Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 286, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1919 — CELEBRATES HIS 84TH BIRTHDAY [ARTICLE]

CELEBRATES HIS 84TH BIRTHDAY

COL. EDWIN . P. HAMMOND IN SPLENDID HEALTH AT ADVANCED AGE. In a quiet manner at his home on South street, Lafayette, Hon. Edwin P. Hammond quietly celebrated the eighty-fourth anniversary of his birth Wednesday, and callers were frequent during the day at the home of the kindly old gentleman who has won the love and respect of the people of that city, just as he did when a far younger man as a resident of this city many years ago. The name of Edwin P. Hammond never fails to bring back fond reminiscences of the early days of Rensselaer and Jasper county to our older citizens, and many of them are able to relate numerous anecdotes of Mr. Hammond in his association with them. Mr. Hammond was born at Brookville, Ind., November 24, 1835, the son of Nathaniel and Hannah Hammond. His father was of New England stock, and moved from Ver-

mont to Indiana” when he was a young man. At an early age Mr. Hammond moved to Columbus with his parents, attended the common schools there, and was a student of the Columbus seminary. In 8154 he entered the wholesale business in Indianapolis as a clerk. During his first year thus employed he caught a glimpse of professional life and soon after began the study of law in the office of Abrahanr A. Hammond and Thomas A. Nelson, of Terre Haute. The former, his half brother, was elected lieutenant governor in 1856 and oecame governor of the state on the death of Governor Willard in 1859. About this time, having passed a satisfactory examination, Judge Hammond entered the senior class of Asbury university at Greencastle and received the degree of Bachelor of Law. He soon after opened an office in this city. At that time Rensselaer was not such an inviting place for an ambitious young barrister, and yet Judge Hammond, through strict integrity and unusual ability, became a factor in every advanced step of higher ideals. Today he loves the county and"4t§ people and the people have only praise for the distinguished lawyer and good citizen. When the country was in danger of disruption by "rebellion of the southern states, when' our very existence was threatened, he heard, in the opening hours of the day, the bell 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 it means, was inevitable. He walked to the front of the court room and delivered an address that electrified the people and from that hour his career as a soldier and patriot began. He enlisted in the three months!, waa commissioned first lieutenant of Company G, Ninth regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with General Robert 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 October, 1861, representing Jasper, Newton and Pulaski counties. In August, 1862, he assisted in faising Company A, Eighty-seventh Indiana regiment, and was _ commissioned captain. He rose rapidly to major and on November 21 of that year to lieutenant colonel. His great courage and efficiency in the civil war is too well known to need repetition. , Tippecanoe claims him now, out we’ll ... venture . that Judge Hammond will ever retain that "warm affection for Rensselaer and her people that predominated his soul during his residence in this city, and that his most cherished memories are those that had their setting in Jasper county. Despite his advanced age, Judge Hammond is enjoying splendid health and takes a keen interest m all of the undertakings of .his adopted city.