be brought to bear on customers. Some garage owners will maintain it is impossible to be had in the face of the conditions of this work but WJ Hamilton and FE Gause proprietors of the El Camino Real Garage King City Calif have a garage that rivals a department store for cleanliness and the manner of showing its merchandise.         

Above this garage the two partners have built living apartments thus saving themselves considerable rent money.^[67]

The two-story structure, constructed at a cost of $10, 000, was designed by the architects Wyckoff & White.[68]

In 1918 the King City Rustler mentioned a property transaction recognizing that Will and George Hamilton apparently sold their acreage that was part of the San Bernabe Rancho “Deed W. J. Hamilton et ux and G. W. Hamilton et ux to C. Lenini and A. Nicolli August 21 $10. 203 acre Bernabe rancho” [69] It is of interest to remember that 1886, Miss Euna Hamilton, then a teacher in the Salinas schools, along with one of her brothers, leased a portion of the San Lorenzo ranch, near Kings City, and prepared to put in a crop, which presumably either wheat or barley.

A year later, in 1919, Adela Hamilton passed away due to complications from contracting influenza. “The demise of Mrs. Hamilton is the indirect result of her tireless and unselfish efforts during the influenza epidemic of last autumn, when with her husband she worked night and day nursing and caring for the sick.” [70]

According to the Federal Census of 1920, Will Hamilton was living with Frank and Mattie Gause in King City, presumably in each of their own apartments, which were located above the El Camino garage. In the Census, Hamilton was listed as a partner, proprietor with half interest in the garage located at 141 Broadway, King City. [Current Address 120/121 Broadway, King City].[71]After Adela’s death, on May 25, 1921, W. J. Hamilton, (age 56) married Lucy McCandless (age 42), who’d relocated from Colorado a year earlier and was employed as secretary and bookkeeper of the El Camino Garage.[72]

McCANDLESS-HAMILTON

They went and “done” it! Some of their friends suspected what was up when they left here for the north the other day, and laid for them at the roadside with all the old shoes they had been able to requisition; but Bill “stepped on ’er,” hitting it up to around 40 or 46, and the shower of leather fell short of its mark. Next day, in the marriage license column of a city paper, appeared this legend: “W. J. Hamilton and Lucy McCandless, both of King City.” Of course such a story in the S. F. daily convicted the fleeing pair of the intent accredited to them by their friends when they made their getaway, and a telephone to Mrs. Cause Tuesday carried the final proof. W. J, Hamilton and Mrs. Lucy McCandless were married at the home of Mrs. Meese, a mutual friend, at high noon Tuesday; a sister of the bride having come all the way from Kansas to be present. “Bill,” Hamilton is one of the garage firm of Hamilton & Gause and has quite extended landed interests hereabout; is a member of the city council, prominent in the chamber of commerce, a good booster for King City and Monterey county and extremely popular in social circles. The bride came from Denver something over a year ago to take charge of the Hamilton & Gause books. A charming, gracious lady, she not only made friends of all she met in a business way at the office, but was received with open arms by society und soon became one of its prime favorites. The romance that has culminated so happily has been watched with pleasure by the many friends of the pair as it progressed, and when they return, King City will be ready with a reception they long will remember.[73]

In 1922, Hamilton bought Frank Gause’s interests in the El Camino Garage, therby making him sole owner of the business.[74]Six years later, in 1928, WJ Hamilton sold his business in King City and moved with his wife to San Francisco, taking up residence at 1895 Jackson Street.[75] John and Olive Steinbeck traveled to the city and spent time visiting Will and Lucy Hamilton in San Francisco in November of that year.[76]

Two years later, Hamilton and his wife left San Francisco for a world tour. Unfortunately, after visiting France, William fell gravely ill on the cruise liner and required surgery. WJ Hamilton passed away March 25, 1930 at age sixty-six. When his body arrived in Salinas, his remains were taken to the home of his sister, Mrs. J. E. Steinbeck, 130 Central Avenue. Services conducted in accordance with the Masonic organization, with J. A. Tancock, rector of the Salinas and King City Episcopal churches officiating. [77]

Will Hamilton was a member of the King City Masonic Lodge, patron of the Salinas Order of Eastern Star, Salinas, Reveille Chapter (his sister Olive was also a member) and member of the Salinas Elks Lodge No. 614. The funeral was held at the Masonic Temple in Salinas³⁶ under the auspices of Salinas Lodge, No. 204 F. & A. M. John Steinbeck, who was twenty-eight years old, may well have attended the funeral.

Interment took place in Salinas I. O. O. F. cemetery[78] under the auspices of Salinas Lodge, No. 204 F. & A. M. [79]

GEORGE WASHINGTON HAMILTON

George W. Hamilton was born in San Jose California in 1869. The Federal Census of 1870 and 1880 recorded GW Hamilton living with the family in Salinas.[80]^{, [81]} Growing up in Salinas, he most probably attended grade school and high school associated with the community.

