JAMES E. HAMILTON, ... lost his father in 1817, and assumed the charge of the farm until the following year, when he was married to Jane McCoy, December 5, 1818. He remained in Kentucky until 1822, and, meanwhile, became the father of two sons
- Philander, born September 20, 1819, and
- Robert Alexander, born July 22, 1821.
He emigrated to Indiana in March of the year 1822, with his wife and sons, in company with his brother Cyrus and wife. At this time, Robert A. was only seven months of age, and some idea of the temper of the pioneers may be attained when one considers the father, mother and two little sons - one an infant - striking out into such a wilderness as Decatur County, without even a cabin to afford protection from the weather. They came, however, with a determination of making a place for themselves and their children, and time has amply proven the wisdom of their choice. Today a grateful posterity looks back with pride to those sturdy pioneer ancestors, and their memory is sacred.
After coming to Decatur County James E. Hamilton became the father of the following children:
- Margaret, born October 11, 1823; married William Madison McCoy January 9, 1844; now living in Rush County, Ind.; he died December 8, 1881.
- Nancy, born March 19, 1828; married J, C. Adams June 7, 1849; living at McCoy's Station, Ind; he died January 15, 1881.
- Mary E. born March 19, 1828; lives with her sister Nancy.
- James M., born December 24, 1833 ; died July, 1834.
- Fidelia, born August 1, 1837 ; married Michael Sefton February, 1860; he died in June, 1869; she married Charles Buckhannon, in September, 1871, and now lives in Boone County, Ind. ...
... His wife, Jane McCoy, was the daughter of Alexander and Nancy McCoy, Scotch emigrants, descendants of the Campbells, of Scotland, so illustrious in history. She was a woman who lived for her husband, children and home. She did all in her power to bring up her children in the fear of God and love of their fellow-man, and, by her own Christian life and character, was an example of what she professed. Though for many years previous to her death she was a great sufferer from that dread disease - cancer - she ever, through it all, evinced that fortitude only known to her sex. All efforts were made to check the dread disease, but with no success, though the greatest skill in the country was secured in her behalf. At last, all proving in vain, she returned home to spend the few days remaining with her loved ones. She died in 1851, mourned by her husband and children and the whole community. ...
