Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-21
Sm lalrnanriaut.
sTATELrANrIC AsYLrM,

4
STATE 1t ANTIC ASYLUM, 80.
NEAR MILLEDGEv LIE. GA, Nov. 10, 1881
At meeting II the Trustees, Ohcers' etc,
| T. i. Newell, Vice Pre- -ident Of the Doard IN
the chair. and f. G. Grieve. Secretary, r. 4.
o. Powell superintendent, presented the
following memorial:
A great and good man. a falthIui anu en-
cient public officer, has passed from labor TO
rest.
Judge JOHN HAMMoND, the Steward Of the
Georgia Lunatic Asylum, died at hls home IN
Midway, Ca, Of paralysis, Noy. lSIh' 1885,
age, n years. one month aud 10 days.
In writing q tribute 10 the memory OF 50
good and useful a man as Judge JOHN HAM,
M0Np, who has been the efficient aud faithful
Steward of the Asylum for The Insane Tor
many years, feel and know that am not
equal 20 the task. 1t was, however, the priVl-
leGe OF The writer TO have known MN lhOl-
maiey Tor about twenty four years. lie was
modest, unassumi ing, and retiring In ms dls-
position, not COntiding, save TO those ne knew
well. The more / was thrown with hlm, the
more loved HIM and appreciated MS great
worth. His high social qualities endeared nm
TO all who knew hun well. When l came to
the Institution IN 1862 he was then steward or
the sylum. 1t was my good fortune 70 come
constantly in contact with HIM. hile he
was quiet and retiring IN ms disposition, ana
slow TO make acquaintance, ! soon saw IN
him a true man, the soul Of honor My APP
probation and attachment for hlm grew day
by DAY, up to his death: my berea ement Is
that Of a friend. lie was a true friend Il wise
counsellor; his convictions Of duty were al
ways met boldly, regardless of circumstances
and surroundings. he had great Will power,
and could say no quickly when duty demanded
1t. He was faithful to every conviction Of
duty and fell % martyr to it. He literally
lived for the official trust he held, to the
almost entire neglect of his private matters
lie was a warm supporter OF ali measures
looking to the general good Of has county and
state, expressing his opinions boldly and
freely, regardless of public opinion, condemn
ing whatever he thought was wrong. lie was
a
intuition. He was one of the most ch9ritab q
men | ever knew; very few knew OF his liberal
charity, Tor he shrank from everything Ike
nOtOrlety. great part of his life has been
that Of public officer; he has, for more than
thirty years, been connected with the Asylum
for the Insane. as steward. Secretary and.
Trustee, save about i've or Fix years. in 1874
ne was Trustee with DR.. Bozeman, Col.
White, Col. Pinkard, Col. Mott, and Gen .
Phillips, when Mr.. Brown. Steward at that
time. died. The Institution was hen rowing
rapidly, and the responsible position of stew
ard required man of sterling Integrity, and
fine executive and financial ability. The
! Trustees cast about to see who they cOnld find
to fill the important trust. Having been
thrown intimately with Judge HAMMOND as
Trustee, they knew well his integrity and
ability as a business man, and his commend
able zeal and devotion to duty; hence they re-
quested him to resign as Trustee and take The
posi- ion of Steward. which he did, and which
position he continued to fill, to the full and
complete satisfaction of the Trustees, and to
the great benefit of the State, up to the day OF
his asst sickness. as the records will show.
Some three or four years back his health
began to fail. ! advised the Trustees of his
true condition, and they urged him to give
up some Of the labOrious work to his assistant,
but faithful to his convictions of duty, he
continued to perform the duties OF his Office
until Oct. 10, when he was stricken down with
parals sis.
He was the first Ordinary of Baldwin
county, elected in 1852, and served in that
1
of the people. ana with honor 10 himself, up to
GOV. Bullock's administration. He was born
IN jefferson county, Ca. in ISL. His father,
Col. AbUer Hammond. OF revolutionary fame,
removed to Milledgeyille. Ga, to hold, think,
the position of Secretary of STATE, when his
son, John, was only three or four months Old.
Here he was educated and lived his entire life.
lie was man of great general information,
rem0rb able memory, of decided literary taste,
fond of reading.
In 1912 he was married to Miss Carrie Fort,
daughter OF Judge Moses Fort. and niece of
DR.. TOmiinsOn Fort. lie leaves wife, four
daughters, and two sons to mourn their loss.
lie was a devoted husband and father. He
was the oldest member of the Methodist
church in Milledsevllle at his death, having
been a member Cor lifty-six years. While ne
was not very demoustratlve, he lived con-
sis'ent Christian life, for many years stew ard
Of the church and trustee up to his death. file
met all the demands of the church cheerfully,
and much more literally than it wss thought
his limited means Justified. In his youth he
was rather tall, dIgnlhed and handsOme-ln
old age venerable He has passed from his
/ lshOrs to rest. No more will we have his wise
/ counsel. his official and faithful cooperation
! IN the discharge Of our duties at the Asylum,
/ but he has left us arich legacy in his record.
In his death the church. the Asylum and
| the community have sustained heavy loss
| and The state has lost one of its most Cfiicieni
/ and faithful officers. No wonder the Chief
/ Magistrate OF the state telegraphs:
! In the death OF Mr.. Hammond the LunatiC
! Asylum has lost an admirable official.
! tender to his family and associates my pro
! foundest sympathies."
The following resolutions were offered by
DR. w. II. Hall:
Rssoicsd. "a Trustees and officers Of the
! GeOrgi. Lunatic Asylum, we accept tn,
! memorial prepared by DR.. Powell, as an eX-
| preston Of our estimation as to the character
of our deceased friend ana as ociate. Judge
| HAMMOND. He was a true man, an efficient
| officer. We mourn his loss
| Reso1Ued, That the Trustees be requested t.
! incorporate this memorial, together with thes
| resolutions, on their book of minutes. and thai
| a copy OF the same be forwarded to his family
also copy be forwarded to the press fOI
! publication.
Passed silently, standing.
T. +. NEWELL, Chairman.
+. G. GRIEvE, Secretary.