Flowers, Martha Jane

Martha J. Hamilton Flowers
Grandfather Signed Texas Declaration
1844 - 1924

Martha J. Hamilton

Martha Jane Hamilton was born at Clarksville, Texas on October 19, 1844. She was the daughter of Thomas S. and Elizabeth Jane Ballard Hamilton. Her grandfather, Colonel Robert S. Hamilton was born in 1783 and immigrated to the United States from Scotland in 1807. He settled at Granville County, North Carolina, but later moved to an area on the Red River which was claimed by both Arkansas and Texas. He arrived there, a single man, on December 15, 1834 according to a statement he made before the Red River County commissioners in 1838.

Hamilton was one of the five men sent by the Red River District to Washington-on- the-Brazos in 1836. He, along with George C. Childress, was then appointed to go to Washington, D.C. in an effort to gain recognition of Texas' independence and to establish a commercial trade relationship with the United States. President Sam Houston later appointed him Chief Justice of Red River County. It was reported that Hamilton was the wealthiest man to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Miss Hamilton married David A. Harbin who was killed in Civil War battle. Their son, John D. Harbin, owned land and farmed north of Rowlett at present day Merritt and Castle Roads.

She later married, Thomas K. Flowers. He was a Civil War veteran and native of Wilson County, Tennessee. They also owned land and farmed at Rowlett. Their daughter, Willie Flowers Carslie, is well known for inventorying early Dallas County cemeteries. Her book entitled Old Cemeteries of Dallas County was published in 1948. It is estimated that no more than three of these books remain in existence today. One copy is kept in the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library vault in downtown Dallas.