Henry Hamilton was born in April 1832 in Niagara Falls, New York. His parents were Louis and Clarissa Condol Hamilton. Hamilton married on August 6, 1878 to Jennie A. Washington, a native of Ohio. They were the parents of three daughters, Edith May, Adelaide and Catherine.
Henry moved to Buffalo with his family circa 1880. However, he had worked as a photographer in Niagara Falls as early as 1875 and continued this occupation for many years after his move to Buffalo. City Directories or census records identify his job as photographer through the 1890s. Later he had several career changes. He worked for General Electric Company in 1900 and as a janitor in 1902. He continued to work as a photographer, too. He is remembered in an article on early Black residents, written by Rev. J. Edward Nash, as a successful caterer.
Henry died on October 18, 1931. He is buried in the Acacia Park Cemetery in Niagara Falls, New York.
