Ernest Elbert Hamilton, a specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, is one of the most prominent members of the medical profession in Wichita, and one of the foremost specialists in his line in the state. Dr. Hamilton was born in Halsey Valley, Tioga county, New York, Nov. 2, 1855, the son of Simon V. Hamilton and his wife, who, before her marriage was a Miss Melissa D. Fox. The Hamiltons are of Scotch descent. The father, a native of New York state, as was also the mother, spent the whole of his active career in agricultural pursuits. Both parents are deceased.

Dr. Hamilton was reared on a farm, but when a youth of fourteen years the family removed to Waverly, N. Y., where he completed his literary education and was graduated at the high school. For some time thereafter engaged in teaching, thus earning the means to pursue his professional education, having decided on medicine as his line of endeavor. He was graduated in the medical department of the University of Michigan in 1878 and practiced his profession at Solomon City, Kan., from 1878 to 1880. The next five years he was located at Garnett, Kan., in the general practice of medicine, and then in 1885-86 spent one year in the New York post-graduate school on special work on eye, ear, nose and throat. On his return to Kansas in 1887 he located at Wichita, where for the past quarter of a century he has given his whole attention to the treatment of diseases affecting the ear, eye, nose and throat. By study, observation and experience he has acquired a thorough knowledge of his profession and very ably and successfully handles his extensive and constantly growing practice along his special lines. Dr. Hamilton is a member of the Sedgwick County Medical Society, the Kansas State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and of the National Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Society. Fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason, and in church faith and membership is identified with the First Presbyterian Church at Wichita. He is also a member of the Wichita Chamber of Commerce and of the Commercial Club. He takes a deep interest in all that pertains to the greater development of his adopted city and by twenty-five years of successful business activity has contributed his part toward the prosperity of the city and the increase of its commercial importance.

In 1891 Dr. Hamilton wedded Miss Ora L. Worden, and to their union one daughter has been born, Miss Avis M. Hamilton, who is a graduate of the Wichita High School, and is now a post-graduate student in that school.