The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-08
Gov. Abram A. Hammond.

Gov. Abram A. Hammond.
Tuesday all that was mortal of Gov. Ham
mond was committed to the tomb. He
leaves many sincere friends, who ioin his
widow and daughter in mourning his loss.
He was born at Brattleboro. VT, in March,
1914. and died at Denver. Col, on the morn
ing of August q, 1874, in the presence of his
family, but before the arrival of his devoted
friend, Capt. Fitzgibbon. After reading law
with Mr.. Ryman, who was lawyer of emil
nence at Brookville, in this state, Mr.. Ham
mond, in the year 1885, commenced the
practice of his profession at Greenfield. in
Hancock county. Here, about the year 1857,
he married Miss Mary B. Amsden, who sur
wives him. His rival in the law was the late
Hon. Thomas ID. Walpole and both these gen.
tlemen achieved distinction for professional
skill and ability. Gov. Hammond's first
office was that of prosecuting attorney and
the bar soon came to recognize his cool, self
possession, his skilful examination of wit
nesses, his mastery OF the strong points in his
case, and his logical and powerful argu-
ments to the court and jury. He was
then in the flush of health, of strong and
ing appearance. In the year 1910 he re-
moved to Columbus, in Bartholomew
county, where he continued practice
until 1896 having in the meantime become
the partner of the late John HI. Bradley.
Both these gentlemen took high profession
al rank, Mr.. Bradley having already achieved
prominence in Norther Indians, and having
been the candidate of the Wings for lieuten-
ant governor of the State. This firm re-
moved to Indianapolis in 1916, and to Gin
cinnati, o., in 1s47, but finding that city
less attractive place of residence than our
town, they returned here in 1S4S. In 1850
when the legislature organized the first Com
mon Pleas Court for Marion county, Mr..
Hammond was made its first judge, and
gave great satisfaction in that position, for
he was able, impartial and urbane in the
discharge of his duties, and prompt in per-
ceiving the merits of case. After a short
service. however, he resigned, and became
the partner of Hugh O'Nesl, ESQ.,, whose
merits and traits are we'll known in this
community. In 1852 Mr.. Hammond
went to California and became
the partner of the celebrated Rufus
A. Lockwood. In 1853 Mr.. O'Neal removed
to California, where he became successor of
Gov. Hammond, and in the meantime Mr.
Lockwood, driven by an overpowering rest
lessness, removed to Australia, and in the
same year Mr.. Hammond returned to Indi-
ana. Afterwards he removed to Terre
Haute, where he practiced law until 1856,
when he was elected Acknowledgements of
of the State, and Ashbel p Willard was
elected governor. He made an admirable
president of the Senate, and when Gov.
Willard died in 1860 Mr.. Hammond became
governor, and during the few months he ex-
ercised the functions of that Office, demon
strated his fitness to discharge it's high du-
ties. His portrait is one among those
of the governors Of this State in
the library. OF the names that come
up in connection with that of Gov. Ham,
mond how many have departed this life, and
now he is added to the number. In 1860 his
| health commenced failing, and soon an un-
l relenting rheumatism fastened upon him,
so crippling him that during the last five
years he has been compelled to the
use of clutches. A few years since,
4 dStulud Was duucQ W us dllilctlODS,
and Denver was sought as beneficial for
this last attack. During fourteen years Gov.
Hammond has been great sufferer, and has
failed in the pursuit of health at points near
and remote. During all that time he has
had the assiduous, anxious and devoted sf-
fiction of his wife and the skill OF the best
physicians, but all without avail. His mer-
its and traits are we'll known in this csm-
munity to his numerous friends. both per-
sonal and political. He leaves a large COM
petence to his family.