Otho N. Hamilton was born to James Gorden Hamilton and Louisa Fugate Thurston Hamilton. He was married to Phoebe Amelia Wickiser and they had the following children: James L., Francis M., William S., Mary L., Curt L., and Nicholas A. He was a soldier in the Civil War, a private with the 43rd Indiana Volunteers, Company G.

Hamilton, Otho Neal, 43rd IN Infantry, Co G. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Mark's Mill, Arkansas on April 25, 1864 and incarcerated at Camp Ford, Tyler, Texas. On August 10, 1864, he and two comrades succeeded in escaping from the prison, and traveling nights, they had got away about 123 miles when he was recaptured. The Lieutenant who captured him, took him to a Texas State militia, where he was hung by the neck to a tree to make him disclose the whereabouts of his companions. They repeated this until he became unconscious, when they sent him back to prison, where he remained until 2/26/1865. He contracted scurvy while a prisoner of war at Tyler in the summer of 1864. He was discharged with the rank of Sergeant on June 15, 1865 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Brazil Weekley Democrat 12 March 1914 page 2:

Otho N. Hamilton, an old soldier and prominent citizen of Posey Township for many years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. George C. Ripple, at Staunton, at 5:15 o'clock this morning after a protracted illness of general debility at the age of 69 years.

The deceased was born in Warren County, Ohio, but his parents came to Indiana when he was a boy and settled in Posey Township. At the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted in the 43rd Indiana Volunteers and served four years in the rebellion as a private in Company G. The deceased was prominent in army circles in this county and served for several years as secretary of the Regimental Association of the 43rd, which holds its annual reunions of the regiment as he was one of the active workers of the organization

The deceased was a member of the Masonic fraternity of this city and served one term as trustee of Posey Township. He was united in marriage to Phoebe A. Wickiser of Ohio. To this union six children were born, of whom four sons and a daughter survive, as follows: J. L. Hamilton of Staunton; F. M. Hamilton, of Terre Haute; W. S. Hamilton, of Staunton; Mrs. Mae L. Ripple, of Staunton, and N. A. Hamilton, of Staunton. The deceased is also survived by the widow, three sisters and four brothers, as follows: Mrs. T. C. Greene, of Riley, Ind., Mrs. Mary E. Miller, Terre Haute; Mrs. Cora N. Harris, Faillsville, Ark., Charles Hamilton, of Riley, Ind., Frank Hamilton of Cloverland, and Chance Hamilton of Socita.

The funeral services will be held at the Ripple home at Staunton Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. Interment will be made in the Rhule Cemetery.