My Genealogy Hound

BENJAMIN E. HAMMER was born in 1829 in Hagerstown, Maryland. His father, Francis, was a native of Maryland, as was his mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Griffith, a connection of the Pennsylvania family. In 1856 he went to Memphis, Tennessee, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits until the breaking out of the late war. He joined the First Tennessee Regiment as a private, but was soon honored with the promotion of colonel of the regiment, and served two years. In 1866 he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained in business a year, coming to Jasper county, Missouri, in 1867. He spent a year at this time in Memphis, and then returned to Jasper county, Missouri, devoting his time to mercantile pursuits in several points in the county. Subsequently he took charge of the Jasper county poor farm for three years, with profit to the county and credit to himself. In 1882 he bought the City Hotel and livery stable, which he sold in 1882. Colonel Hammer owns a large and elegant residence on Maple Street. In 1868 he was married to Miss Tennie Poe, of Tennessee. They have three children living and three deceased.