The History of Hamilton Law Firm

A.D. Baillie

A.D. Baillie was a highly respected attorney and district court judge in the late 1800's, well known throughout Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. After a successful career as county attorney, Mr. Baillie formed the original law firm in 1876 with Robert Sisson, an old college buddy, real estate dealer and financier. The partnership with Mr. Sisson lasted 3 years and the law firm was established and continued to grow.

Following the Civil War, the late 1800's was a time of great disillusionment. Jesse and Frank James (pictured on the right), along with cousin Cole Younger, put together the most notorious, celebrated criminal gang of the American West. The James-Younger Gang began a massive crime spree robbing banks, stage coaches and trains, frustrating law enforcement officials in the Midwest from 1866 to 1875. It is reputed that A.D. Baillie presided over a trial of several members of the James-Younger Gang after a robbery at Albert City Bank and the gang's subsequent fiasco attempting to rob the Bank at Northfield, Minnesota.

A.D. Baillie is the great grandfather of Willis, Steven, Mary and Jim Hamilton Jr. - the attorneys and key personnel of Hamilton Law Firm, P.C. Mr. Baillie is also the father-in-law of Willis C. Edson.

Willis C. Edson

The Firm took the name of Edson and Edson Law Firm when Willis Charles Edson joined. Mr. Edson had a long, successful legal and political career, having practiced law in Storm Lake for over sixty years. W.C. Edson was a member of the Iowa State Legislature from 1919 to 1927 and he served as Speaker of the House of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1925 to 1926. In 1925 he was nominated as the republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Iowa.

Willis C. Edson was one of the greatest football players in the history of Iowa. After starring two years at Iowa State University and then two years at the University of Iowa, he was named All American football player in 1901. He was called Willie "Billy" Edson and was one of the first All Americans from Iowa. He is in the All Time Lineups at both Iowa State and University of Iowa, and was the 8th person inducted into the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame (click here) in 1959.

Edson Hall, Buena Vista University

In 1997, Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa renovated its field house previously known as Victory Hall (Built in 1902) into a fine arts center. In 1962 the field house was renamed Edson Hall in honor of Willis C. Edson.

Willis C. Edson is the grandfather of the attorneys and personnel of Hamilton Law Firm.

University of Iowa Historical Archive Information for Willis C. Edson

James R. Hamilton

James R. "Bones" Hamilton served as Captain in the Army Air Force during World War II. After World War II, he joined Willis Edson and the Firm became Edson and Hamilton in Storm Lake. Mr. Hamilton had a long and significant career as a trial attorney. He served as a member of the Iowa Conservation Commission acting as it's Chairman from 1968 to 1969. In 1977, James R. Hamilton was elected to the position of President of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers. Bones was also a friend of Major League Baseball Pitcher and Hall of Famer Bob Feller who played for Cleveland Indians.

James R. Hamilton is the father of the Willis, Steven, Mary and Jim Hamilton Jr. In 1975 the Firm was renamed the Hamilton Law Firm, P.C., a name that it has carried since.