File contributed by Fred Hamilton ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Biography of James Calhoun and Emma Smith Hamilton Presented at the 32nd Annual Hamilton Family Reunion Downsville United Methodist Church Downsville, Louisiana August 5, 1990 James Calhoun Hamilton was the fifth child born to Dr. James Meriwether and Julia Calhoun Hamilton. He was born in Downsville, La. on November 8, 1884. His wife, the former Emma Smith, was born in Unionville, LIncoln, La. on September 20, 1885. Her parents were Dr. L.P. and Elizabeth Findley Smith. Mother and Daddy, as they were known to their children; Grandmother and Pop, as they were known to their grandchildren; and Uncle Jim and Aunt Emma, as they were known to their nieces and nephews, were married February 1, 1910 in Dubach, La. There were four sons born of this marriage: James P., William F., Eugene J., and Joe Burns. Their only daughter, Elizabeth Jim died at birth. All four sons graduated from Dubach High School. James P. and William F. were graduates from Louisiana State Normal, Natchitoches, La. Eugene J. from La. Tech, Ruston, La. and Joe Burns from welding school in Beaumont, Texas. All four sons served in the armed forces at home and overseas during World War II. James Calhoun Hamilton was graduated from public school in Downsville, La. and furthered his education by attending LSU Law School, Baton Rouge, and later graduating from La. Tech in 1909. Emma Smith Hamilton was educated in the public schools of Unionville and Dubach and was teaching in the Dubach Public School at the time they met and married. James Calhoun Hamilton began his business career as a clerk for the late Scott W. Hamilton, a distant cousin, and a prominent merchant of Dubach, with whom he worked for two years. His father, Dr. J.M. Hamilton, had given Scott the money to begin his business. In 1913, he was associated in a partnership with a brother-in-law, Mr. C. Burns Colvin, in a prosperous general mercantile store, a yester-year type Wal-Mart--selling items from sacks of flour to clothes. It was at this time that he and Burns Colvin purchased their first car together. We don't know who kept the keys or how they decided who got the car when, but family legend tells us they named the car "Nathaniel". In 1920, this business was burglarized and destroyed by fire. He then returned to work for Scott W. Hamilton. Jim and Emma went to Downsville nearly every Sunday afternoon, in good weather and bad, to visit his parents. Emma was the typical back seat driver always cautioning Jim to stay out of the deep "guts" in the road as she referred to the ruts made by the heavy rains. In 1925, Jim went to work for the Mitchell-Norris Wholesalers Grocery Company, Farmerville, La., as a traveling salesman. In 1930, Jim and Emma began and successfully operated their general store in Dubach. When telephones became available, Jim was asked if he wanted a phone. In response to this, Jim said He'd just tell a boy--referring to his 4 sons and send them with his message. He later, however, did get a telephone, thus enabling customers to call in their grocery orders for deliveries. Both Jim and Emma worked in the store until the time of their respective deaths in 1964 and 1967. Out of the successful operation of this business and farming interest they were useful and prominent citizens of their community and area. They reared, educated, and provided a happy home for their family, always providing and giving to them every opportunity for happy, useful, land faithful lives. They were both active in religious and civic affairs. Jim was an active and faithful deacon of the First Baptist Church, Dubach, and also an active Mason. He also served a term on the Lincoln Parish School Board. Jim enjoyed gospel singing, his favorite song being the "Gospel Boogie" and he loved to sing this to his grandchildren and wiggle his ears as he sang. Jim is also remembered for teasing his grandchildren, calling them "sapsuckers" and "pusservin Tom cats". He also used to sing this little song to them: The lark is up to meet the sun, The bee is on the wing, The ant her labor has begun, The woods with music ring. Shall birds and bees and ants be wise, While I my moments waste? Oh let me with the morning rise, And to my duties haste. Why should I sleep till beams of morn Their light and glory shed? Immortal beings were not born To waste their time in bed. (Jane Taylor, 1783-1824) We were told he learned this song from his father. Emma was always active and held leadership responsibilities in all areas of the church life, Eastern Star, and various other civic clubs. He sons remember her coming home from church on Sundays a many a time and start cooking dinner without ever removing her Sunday hat. Jim and Emma always took a nap in the afternoon. One son tells of Emma cleaning her face with OJ's Beauty Lotion before her nap--He said she must have gone through a gallon of this lotion over the years. The business, known as Hamilton & Sons, which they began, is still operated in Dubach under the same sound business practice by their two younger sons, Eugene and Joe Burns. Jim and Emma came from the same type of background. Both their fathers were successful practicing medical doctors in their respective communities and had a vast farming and business interest. Both mothers were devoted wives and home makers, giving all their attention to their large families. Through the 54 years of their marriage, they lived full, useful, and rewarding lives. They maintained a happy home for their 4 sons, and business to support and educate them. They loved their grandchildren and enjoyed having them stay with them. The grandchildren remember Jim giving them shiny