Seth Francis Hammer

Birth: December 10, 1846 - Richland, Keokuk Co., IA - Death: 1936 (90) - Orosi, Tulare Co., CA -

Son of Seth Hammer and Elizabeth Hackney - Husband of Amanda Jane Battin - Father of Martin Thomas Hammer; Elva Elizabeth Hammer; Jesse Duane Hammer; Harry Delano Hammer; Effie Louise Hammer and Sarah Leota Hammer

Thomas Jefferson Hammer, in his 1917 Biography of Seth Hammer, records the following about Seth’s son Seth Francis: “Previous to his marriage, S. F. Hammer went west, stopping at Dayton, Reno and Eureka, Nev., for more than two years, visiting California while on the Pacific Coast. Returning to Iowa in 1871, he engaged in merchandising with J.H. Bales (husband of sister Sadie), at Amboy, located on father’s farm. “Moving to Hardin County, in 1873, he purchased a farm in Grant Township. Later he engaged in the lumber and farm implement business at Hubbard, about six miles north of his farm.

“In 1885 he, with his family, moved to Nebraska, where he took up a homestead, remaining in Nebraska until 1896, when, with his four remaining children, he returned to Hardin County, Iowa, where he entered into partnership with J. H. Bales, president of the First National Bank of Eldora, for the purpose of engaging in farming and raising livestock and breeding fine horses. The partnership continued ‘till 1910. Later he engaged in the real estate business at Eldora. In 1914 he, in company with Mrs. Sadie E. Bales (his sister), made a trip to California. Becoming interested in the orange industry, while in the Golden State, purchased citrus land near Orosi, Tulare County. Returning to Iowa for a couple of years, he again came to California, accompanied by his daughter, Leota, to become a permanent resident and improve his land by setting it to orange, lemon and other varieties of fruit trees. Later he was joined by his son, Jesse, a graduate of Penn College, Iowa, (Editor: founded in 1873 in Oskaloosa, Mahaska Co., by members of the Religious Society of Friends, also known as the Quakers) and Attie, wife of the latter.”

Residence: 1930 census says Orosi, Tulare County, Calif.

Editor’s note: “Sadie” is the nickname of Seth Francis’ sister Sarah.

1900 census Seth Francis Hammer and kids in New Providence Iowa
Seth Francis Hammer's wife Amanda Battin is not in the 1900 census because she died in 1896.
1900 census:
Name, Role, Sex, Age, Birthplace:
Seth F Hammer Head M 54 Iowa
Martin T Hammer Son M 24 Iowa
Effie L Hammer Daughter F 22 Iowa
Jesse D Hammer Son M 20 Iowa
Sarah L Hammer Daughter F 12 Nebraska
Henrietta M Blair Servant F 22 Iowa
Event Place Providence Township New Providence town, Hardin, Iowa, United States
District 153
Sheet Number and Letter 3A
Household ID 46
Line Number 30
Affiliate Name The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Affiliate Publication Number T623
GS Film Number 1240435
Digital Folder Number 004119859
Image Number 00814
Citing this Record: "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9K5-FMD : accessed 30 January 2019), Jesse D Hammer in household of Seth F Hammer, Providence Township New Providence town, Hardin, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 153, sheet 3A, family 46, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,435.