My Genealogy Hound

James R. Hamlin, a farmer and minister of the gospel of the Baptist Church, in Crawford County, was born in Buncombe County, N. C., in 1828. Of the eight children born to John and Elizabeth (Duckworth) Hamlin, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and North Carolina, James R. was the eldest. John Hamlin was a saddler by trade in early life, but in later years engaged in farming, to which occupation James R. was reared, receiving in the meantime a good common-school education. He began doing for himself in 1849, in which year he was married to Mary A., daughter of Rev. Jonathan and Mary King, of North Carolina. After his marriage, however, Mr. Hamlin graduated in vocal music at the Normal Musical School, at Lima, S. C. In April, 1861, he was enrolled as sergeant of Company F, First South Carolina Cavalry under Gen. Hampton, and was promoted to chaplain of Black’s Battalion, serving until the close of the war. He then returned to his family, and in 1869 immigrated and settled in Crawford County, Mo., where he has since principally followed agriculture. In 1870 he entered eighty acres of land, and now owns 240 acres, as well as a house and two lots in Bourbon, Mo. Mr. Hamlin entered the ministry in 1861, and is the present pastor of the First Baptist Church of Sullivan, and also of the First Baptist Church of Cuba, Mo. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin, four died in infancy. Those living are Dalie E., Lennia A., Montreville M., Courtney W. and Oscar T. Mrs. Hamlin is a consistent adherent of the Baptist faith. Mr. Hamlin is a Freemason and a stanch Democrat, though not a political aspirant. The family are highly respected by all who know them.