CENTRAL MILLING COMPANY

KING CITY (1890-1899)

Records indicate that a decade later George Hamilton had moved to South Monterey County, registering to vote at the age of twenty-one in King City on October 4, 1890.[82]He again registered to vote two years later, on October 10, 1892, in King City, the same day his brother WJ Hamilton registered to vote.[83]

According to the Salinas Daily Index October 25, 1892, the Central Milling Company’s King City Flour Mill had caught on fire, the resulting work of arsonists. George Hamilton, who lived across the street from the Mill, was awakened whereupon he grabbed a bucket of water and extinguished the flames. The Directory for Monterey County - King City for 1892 having listed George Hamilton as a clerk suggests that George held the position of shipping clerk at the Central Milling Company or possibly the Southern Pacific Milling Company.

OnApril 15, 1896, George Hamilton of King City married Mary Frances “Mamie” Dempsey of Paso Robles, at the residence of the groom's parents. The next day the couple passed through Salinas, en route to Pacific Grove for a stay at the Hotel El Carmelo.^[84] On March 4, 1897, George and Mamie Hamilton’s first child, Marion was born. In December 1897, the couple and child traveled to Salinas to spend the holidays with Dessie Hamilton.[85] Two years later, in October 1899, tragedy struck when George and Mamie Hamilton’s when Marion Hamilton passed away. [86]

SPERRY FLOUR MILL

SALINAS (1899-1904)

The Salinas Index November 23, 1899 wrote that “George Hamilton, a former Salinas-ite came up from Paso Robles to assume the position of shipping clerk for the Sperry Flour Company.” [87]

 Numerous mentions in the San Luis Obispo Telegram suggest that between 1900 and 1904, George and Mamie Hamilton were living in Salinas. During their time in Salinas the couple lived at the “Old Menor cottage” on Archer street.[88]

During these years both the San Luis Obispo Telegram and the Salinas Daily Index mention George Hamilton traveling to King City and Paso Robles on business and family visits. Mrs. George Hamilton was also frequently mentioned as traveling to Paso Robles to visit family. According to the Salinas Daily Index April 14, 1900, George Hamilton had returned to his home in Salinas from Hollister where he had been working a flour mill. This newspaper announcement furthers our understanding of how interconnected the Sperry Flour Mills were at the time, utilizing employees from the various mills when needed.

The couple had a second daughter, Dorothy, born November 25, 1902, in Salinas.[89]

SPERRY FLOUR MILL

PASO ROBLES (1904-1925)

According to the Salinas Daily Index Aug 17, 1904, the Sperry Milling Company appointed J.E. Steinbeck, manager of the district’s company mill, which consisted of Salinas, Hollister and Paso Robles.[90]As a result of the change in management, George Hamilton was chosen as manager of the Paso Robles mill, resulting in he and his family leaving Salinas for Paso Robles.

In October 1904, an announcement appeared recognizing GW Hamilton as the manager for the Sperry Flour Company in Paso Robles.[91]Three years later, a son George Washington Hamilton, born January 5, 1907, in Paso Robles.[92]^,[93]

For the next several decades the Salinas Daily Index mentioned Mr. and Mrs. George Hamilton frequent travels to Salinas for family visits.

During his later years as an agent of the Sperry Flour Co. George Hamilton found himself dividing his time between the Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo office. In 1912, to better enable his semi-monthly visits to the San Luis Obispo office, the Sperry Co. provided George Hamilton with a car, an E. M. F., to commute back and forth rather than traveling via the Southern Pacific train.[94] The name E-M-F was obtained from the initials of the three company founders: Barney Everitt, William Metzger, and Walter Flanders. GW Hamilton worked for the Sperry Flour Co. though 1925.

CANARY COTTAGE REALTY EXCHANGE

PASO ROBLES

After leaving the Sperry Flour Co., George became a successful insurance and real estate broker. He and Mamie Hamilton’s business, named the Canary Cottage Realty Exchange, was located at 1208 Spring Street in Paso Robles, California.

According to Federal Census of 1910 and 1920, the family resided at 137 Vine Street, Paso Robles, California. [95]^{, [96]}According to Federal Census of 1930, the family was living at 1381 Chestnut Street, George Sr. and George Jr. were insurance salesmen and his daughter Dorothy was a secretary at the high school.[97]^.

According to the Salinas Daily Index dated November 12, 1927, John and Olive Steinbeck had spent the weekend in King City visiting with Mr. and Mrs. WJ Hamilton and attending the birthday celebration for George W. Hamilton of Paso Robles.

