Surnames: Hamer, Bingham, Cook
James Hamer, an enterprising citizen and a well known manufacturer of woolen goods, was born in England, February 3, 1804. He is a son of James Hamer and Alice Bingham Hamer, both natives of England.James Hamer was an operative for three years in English woolen factories, and fully mastered all the intricacies of manufacturing woolen goods. At twenty three years of age he emigrated to America, and landed at Philadelphia in 1827. In that city and vicinity he found employment for some time in various woolen factories, but he saw no opportunity for starting in business for himself, and concluded to still better his condition by pushing westward.
Starting of foot, he arrived in Fayette county after a journey of fourteen days. He went to Redstone where he introduced fabric weaving; afterward associated himself with James Pilling and Ephraim Pilling, and engaged in the manufacture of woolen cloths at Cook's mills. In 1835 he removed to Little Redstone and five years later became a resident of Fayette City. He here erected at a cost of $1600 the Fayette City Woolen Factory which he has owned and operated until the present time. He
manufactures principally woolen goods and yarns for the local trade. The equipments of the factory are three carding machines, one spinning jack and 150 spindles.Mr Hamer was married to Miss Elizabeth Cook, daughter of Thomas Cook, a prominent citizen of Redstone township. They are the parents of six children: Mary Hamer; Ellen Hamer, dead; Alice Hamer; Sarah Hamer; Elizabeth Hamer; Rachel R Hamer, dead. Mrs Hamer died July 14, 1878.
In 1840 Mr Hamer purchased a valuable farm at a cost of $7000, which he nows owns and has greatly improved. He is a consistent and useful member of the Christian church. He is a man who has won respect by a long life of hard and honest labor.