Judge Frank Hamilton

Frank Hamilton was born near Clarksburg in Decatur County on April 2, 1883.  He graduated from Clarksburg High School in 1900 and attended Butler University for one year before completing his degree at Indiana University.  He received his law degree from the Indiana Law School at Indianapolis in 1905. 

On December 14, 1907, he married Mary Frances Isgrigg, with whom he had two sons, William and Frank.

He was admitted to the bars of Decatur County and the Indiana Supreme Court in June 1905.  He practiced law in Greensburg from 1905 to 1929, beginning with a year in the office of Tackett & Wilson, then, from 1907 to 1912 as the junior member of Ewing & Hamilton.  In 1912 he formed his own firm with two partners, Osborn, Hamilton & Harding, later Osborn & Hamilton.  He and John Osborn were then joined by Judge Hugh Wickens to form Wickens, Osborn & Hamilton, which later became Wickens & Hamilton.

Judge Hamilton served as Decatur County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney from 1907 to 1909 and Greensburg’s City Attorney from 1919 to 1929.  He was Secretary of the Decatur County Republican Central Committee from 1910 to 1912.

In 1930, he moved to Terre Haute to practice law, first with Hamill, Hickey & Hamilton, then as a solo practitioner and with his son, William.  While residing in Terre Haute, Judge Hamilton served on the Republican Board of Election Commissioners of Vigo County.  He was Counsel for the School Board of Terre Haute for a year in 1944.

In 1943, he was appointed First Deputy Attorney General under Attorney General James A. Emmert, who later became a member of the Indiana Supreme Court.

Judge Hamilton was elected as a Republican to the Indiana Appellate Court and took his seat on January 1, 1945.  He served for one four-year term, including as Chief Judge for the May 1946 session.  He was nominated by the Republican Party for re-election but was defeated in 1948 general election.

After leaving the court, Judge Hamilton returned to Greensburg to practice law, specializing in Appellate Procedure.  His son Frank joined the firm in 1951.  Judge Hamilton was appointed to the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, where he served until his death.

Judge Hamilton was a member of the Clarksburg Masonic Lodge and the Greensburg Presbyterian Church.  He was Past Exalted Ruler of the Elks Lodge at Greensburg and Past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 148.

After a brief illness, he died in Indianapolis on February 10, 1952 at the age of 68.