dimes every afternoon after school for cokes or candy. They were active and useful in the promotion of the welfare of their home, community, and most of all, their church and the Good Lord who guided them in all their endeavors. OBIT--MONROE NEWS STAR, Tuesday, June 2, 1964, page 3A J.C. HAMILTON RUSTON (Special)--Funeral services for James Calhoun Hamilton of Dubach who died Monday in a Ruston Hospital after a long illness are scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. today in the Dubach Baptist Church wtih the Rev. A.H. Pruitt officiating. Burial was scheduled in the Hamilton Memorial Cemetery, near Dubach under direction of Spears Funeral Home of Ruston. Mr. Hamilton was a retail merchant and member of the Dubach Baptist Church. Surviving are his widow Mrs. Emma Hamilton of Dubach; four sons, Billy F. Hamilton of Downsville; James P. Hamilton, Eugene Hamilton, and Joe Burns Hamilton of Dubach; two brothers, F.S. and J.J. Hamilton of Downsville; two sisters, Mrs. Mattie McGee (McGehee) and Mrs. Mary Hinton of Downsville; and four grandchildren. OBIT--RUSTON DAILY LEADER, December 11, 1967, page 1 SERVICES HELD YESTERDAY FOR MRS. HAMILTON Mrs. Emma (J.C.) Hamilton, 82, of Dubach, died Saturday afternoon at the Extended Care Unit of Lincoln General Hospital following a lengthy illness. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Sunday in the Dubach Baptist Church with Rev. D.A. Doughty, assisted by Rev. R.G. May, officiating. Burial took place in Hamilton Memorial Cemetery in Dubach under direction of Spears Funeral Home of Ruston. Mrs. Hamilton, a native of Unionville, was a Sunday School Teacher at First Baptist Church for many years. She was a member of the Eastern Star, a leader in youth organizations, a civic worker in Home Demonstration and Garden Clubs. She is survived by four sons, James P. Hamilton, Eugene J. Hamilton, and Joe Burns Hamilton all of Dubach. Billy F. Hamilton of Downsville; two sisters, Mrs. V.W. Colvin of Shreveport, Mrs. C. Burns Colvin of Dubach, one half-sister, Mrs. Mignon Oden of Memphis, Tenn. Four granchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Her newphews were pallbearers. NORTHWESTERN LOUISIANA: A HISTORY OF THE WATERSHED OF THE RED RIVER 1714-1937: AN HISTORICAL REFERENCE EDITION PRESERVING THE RECORD OF GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERRITORY TOGETHER WITH GENEALOGICAL AND MEMORIAL RECORDS OF ITS PROMINENT FAMILIES AND PERSONGAES: COVERING TEH PARISHES OF CADDO...LINCOLN... by J. FAIR HARDIN, author & editor, c. 1939 JAMES CALHOUN HAMILTON, page 459 James Calhoun Hamilton, a general merchant conducting a good business at Dubach, was born in Downsville, Union parish, Louisiana, November 8, 1884. His father, Dr. J.M. Hamilton, a physician and surgeon, was also a native of Union parish, born near Shiloh. He took up farming, became the owner of considerable land and real estate and was also a stockholder in various banks. He prepared for his professional career at Mobile Medical College, from which he graduated in 1883, and he long successfully followed his profession. His life was one of usefulness and worth to his community and he passed away August 12, 1936, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-one years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Julia Calhoun, was born in Talladega county, Alabama, and is still active notwithstanding that she passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey on the 1st of September, 1936. At the usual age James C. Hamilton, entered the public school of his native city and after completing his studies there attended the Louisiana State University, and later the Louisiana Polytechnic Institute in which he finished his course in 1909. He has always been associated with commercial interests since starting out in the business world, being first employed as a clerk by the late S.W. Hamilton, a merchant with whom he remained for two years. In 1913 he went into business on his own account and was thus engaged until 1920, when his store was destroyed by fire. He then returned to his old firm as a clerk but in 1925 became associated with the Mitchell-Norris Wholesale Grocery Company of Farmerville, Louisiana, remaining with them for fifteen months, when he returned to Dubach. In 1930 he once more embarked in business here and he now has a well appointed general store, carrying a large and well selected line of goods that meets modern requirements of the trade today. He is progressive in his methods and puts forth every effort to please his patrons, so that his success is assured. He also has farming interests and has made considerable investment in real estate. On the 1st day of February, 1910, Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Emma Smith, of Dubach, and they have become the parents of four sons: James Parks, who completed a course in the Louisiana State Norman College of Natchitoches, May 30, 1936, and is now associated with his father in business and is also teacher of biology in the Dubach high school; William Fredrick, who is a sophomore in the Louisiana State Normal College; Eugene Jules, a high school pupil; and Joe Burns, who is in the grammar grades. It is not unusual to find Mr. Hamilton in his leisure hours, with rod or gun, starting out upon a hunting or fishing trip, and it is in this way that he obtains his recreation. Fraternally he is a Mason and his religious belief is indicated in his membership in the Baptist Church. There have been no spectacular phases in his life record, but early he learned the value of industry and persistency of purpose and these qualities have constituted the firm and enduring foundation upon which he has built his success. # # #