Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1874 — OBITUARY. [ARTICLE]

OBITUARY.

Nathaniel Hanlmonddied suddenly at the residence of his son-in-law, M. F. Chilcote, in Rensselaer, Monday, February 2d, 1874. He was born at Blue Hills in the District of Maiuc|November 2d, 1786. His parents moved to Vermont when, he was gjx years old, and in that State he learned the shoemaker's trade and by his industry contributed largely to the support of his father’s family until his removal to the West. In 1820, four years after the admission of Indiana into'the Union, Ijc came to Franklin county; in 1823 moved to Union county; in 1825 returned to Franklin county; in 1846 moved to Bartholomew county; and in 1854 came to Jasper county where he lived up to the time of his death. He was married three times (his third wife survives him), ami was the father of. sixteen children, nine of whom are living. Among his sons are Hon. Abram A. Hammond elected ■ Lieutenant Governor of Indiana in , 1856 and who became Governor of the State uj>on the death of Mr. Willard j in l 800; Hoii.“Wm. P. Hammond now ■ living in lowa, who was once a Rep- 1 resentative in the Indiana General ! . Assembly; and Col. Edwin P. Ham- | inond present Judge of this (the 30th), ! Circuit. In youth Mr. Hammond had no' educational advantages, but his mind ! sought literary culture and became a rich store of history and poetry, Rollin. Shakespeare, Milton and Pollock being favorite authors whose works ■ were to him a perennial source of , pleasure. Upon coming to Indiana, ! Mr. Hammond engaged in the study of law and obtained a good under- : standing of its general principles, but law was abandoned for the more congenial science of medicine. In the ( latter he became a proficient scholar, a successful practitioner, and for many years while in Franklin and Bartholomew bore a high reputation and enjoyed a lucrative practice. Dr. Hammond was positive in his |x>Ltical opinions, almost to the verge of intolerance, though in religion and alf ether subjects very liberal towards the opinions of others. In polities he was first a Federalist, then a Whig, and then a Republican. He always manifested an ardent interest in the affairs of government, but never held public office except that of Justice of the Peace for two years, while a law ; student, and which was resigned i when the study ofjaw was abandoned. > He was a man of uoble sentiments, j simple manners, modest deportment, kindly feelings, pure thoughts- a true j gentleman, whose character was' adorned with all the Christian graces. For many years and up to the hour of his death he wus a firm though *u»ostenlatious believer in the doctrines of'. J < huk Christ, and a devout worshipper ; of God. He died a member of the Presbyterian Chureh. *J He was buried ycstenlnv in Weston Cemetery, with Masonic honors.