Andrew Wolfe Hamma

As printed in 1902

ANDREW WOLFE HAMMA,

Among the well known, substantial and prominent farmers and stock raisers of Green township, Clark county, may be numbered Andrew Wolfe Hamma, who is the possessor of a valuable and well improved farm, which he conducts in a practical and business-like manner, and the well tilled fields return to him a fitting reward for his labors. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in York county, May 30, 1824, and is a son of David and Susan (Wolfe) Hamma. The subject of this review was ten years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Pennsylvania to Richland county, Ohio, the family driving thence with teams and being two weeks on the road. For three years David Hamma with his family resided in Richland county, where he bought land. Not being pleased with their new location, they removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, living there for one summer, and then, in October, removing to Yellow Springs, Greene county, where the father purchased sixty acres of land, and there he and his good wife spent the remaining days of their lives, respected by all who knew them as honored pioneer settlers of the community in which they lived.

Upon the home farm Andrew, Wolfe Hamma grew to manhood. His boyhood and youth were spent in assisting his father on the farm during the summer months, and during a few short months in the winter he received the advantages of the somewhat primitive educational institutions of those early days, learning the “three R's,” which proved a solid foundation upon which he afterward depended in the practical duties of life, and as he has good and keen natural faculties, he added to his knowledge by reading, observation and experience, which is the best education after all, as our entire lives, if our minds are broad and receptive, are spent in the acquirement of an education. Mr. Hamma remained with his parents until twenty-one years of age, when he began business on his own account. He engaged in farm labor by the year, and at first his remuneration was one hundred and nine dollars. per year and the pasturage of a colt which he possessed. At the end of the year he took a note with interest in payment for his services. He next worked for six months at eleven dollars per month, taking also a note drawing interest in payment, thus early proving that he had quali-’ ties of economy and good business judgment, by saving his earnings. He next went to Madison county, Ohio, working for one man there for two years, and “sold his colt at a good price.

In Logan county, Ohio, Mr. Hamma was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Carter, whose acquaintance he had made in Madison county, where she was born, although her people were living at this time in Logan county. She was a daughter of David and Arthelia (Kelley) Carter. The marriage took place October 18, 1848. The young couple then removed to Greene county, Ohio, near Yellow Springs, renting David Curry’s place for one year, and upon it Mr. Hamma carried on farming and stock raising. In his agricultural pursuits he prospered and at the end of one year he purchased a farm near Yellow Springs, where he lived from 1851 ta 1876. Upon this. place he built a new and substantial house, cleared the farm and added all modern and necessary improvements. This property he still owns, and also one hundred and forty-three acres of land near Clifton, Greene county, which he purchased in 1873. In 1876 he removed to Clark county and purchased one hundred and sixty-four acres of land where he now has his residence. He has remodeled his home, changing it from a one-story to a two-story, twelveroom house. Mr. Hamma next purchased two hundred and twenty-two acres of land in Green township. This he kept but a short time and then sold it to his sons-in-law. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hamma has been blessed with fourteen children, three of whom died in childhood, and nine are yet living: David, the first born, became a minister of the Lutheran church. He was a graduate of Wittenberg College, and married Miss Laura Copelands. One child of this marriage died at the age of two years. A son was pastor of a church at Lebanon, Ohio, and died there at the age of twenty- He is buried at Ferncliff. John Madison, the second of the family, died at the age of thirty-four. Angie Belle is the wife of Harry Shaw, resides in Green township, Clark county, and has seven children. Elizabeth, the wife of John Shaw, also resides in Green township and is the mother of five children; Matilda married Charles Petrie, of Springfield township, Clark county, and they have six children. Elmer married Hattie Goudy and lives in Greene county, having a family of five children. Odessa is the wife of Rev. Carl G. Ane, a minister of the Lutheran church and a graduate of Wittenberg College, now residing in Harrison county, Indiana. They have two children: Irvin G., a sketch of whom appears below, is the next of the family. Aldabert married Charles Garlough, who resides near Pitchin, and they have’ three children. Charles is a practicing physician and surgeon residing in Cincinnati. He pursued his studies in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and finished by one course ‚in Berlin, Germany. He married Miss Jessie Bertner. Mabel married Earl Oglesbee and is now living in Green township near Jamestown. In politics Mr. Hamma was at óne time a Democrat, although he was reared in sympathy with the principles of the Whig party. Upon the organization of the Republican party in 1856 he cast his ballot for John C. Fremont and has remained a stanch Republican ever since.. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and has been an elder of the church for fifty years, doing all in his power to promote the growth of the Christian religion and also of his church. It is a pleasure to note the long and active business career of Mr. Hamma. In it may be learned many a lesson that would be helpful to a young man entering life's arena with nothing but willing hands, an able body and an active brain to aid him, for these were the main qualifications of the subject of this review, and to them he owes his success, and with them he has builded wisely and well.

year’s

As printed in A Biographical Record of Clark County Ohio (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.