Grant County Sheriff Frank Marshall Hamilton

 

Frank Marshall Hamilton’s time as a peace officer has been described as “colorful in the extreme”.  From Kansas to New Mexico to Oklahoma, Hamilton was the apodeme of an old west lawman.

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Frank M. Hamilton was born in Reno County, Kansas in 1873.  During Frank Hamilton’s long law enforcement career, he served as a deputy sheriff in Kansas, carried a deputy sheriff commission in New Mexico and finally in Oklahoma.

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When Hamilton was 17 years old, he began working for Swift and Company where he worked in Kansas and New Mexico.  While working in New Mexico, Hamilton mastered the Spanish language.  Hamilton was soon promoted to the position of range foreman for Swift and Company where he supervised 60 to 150 men.

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In 1902, Hamilton moved to a farm near Medford, Grant County Oklahoma.  Hamilton operated a farm and ranch operation in Beaver and Grant Counties until 1910.

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In the spring of 1914, Frank Hamilton threw his hat in the ring for Grant County, Oklahoma Sheriff.  Hamilton was on the Democrat ticket against several other candidates.  Hamilton won the election and served a two-year term in 1915 and 1916.  Hamilton won his second term in 1916 and served from 1917 to 1918. Hamilton ran for a third term but lost the election to Walter Baty in 1918.

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After the loss, Hamilton remained in the Medford community.  In August of 1921, Frank Hamilton was appointed as the Mayor of Medford, following the resignation of Lu Walker.  At the November town board meeting, Hamilton resigned as mayor but continued serving until March 22, 1922.  

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On March 23, 1922, Hamilton announced his Sheriff candidacy for the fourth time.  After the November election results were tallied, Frank Hamilton and M. O. Lester were tied.  The local newspaper wrote, the two are making a unique experiment in partisan politics through their decision to hold the office together the coming two years.  It was decided that both men would work together and fill the position of sheriff.

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On November 23, 1922, the Grant County election board settled the tied and deemed Hamilton the winner by one vote.  Lester was given the position of under sheriff.

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In 1924, Frank Hamilton ran for his fifth time for the position as Sheriff of Grant County.  Hamilton won and served a four-year term until 1928.

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In the 1928 sheriff race, Frank Hamilton lost to Ben Crider.  In January 1929, Crider retained Hamilton as his Under sheriff.  Hamilton served in that role until 1933.  Ben Crider lost the 1933 election to Glen Davis. 

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After Sheriff Ben Crider lost the election, Hamilton became the local tag agent, ending his law enforcement career.  Hamilton was one of the oldest members in the line of service in the Oklahoma Sheriff’s Association.  Hamilton continued to live in Grant County and work various positions in county government.  Most of Hamilton’s final working years were as a member of the county excise board.  In 1949, Hamilton was elected the Grant County Excise Board Chairman.  Hamilton worked for the board up until his death.

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On May 11, 1956, Frank Marshall Hamilton passed away and is buried in the Wakita Cemetery in Wakita, Grant County, Oklahoma.