“When five or six years old he moved with his parents to Tyler. On Nov. 14, 1872 he married Samantha Corbly, daughter of a neighbor Andrew Lynn and Miranda (Moore) Corbly. Samantha was born on Purgatory Run April 20, 1851. Prior to the marriage Jacob purchased 100 acres of land from Sidney Joseph which included a one and one-half story log cabin at the junction of two small streams that flowed into Sancho Creek. As their family grew additions were made to the log cabin which became the central section of the family home known by the name of ‘Home Place.’

The original 100 acres purchased in 1871 grew to include six farms with a total of 697 acres, most of which was used for raising sheep and cattle. Jacob referred to as ‘Jake’ by his friends, was a member of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Protestant Church, a district surveyor of roads and active in community affairs.

Jacob and Samantha had eleven children, eight of whom grew to adulthood and married, They were: Floyd, 1873; Dora, 1875; Ida, 1877; Okey, 1879; Rollo, 1881; Grover, 1884; Emery, 1888; Clifford, 1891; and Bruce, 1895. Two sons died in infancy.

The two older children, Floyd and Dora, first attended a school held at the Pleasant Valley Church where Lydia Joseph was their teacher. When a schoolhouse was built at Mud Valley about 1880, a neighbor’s son, John Riggs, taught them. As the other children reached school age they also went to the Mud Valley School. Five of the sons and two daughters attended college and chose professional careers. Bruce, the youngest son, remained at home taking over the management of the farm upon his father’s death.

Jacob Hamilton died July 24, 1916 at his home near Bearsville, where he had lived for forty-five years. He is buried in the family plot at Fairview Cemetery, at the head of Purgatory Run. Samantha continued to live with her son Bruce and his wife until 1925 when Clifford’s wife Hattie died. From 1925 until her death Oct. 21, 1936 she made her home with Clifford. She is buried beside her husband at Fairview.

Only three of Jacob’s and Samantha’s children had issue: Rollo and May had Donald, Elizabeth, Gordon and John; Grover and Pearle had Lucile, Gertrude and Nancy Lynn; and Clifford and Hattie had one daughter Opal. In addition to the six surviving grandchildren, there are now eighteen great grandchildren and ten great great grandchildren of Jacob and Samantha Hamilton, none of whom live in Tyler County.”585

1880 Census, Centerville Dist., Tyler Co., WV
Hamilton, Jacob, 33, b. WV, parents b. WV, farming
Samantha, wife, 29, b. WV, parents b. WV, keeping house
Lee, son, 6, b. WV
Landora, daughter, 4, b. WV
Ida L., daughter, 2, b. WV
Okey L., son, 7 months, b. WV