Biography of James R. Hamm - Conway Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cathy Barnes Date: 21 Jun 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. page 76 James R. Hamm, a leading citizen of Gregory Township, and the present County Judge of Conway County, was born in Tennessee, November 20, 1825. His parents, Buckley H. and Rachel (Muston) Hamm, were natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Alabama. To their union were born fourteen children, of which our subject is the third in number, and of whom five only are living now. Father was a farmer by occupation, and was an active and progressive man of his day and time. He held the office of Justice in Tennessee, and was quite prominent in politics. He died in April of 1855. His wife, now a lady of 85 years, is still living, and is a member of the Christian Church. Our subject received a limited education in the common schools of Tennessee, and at his majority, with scarcely nothing for a stand, began a life of farming. In 1846 he was married to Salida May, a native of Tennessee. That union was blessed with nine children, who were named Mary J., Clinton B. deceased), Rachel C., Spinks E. (deceased), James C. (deceased), Wiley T. (deceased), Richard T., Forest B. (deceased), and Nancy T. Mrs. Hamm died November 16, 1864. On the 25th of December, 1867, he married Lucy J. Roberts. She was a native of Alabama. The fruits of this union were four children, named in order: Wiley R., Martha V., Smella and John H. Mr. Hamm lost his second wife, who died February 8, 1879. The Judge then married his third and present wife, Susan Templeton, on January 28, 1883. She is a native of Tennessee. Wherever Mr. Hamm has made his home he has always been active politically. In Alabama he held the office of Justice of Peace, and was elected County Judge here in 1888. The family are of German and Welsh descent. The Judge came to Arkansas from Alabama in 1881, and took up his residence in Conway County. He has a well improved farm, and has become identified with all Conway's interests.