John J. ("Jack") Durham was born in Larkinsville, Alabama; came to Coryell County, Texas, in 1857 and to Hamilton in 1860; and taught school there. He acquired much land and traded 200 cattle for C.C. Bumgartner's store and hotel. He helped found and direct Hamilton College from 1884 to 1889 and was one of five men who each gave $5,000 to locate the 1907 Stephenville North & South Texas Railway line through Hamilton. He married first Elizabeth McCutcheon and second Mrs. Docia Mae Price Frost and was the father of 17 children.