According to the Salinas Daily Index : Those present included Mr. and Mrs. George W. Hamilton, Miss Dorothy Hamilton, and Mr. Frank Wetzel, all of Paso Robles, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Steinbeck of Salinas, George W. Hamilton Jr. of King City…[98]

According to the Federal Census of 1940, the family (George W., Mary F. and daughter Dorothy resided at 1720 Filbert Street, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, California. George Hamilton was listed as an insurance broker with a private office and his daughter Dorothy Hamilton was a secretary at the high school. Rowena B Wetzel - sister-in-law and Mary F. Fitzgerald, a boarder, were living with the family.[99] On August 24, 1941 George Washington Hamilton, at age seventy one, passed away and buried in the Old Mission Cemetery of Paso Robles, California.[100] John Steinbeck was thirty-nine years old at the time of his uncles passing.

JOSEPH REUBEN HAMILTON

On May 28, 1877, the youngest child of the Hamilton family, Joseph Reuben Hamilton was born in Salinas. According to the San Jose City Directory including Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties (1892), JR Hamilton was living in Salinas with his elder sister, Dessie, attending high school.[101]

Joe Hamilton was a student Stanford University for four years, from 1897 to 1901. A note in the King City Rustler, August 28, 1898 mentioned, Joseph Hamilton’s was returning to Stanford University where he would resume his studies. mention in the Salinas Daily Index December 23, 1899, “Joe Hamilton passed through Salinas yesterday en route south.” These short mentions suggest Joe may have spent time on the ranch near King City. A mention in the Salinas Daily Index January 10, 1900, mentioned Joe Hamilton, a correspondent for the San Francisco Examiner was traveling from the south in a train bound for San Francisco.[102]

 On April 5, 1902, Joseph Hamilton married Augusta Moskowitz. The couple had one child, Elsa Jean Hamilton, who married the photographer Charles W. Cushman on June 21, 1924.[103]

A mention in the Salinas Daily Index July 2, 1902, mentioned Joe Hamilton and his wife had traveled to Salinas from San Francisco to visit relatives.

JR Hamilton briefly pursued a career in journalism but redirected his writing skills to become a leading figure in the world of advertising.[104]  His career began working in advertising for the San Francisco furniture store, M. Friedman & Co. By 1906, he had become head of advertising division of Prager's Department Store on the northeast corner of Market and Jones Streets.^[105]

A description as to JR Hamilton’s reaction to the 1906 earthquake, which resulted in the total destruction of Pragar’s was retold in print several times, including the following mention in Fourth Estate: A Weekly Newspaper for Publishers, Advertisers in 1917.

It took an earthquake to give Mr. Hamilton his upward start but he never stopped climbing While seismograph was still fluttering the eyes of the world were the outcome at San Francisco, Mr. Hamilton treaded his way through the city that was still burning to old Prager store.

 He then assembled the best store stock possible under the conditions, covered it with tarpaulins and above it restored the old sign board, “Prager's.”

Then when the street car strike hit on top of the earthquake he secured hayracks, coal wagons and any other vehicles that moved and established a bus-line in which transportation was free.

Each vehicle bore the slogan, “Prager's the Only Store that Dared to Come Back.” He had foreseen the strike, had tied up under contract every vehicle that ran on wheels and Prager's business increased 150 percent, while other businesses were closing their doors.

 From Prager's, Mr. Hamilton went to the Jones Dry Goods Company, Kansas City as advertising manager. But even here there was not sufficient energy outlet and his next jump was to the position of advertising manager of John Wanamaker's store. Here he advertised everything from peanuts to pianos and even wrote poetry about dish pans.

Mr. Hamilton left Wanamaker's to join Herbert Kauffman in the Kauffman - Handy Agency. Mr. Hamilton is known best as an advertising copywriter - a writer of terse, close-coupled epigrammatic English which brings such quick and immediate conviction to the reader.

But what is not generally known is that he is and has been for years a student of the basic underlying sciences, social psychology, biology, and anthropology, which have given him a thorough understanding of human responses and how to produce them.

 Besides his regular advertising agency work, he counsels with over forty newspapers and over ten stores…[106]

In 1912, after leaving the Kauffman - Handy Agency, Joseph established his own business, the JR Hamilton Advertising Agency on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago. The family residence was located in the upscale Hotel Plaisance located at Jackson Park & Midway in Chicago.  Within a decade, Hamilton had established himself as one of the foremost advertising experts in the country.[107] Through the years, the Salinas Daily Index often mentioned his visits home with a mention in the paper.

In June of 1941, JR Hamilton and wife Augusta, purchased their Hyde Park residence (5557 South Kenwood Avenue), an upscale neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

Two years later, on January 3, 1943, JR Hamilton, suffered a heart attack and passed away at the age of sixty-five. He was a member of the Stanford University, Quadrangle and the South Shores County Clubs.^[108] JR Hamilton saw his nephew, John Steinbeck, whom he once got a job as a reporter in the newspaper business, the New York American, in 1926, become a Pulitzer prize winning author, fourteen years later. Steinbeck was forty years old at the time of his uncle’s passing.

REFERENCES