The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-07-05
II YEARS OLD
ON FOURTH
". H. Ham Built 63 Boats
in Six Months
FIRST TO USE MACHINERY IN
MAKING ONE-THIRD OF BOATS
ON ID. & HI. CANAL,

dale's venerable justices of the
peace and artists, celebrates the
18th anniversary of his birth on
the Nations birthday, both occurring
on July 4th. Mr.. Ham, who is still
well preserved in health, first saw
the peep of day when the nation was
booming forth the triumphs of lib
erty, which occurred 81 years pre-
vious.
Honesdale has been enriched by
the personality of Mr.. Ham, whom
everybody likes. He is daily seen
upon our streets and always has a
smile and a kind word.
Mr.. Ham was born on Fourth
street, Honesdale, and is one of the
old native-born citizens. His faith
er was Thomas Ham and his moth
er, Elizabeth Bellamy. Both came
from Cornwall, England, with a
number of other people and were
among the first settlers in Homes
dale.
The subject of our sketch was edu-
Gated in the Honesdale Academy,
afterwards going to Wyoming Sem
mary, where he was drawing master
for some time. Mr.. Ham is a nat
ural artist as his paintings and wa
ter color sketches on display in
Petersen's jewelry store from time
to time will verify. Being especially
talented in this art Mr.. Ham went to
Williamsport during the winter of
1S59-6O to paint photographs. He
remained there a short time and
then returned to Honesdale. Dur
ing 1854 he was clerk to Prothono-
tary John Mcintosh, in the court
house. Mr.. Ham was also prothono-
tary for three years, being elected
to that Office in 1866. He also
served as clerk under Prothonotary
Carr from 1888 to 1890 inclusive.
After serving under Clerk of the
Courts Mcintosh, Mr.. Ham worked
for two years in the Delaware &
Hudson Canal company boat yard
at Leonardsville. For many years
Mr.. Ham followed boat building,
having built boats by the mile for
this company. The boats plyed on
the Delaware & Hudson Canal from
Honesdale to Rondout, near Kings
ton, carrying freight, lumber and
coal between these two places. Mr..
Ham stated to a Citizen man that
he manufactured one-third of all the
boats used upon this canal and in
six months made a record of turning
out SO boats for which he received
S1,7O0 each. g was the first per-
son to put machinery to work in
boat building in the United States,
and it was for the Delaware & Hud-
son Canal company. AS soon as the
company realized the advantage of
making boats in this manner and the
time saved in boat building, they
took my plans and built a large
boat yard at Rondout. They bought
the property in 1862"
when young" Mr.. Ham con-
tinued, 81 took first and second
prize for offhand rifle shooting in
Jones woods near New York. The
distance was 40 rods. | shot 81
times in succession in a foot ring
and was never more than six in
ches away from the center of the
circle any time during the 81
shots"
"No, my military record did not
amount to much. 1t was of a
weeks duration. enlisted as a
high private and went as far as
Washington and then returned"
Mr.. Ham has been a justice in
years. He has served twice on the
school board and town council and
was elected chief burgess In a Re-
publican town, which bespeaks in
words of highest praise of his pop
ularity.
On March %, 1869, Mr.. Ham and
Miss Mary A. Wilbur were married
in Honesdale. They are the par
ents of three children.
Mr.. Ham is also a newspaper
writer of some note, having written
many articles of interest in the To-
cal press and also Tor magazines
and periodicals at large.
The Citizen offers congratulations
to Mr. Ham in the celebration of his
natal day an6 h4pcs he will enjoy
it and live to enjoy many more like
occasions.