Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 268, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1917 — Judge Edwin P. Hammond Celebrated Birthday Monday [ARTICLE]

Judge Edwin P. Hammond Celebrated Birthday Monday

The many old freinds of Judge .Edwin P. Hammond, in this county, may be interested to know that Mr. Hammond reached the 82nd milestone of his career Monday, November 26. Judge Hammond was for a great many years, during the early days, one of the leading men of the community, and is well known to all of our older citizens, as is his wife who was formerly Miss Mary V. Spitler. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond reside in Lafayette and the following article taken from a Journal of that city should prove of interest to all.

“Hon. Edward P. Hammond, lawyer, patriot and citizen of irreproachable character, yesterday in a modest way celebrated the eightysecond anniversary of his birth. A historian sometimes ago said. Judge Hammond was born at Brookville, Ind., November 26, 1835, a son of Nathaniel and Hannah (Stering) Hammond. On the Hammond side of the genealogical tree he is descended from New England ancestry. “His father removed from Vermont to Indiana, and was married at Brookville. When yet a youth his parents moved to Columbus, Ind., where he received such education as the common schools and the seminary at Columbus afforded. In 1854 young Hammond went to Indianapolis to accept a position as a clerk in a wholesale house. - “During his years thus employed he caught a glimpse of professional life and soon after began the study of law the office of Abram A. Hammond and Thomas A. Nelson of Terre Haute. The former, his halfbrother, was elected lieutenantgovernor in 1856 and became governor of the state on the death of Governor Willard in 1859. About this time having passed a satisfactory examination, he entered the senior class at Asbury university at Greencastle, and in 1857 received the degree of bachelor of law. He soon after opened an office at Rensselaer.’ “At that time the county seat of Jasper county was a country town and not inviting and yet Judge Hammond, through strict integrityand unusual ability, became a factor in every advanced step of higher ideals. Today he loves the county and its people and the people have only praise for the distinguished lawyer and good citizen. When the county was -in danger, when our very existence as a nation was threatened, he heard, in the opening hour of the day, the bells ringing in the old court house tower and without breakfast went across the way, surprised to find the court room half filled with men who realized somehow that war, with all its means, was inevitable.

“He walked to the front of the court room and delivered an address that electrified the people and that hour his career as a patriot and soldier began. He enlisted in the three months’ service, was cmomissioned first lieutenant of Company G, Ninth regiment, Indiana volunteer infantry, and served with General Robert; M. Milroy in West Virginia. “At the expiration of his term of enlistment he returned to his home and resumed the practice of % law. He was elected to the legislature in Newton, Jasper and Pulaski counties. In August, 1862, he assisted in raising Company A, Eighty-seventh Indina regiment and was commissioned captain. He rose rapidly to major and on November 21, of that great courage and efficiency in the ivil war is too well known to need repitition. Tippecanoe claims him now. He easily ranks as one of our .most distinguished citizens.”