HON. LLOYD F. HAMILTON is a noted lawyer of Springfield who stands among the most eminent members of the bar of this State, both for his legal ability and forensic power. He is a Kentuckian by birth, born in Meade County, near Brandenburg, April 25, 1844, but by adoption is a son of Illinois, as he was reared and educated mostly in this State. His parents were Felix J. and Jane E. (Wathen) Hamilton. His father was a native of Kentucky, as were his parents before him, coming of an old pioneer family of that State, and there he was reared to the life of a farmer. While yet in life's prime his career was brought to an untimely close by his death in October, 1844. His wife was thus left a widow with the care of their little son - Lloyd F. She brought him to Tazewell County, this State, where her father and brothers had settled in 1832. She was a resident thereafter of Illinois, although property interests kept her a part of the time in Kentucky. She died in Springfield March 6, 1886.

Our subject was but a few months old when his father died and he was then taken from his place of birth to Illinois, as before mentioned, and has ever since made his home in this State. He attended the common schools and there laid the solid foundation of a liberal education. He afterward entered Eureka College where he passed the years of 1861-62-63 and a part of '64. His preferences for a profession in life pointed to the law, and he attended a session of the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, having previously studied with Judge Schofield, of Marshall, Ill., in 1865. He subsequently became a student at the Union College of Law, at Chicago, from which he was graduated with honor, and at once came to Springfield to establish himself in practice, having passed a very successful examination for admission to the bar before the Supreme Court. He formed a partnership with Paren England in 1866 and about a year after associated himself with Thomas G. Pickett. They continued together three years and then formed a partnership with Charles H. Rice, which lasted four years. After being alone for awhile our subject became a partner of Robert L. McGuire. In February, 1882, he and James W. Patton entered into a partnership which still continues, and they have an extensive practice. In 1886 Mr. Hamilton and Miss Lucy Fletcher were united in marriage, their wedding taking place May 16. In their pleasant home two children have come to them - Walthem and Macie.

Mr. Hamilton is a man of keen perceptions, possessing a quick, intuitive mind and other characteristics which, with his splendid reputation, with his splendid knowledge of the law, has won him a lasting reputation before the bar of this State. Most of his life has been passed in this Commonwealth and he has won triumphs in its courts, in its legislative halls and as an incumbent of important civic offices. He has tried many celebrated cases. He, Judge Matheny and Mr. Knopp were the counsel for Robbins, who was tried for killing Bancroft and they secured his acquittal. Robbins was City Marshal and had a warrant for the arrest of Bancroft who barricaded himself in his home and Robbins shot him. Our subject, James W. Patton, and Mr. A. Orendorff, skillfully defended Thomas Humphreys for the killing of Patrick Shaughnessy, Mr. Hamilton entering a plea of insanity that cleared his client. In the case of Mrs. Arnold, who had killed her husband in an altercation with him, she was ably defended by our subject and his partner, Mr. Patton, who secured her acquittal on the ground that she committed the murder in self-protection.

Mr. Hamilton was City Attorney two terms and immediately upon the expiration of his incumbency of that office he was elected State's Attorney for one term and continued to hold that office until January, 1877, he being one of the most energetic and able prosecutors that had served the commonwealth in that capacity for a long time. In 1882 his fellow citizens honored him and themselves by electing him to the State Senate and his record as a legislator showed him to be animated with true public spirit and regard for the welfare of Illinois. He is a Democrat in politics and cast his first Presidential vote for Seymour.