“He is naturally a smart man but has frittered away the best part of his life and will never do anything worthy of himself.”

“Col. [William S.] Hamilton was a man of great natural ability, a good education, and correct personal habits. He was Indifferent to the conventionalities of life, and paid no attention to the claims of society. Slovenly and careless in his dress, he was yet cleanly in his person, and the gentleman always shone out from under his some what uncouth garb, Under all this exterior he wore a golden heart. He was the soul of probity and honor. Just, liberal, honest, and generous, his hand was always as open as the day to deeds of charity and benevolence … it is fitting that some friendly hand should trace his personal and political history as connected therewith. No man could do this better than Mr. Woodman. He and Col. H. were residents together many years in the same county (Iowa) in Wisconsin, and wore steadfast friends … no man knew Col. Hamilton better than he did.”

“The wanderlust of William Stephen Hamilton during his life, his mysterious whereabouts, his anchorite tendencies, his never-known place of abode, seemed to influence his body after death. As he was in life, so he was in death.”