Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-03-06
Recollections Of Charles
Hammond,
Editor, Lawyer and Statesman


BY ROBERT BUCHANAN in Gin. Gazette.
Whoever enters the Office of the Gin
cinnati Gazette, may observe on the
east wall, behind the front counter, a
good portrait of G Charles Hammond, for
many years the editor OF hat paper. 1t
is either from the pencil # Powell or
Buchanan Read, but thu cynical ex-
preston is not Mr.. Hammond's as l
first knew him, for he Was "a kind
hearted man, of which / have the
strongest proofs.
1t would appear presumptuous in
me, q merchant, to review the charac-
ter of man 50 eminent for his legal
and literary attainments as Mr.. Ham
mond, but may be pardOned for rela-
ting few anecdotes illustrative of his
character and feelings, as the evidence
of one who still survives him, and VINO
felt honored by his acquaintance and
friendship while living.
The expression in the portrait allu-
ded to, was, no doubt, acquired by mis-
close study and his reading of the hu-
man mind, as he came in contact with
it during his long practice at the bar
and his editorial experience, both
good schools in which to learn some
thing of the frailtie5 and 6ccentricities
of poor human nature, and he was an
apt scholar TO grasp it by such instruc-
tiUn, for his was no common mind.
Ny first acquaintance with Mr..
Hammond was about 1913, through
his paper, the "Ohio Federalist," then
published at st. Clairsvilie, Belmont
county. / had met with it casually,
and noticing some pungeut and witty
articles against the war, then in full
blast, and Mr.. Clay, who in after yeas
was his bosom friend, L subscribed for
it-weekly, SO so per annum.
1t was against my politics, for like
all boys, was for the present and the
next war, careless of consequences, and
Mr.. Clay being then strong advocate
of the war in Congress was great fa-
vorite. But 1 loved fun, and in Mr..
Hammond's articles that was to be
, found.
In the spring of 1923 took passage
with my wife at MaYsville to come to
this city on a steamboat, and there /
found Mr.. Hammond and his wife and
three little daughters latter look
ing as neat as if they had just come out
of bandbOx-and his sister, Miss Nam
ey, bound also for this place. We put
up at the Cincinnati Hotel on Front
street, where we were fellow boarders
for some time.
Mr.. II. commenced practice at the
bar, but soon became editor in chief of
the Gazette also. His predecessor was
Benz. f. Powers. His well known Ca
reer as editor of this psper until the
time of his death is part OF the history
of this city, and need not be repeated
here. road all his articles with care
sometimes In anger, Tor at hrst l was
opposed to him in polittics-but gener-
ally with instruction. He was my at
torney for many years, and his advice
was always honest and sound. He
was Just man aud desired his clients
to BE- ST. too.
Many anecdotes might be given to
show the strong points in the character
OF this strong man, but | shall give on
ly three, ss they fell under my own
observatinn-the first to exhibit his
legal adroitness, the second his courage
and presence of mind, and the third his
benevolence.
l. In 1881 l was elected President of
the Commercial BanK-the only bank
then in the city. Col. H., an old citi-
zen (l806), a candidate for cashier, was
defeated by Mr.. NJ, recently from
Georgia, very worthy man. Next
year Col. H., by the aid Of proxies from