Person:Susan Saunders (2)

Research Notes

• cos1776 Note: Robert and Susan went to Nicholas County, Kentucky to marry. Both of their families were originally from there. Distance from Washington Twp, Decatur County, Indiana to Nicholas County, Kentucky is approx 150 miles!

1.   Family Recorded, in A Genealogical and biographical record of Decatur County, Indiana: compendium of national biography. (Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company, 1900).

   ... Miss Susan Saunders, who was born in this county, April 5, 1828, a daughter of James and Cynthia (Hall) Saunders, both natives of Nicholas county, Kentucky, where their marriage occurred. In 1821 they came to Indiana, and the father entered land where the town of Clarksburg now stands. He made good improvements on the place, and after twelve years sold the property and purchased a tract of land southwest of Greensburg, where he developed a good farm. In 1855, however, he removed to Iowa, where his death occurred, July 7, 1864. His wife passed away in Decatur county, at the home of her daughter Susan, April 28, 1873. ...

2.   Family Recorded, in Atlas of Decatur Co., Indiana: to which are added various general maps, history, statistics, illustrations. (Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1882)
   78.

   ... ... married to Susan, daughter of James and Cynthia (Hall) Saunders, the event taking place February 7, 1849. Immediately after the marriage, they moved to his present home farm, taking up their residence in one of the first brick houses built in the county, and which is still standing in a good state of preservation near his present residence.
   
   The union of R. A. Hamilton with Susan Saunders has been productive of the following children:
   - Inez,
   - Philander (deceased),
   - Lulie, an infant son (deceased),
   - James (deceased) and
   - James H.
   
   Mr Hamilton's first land - 190 acres - was given him by his father for his services on the old home place before marriage, for which R. A. was to pay one-fourth the purchase price, which he did. It was in bad condition. R. A., however, went at the improvement with a will and kept on steadily at work until he brought it to a high state of cultivation. To the 190 acres he has added largely from time to time till he is now the possessor of one of the largest and most productive farms in the county. He is also the owner of the old home place — 400 acres — buying out the heirs at his father's death, being determined to keep the 79 home of his childhood in the family. He made the deed to his son, James H., who is to take possession at the age of twenty-five years. Mr. Hamilton has made farming his life's work and is a model farmer. His farm is so divided into fields that he can utilize every portion of it. He makes a specialty of stock, paying especial attention to the fattening of large fine cattle for the Eastern market. His herds of fat cattle are unsurpassed in this part of the country, and revel in rich pasturage, the best of blue grass. Though a farmer by occupation, the subject of this sketch has taken an active part in many enterprises. Whatever he goes into, he goes at with his whole soul, and allows no one to out-do him in general improvement. He has taken special care in the education of his children, realizing that that would be the most enduring of all that he could possibly give them.
   
   His only surviving son, James H., is at present attending Hanover College.
   His only daughter, Inez, was married, in 1871, to D, W. Howe, Franklin, Johnson Co., Ind They subsequently removed to Indianapolis, where they now reside. Judge Howe is a lawyer of ability and prominence. Mr. Hamilton is a man of fine social qualities, loves a good story and is ever ready to give or take a joke. His residence, four miles northeast of Greensburg, is a handsome, substantial brick, and is supplied without and within with the comforts and luxuries of life. He feels that his life's success has been on the farm and there he intends to live and die.
   
   Mrs. Hamilton was the daughter of James and Cynthia (Hall) Saunders, whose grandparents came to America from Ireland at an early day. Mr. Saunders settled in Decatur County in 1821, and was a prominent man in early settlement, as well as a very popular one. He represented this district in the Legislature - elected by the Whig party. ...

   Mrs. Susan (Saunders) Hamilton