William Samuel Hamill
City of Troy

This biography is from Troy and Rensselaer County, New York, Volume III, by Rutherford Hayner, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., New York and Chicago, 1925. It was submitted by Debby Masterson.

WILLIAM SAMUEL HAMILL, a native son of Troy, has devoted the strength of his life to the upbuilding of Troy's interest, and is the executive head of one of the city's important construction companies that has reared, all over Northern New York, buildings that will long stand as monuments to the genius and skill of Troy architects, engineers, and builders. His father, John C. Hamill, is yet living in Troy, retired from business cares. Mrs. Nora L. (Goggin) Hamill, mother of William S. Hamill, died July 7, 1902.

William S. Hamill, son of John C. and Nora L. (Goggin) Hamill, was born in Troy, New York, November 16, 1881. He attended St. Peter's Academy until prepared for entrance to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, whence he was graduated with the degree of Civil Engineer, class of 1904, and was elected president of his class in 1914. The year of his graduation he entered the employ of the city of Troy as assistant engineer at the water works, but he soon resigned his position to become a member of the engineering staff of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad as assistant engineer in the Maintenance of Way Department. In March, 1905, he made another change by forming a connection with the engineering department of the Hudson Valley Construction Company and the C. P. Boland Company as engineer. He continued as engineer with these important companies until 191 1, when he resigned and organized the W. S. Hamill Company. He conducted a successful business under that firm name until 1918, when he reorganized as the Hamill Construction Company, of which W. S. Hamill is proprietor.

The Hamill Construction Company conducts its operations in all parts of Northern New York, and has won high reputation. In Troy the company built Leonard Hospital, the Fire Alarm and Police Signal building, and the plant of the Albany Ice Cream Company; in the Rensselaer district, the Mannor School building; in the capital district, adjacent to Troy, the National Bank of Watervliet, the Holster Ice Cream Company building, the Ashgrove Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Manufacturing building. Municipal Gas Company in Albany ; the W. E. McEwan Company warehouse, the Tibbitts and Palmer office building and apartment building, the Albany Garage, the warehouse and factory of the Vulcanite Roofing Company, of Albany; the Pierce-Arrow Garage, and many residences all over the district; also the Foote Block Office building, and the Lee House, of Port Henry, New York; the Sherwood House, Burlington, Vermont, and the high school in Middlebury, Vermont; the company's books showing as high as 200 employees.

In 1914 Mr. Hamill organized the Lindenwood Realty Company, of which he has since been the efficient president and treasurer. This company purchased a large farm in the Lindenwood Park section of Troy, and has converted it into a beautiful residential addition to the city. Mr. Hamill is also engineer for the B. F, Feathers Realty and Construction Company.

At "tech" Mr, Hamill took part in the athletics of the school, was manager of the hockey team, and was a member of the baseball and cross country teams. He was president of the class of 1904, and a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He is an associate member of the American Society of Civil Engineers; of White Hall Council, Knights of Columbus; Troy Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and Laureate Boat Club, being a former member of the executive committee. His church relation is with St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, and he is also a member of St. Peter's Lyceum and St. Peter's Holy Name Society.

William S. Hamill married Ava Maria Bohrer, of Troy, New York, formerly of Forest Glen, Maryland, daughter of Julius S. and Annie (Lavin) Bohrer. Mr. and Mrs. Hamill are the parents of a son, John Gabriel, now a student in Troy High School.



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