The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1921-03-10
COL. w. w. HAMMELL
ANSWERS LAST CALL.
Leader In North Idaho Affairs
And Honored Nezperce Pho
neer Died In San Diego
February 2S.

Colonel William w. HammeII
died at the family apartments in
the Holland Hotel in San Diego,
Cal, on February 28, just ten
days after his wife had received
her final summons. The news OF
his death was received in lat
ter to friends here last Thursday
night. This letter was written
by his daughter, Miss Maude
Hammell, who had gone to Chi
cago for the burial of her moth
er, and ere she started her re-
turn trip to California the mes
sage came announcing the death
of her father, and the letter re-
ceived here brought no details of
his passing. Misk Hammell re-
maind IN Chicago to receive and
inter the remains of her father
beside those of Mrs. Hammell.
Colonel William w. Hammell
was born in New Jersey about 83
years ago. AS boy he served an
apprenticeship in the publishing
establishment of Harper & Broth
ere, the well known magazine
publishers, and had attained an
important post with this house
when the Civil war came on. He
entered the Union service and
was soldier of his country thru
out the four years struggle,
gaining the rank of captain, and
at the conclusion of hostilities he
was honored by being breveted a
colonel and was sent into Ala
bama to fill a post as revenue col
lector. After serving this COM
he returned north with
his wife, whom he married just
before the war. Two daughters
were born to Col. and Mrs. Ham
NELL, the elder dying in the east.
THE family came to Idaho in
the early SOS and located at
Wallace, where he was comrlsis-
stoned a United States marshal
and took a prominent part on the
side of the law in the mining
riots which made that section no.
torious in the later sos. He was
a member of the Idaho constitu-
tional convention which assemb-
led in Boise in 1889 and figured
prominently in the framing of
our organic law.
From the Couer d'Alenes, the
Colonel moved with his family
to this prairie just prior to the
opening of the reservation, 25
years ago last November, and
here they constructed one of the
Finest homes in the country on
! h mestead adjoin lg the town
If ezperce, which assisted in
coating and plating, and resid-
I'd there until about two and a
half years ago, when declining
health impelled them to move.
After brief period spent in
,ravel, they located at San Diego,
CAL, and have since made that
their home.
In the development of this
town and country Colonel Ham
nell and his family were leaders.
Leadership came naturally with
him. He was the finest type of
manhood, endowed
With a handsome, commanding
physique and superior bearing
md spirit that knew no. quak-
ng, he grasped a situation and
pressed on to the end of the is
,ue. He held the office of United
States commissioner during the
major part of his residence here
md on the creation of Lewis
county was appointed probate
udge, which office he held until
he succeeding election, declin-
ng to accept further tender of
A man of very pleasing man.
Ler and address, he was most at
ONE when engaged in conversa-
ion with party of friends and
is part of the discourse was ever
and eagerly sought
v his fellows. His stories of
daho' IS pioneer history, and es-
ecially that part which dealt
18th this reservation, were as
all Of pith and spice and as fine
z spun as any tOlu Dy R0opcE
nd Scott and held one wrapt in
leir spell to the last word. Hon
,ty was simply natural with
i'm. He dealt straight out with
L mankind. and was lenient
18th an erring brother, ever
sady to take the part of the
under dog'' and demand for
i'm fair fighting chance. He
He'd big and goodly place IN