21 Facts About Ezra Hamilton

Ezra M Hamilton was a pioneer known for his role in the development of Antelope Valley, California.

Ezra Hamilton founded and developed the nearby town of Willow Springs.

Ezra Hamilton was an inventor, farmer, mason and businessman, served on the Los Angeles Common Council, volunteered in the Rogue River Wars and served two years in the Union Army.

On his journey West he fell in love with a young woman, but they were prevented from marrying by Ezra Hamilton's stubborn desire to first make his fortune prospecting in California.

Ezra Hamilton returned to Minnesota after the American Civil War and there he found another woman, Sarah Landson, and they were married in 1861; they lived in the Minneapolis area.

Ezra Hamilton married again, to Harriet Moffett, and they had four sons, Fred, Truman, Eugene and Lester.

Ezra Hamilton was a commander of the Kenesaw post of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Ezra Hamilton died in Willow Springs, California, on July 4,1914, the tenth anniversary of his marriage to Harriet, and he was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Los Angeles.

Ezra Hamilton left his widow and three sons, Fred of Willow Springs, Lester of Avenue 23 and Trumon of Rosamond.

Ezra Hamilton served for two years in the First Minnesota Regiment of the Union Army during the Civil War.

In Los Angeles Ezra Hamilton began manufacturing pottery, clay pipe, tile and bricks.

In October 1897 Ezra Hamilton was just a "poor old soldier receiving a pension of six dollars a month" when he filed a 300-by-500-yard mineral claim in the Antelope Valley, California, ninety-six miles north of Los Angeles, five miles west of Rosamond and three miles east of Willow Springs.

Ezra Hamilton retained an adjacent mine, which he named Fay.

Ezra Hamilton was sued by Helen Frick, who claimed she had been a partner in the claim but that he had misled her as to the mine's worth and bought her share for only $500.

Ezra Hamilton asked that the sale be set aside as fraudulent and that Hamilton account to her for all the profits.

Ezra Hamilton nevertheless retained ownership of mining property in the area until:.

Ezra Hamilton was elected president of the Los Angeles County Greenback Party at a convention in September 1882.

Ezra Hamilton was elected as an independent to represent the 1st Ward on the Los Angeles Common Council for a one-year term beginning December 1878 and was elected again for two one-year terms beginning in 1883 and 1884.

Ezra Hamilton compiled an 842-page autobiographical manuscript during the last years of his life.

Ezra Hamilton used the initial proceeds from his gold mine to buy a 160-acre parcel of land three miles to the west.

Ezra Hamilton spent several years developing Willow Springs into a resort town, and many of the stone buildings he constructed are still standing.