McComas, Hamilton C.

Born: 1831-11-09 West Virginia

Died: 1883-03-28 New Mexico

Flourished: 1855 to 1865 Monticello, Illinois

Born in Cabell County, West Virginia, Hamilton C. McComas was an attorney, a notary public, county judge, and Democrat. After studying law, he gained admittance to the bar at age twenty two. He practiced law in Cabell County for two years, then relocated to Monticello, Illinois, where he practiced until 1868. In 1857, the members of the Illinois General Assembly appointed him notary public for Piatt County. In 1858, he served as one of the county's delegates to the pro-James Buchanan Democratic State Convention in Springfield, Illinois. The voters of Piatt County later also elected him county judge. In June 1859, he married Louisa K. Pratt, with whom he had at least one child. By 1860, he owned $2,500 in real and personal property. During the Civil War, he served in the 107th Illinois Infantry at the rank of lieutenant colonel, mustering in on September 4, 1862 and resigning on February 6, 1863. He and his second wife were murdered by Apache raiders near Lordsburg, New Mexico. Their young son, Charles, was kidnapped by the raiders and never located.