San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 455-456
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 1/26/2010
JOHN CULVER HAMMOND
The history of a community is best told in the lives of its citizens, and when these citizens are men of forceful character, progressive and public spirited, giving of the best of their lives not alone to the upbuilding of their own fortunes but to the establishment and maintenance of enterprises calculated to advance the general welfare of those about them, then indeed is such a career worthy of a place in the highest type of citizenship. Such qualities and characteristics have distinguished the life of John Culver Hammond, who came to California with his parents in 1864 and grew to manhood in San Joaquin County and who has proved a dominant force in the upbuilding of this commonwealth and the development of the county.
A descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent American families, dating back to 1634 when Elizabeth Hammond, her son Benjamin, and three daughters landed in Boston Sept. 18, 1634 on the ship Griffin, John Culver Hammond was born in North Abington, Plymouth County, Mass., on October 19, 1865, a son of George and Susanna (Shaw) Hammond. Grandfather Benjamin Hammond was a farmer in the vicinity of North Abington, Mass., and influential in that community. The father, George Hammond, was born in Carver, Mass., on June 21, 1815, and his wife was born in North Abington, Mass., on April 21, 1816. George Hammond came to California by the Panama route in the spring of 1864 settling at Lockeford, San Joaquin County, where he engaged in farming on a quarter section of land which he purchased, and on which he made his home until his death at the age of eighty-nine years. George Hammond's first marriage united him with Susanna Shaw, who passed away on November 29, 1874, and they were the parents of eight children, namely: Delia Marcella Hammond, the oldest daughter, was born in North Abington, Mass., on May 30, 1836 and was married to Dr. Dean J. Locke and they had thirteen children, Luther J., Ada, Horace Mann, Nathaniel H., Ida, May, William W., Hannah, John Calvin, Edward, Eunice, George, and Theresa. Mrs. Locke is still living in Lockeford. The second daughter, Susan Lucretia Hammond was born in North Abington, Mass., on January 13, 1839, and married George Shipley Locke, a brother of Dean J. Locke and they had eleven children, Sarah, A.J., Elmer Hammond, George Franklin, Wallace H., Almy, Lilla, John G., Mertice, Franklin H., and Almy G. Roland G. Hammond, the eldest son, was born at North Abington, Mass., on May 18, 1842, came with his parents to California and farmed near Lockeford until his death in 1901. He married Miss Rebecca Taylor in 1876 and they were the parents of six children; Alice Edna, Alberta Josephine, George, Estella May, Ina Pearl, and Nellie. Josiah Shaw Hammond was born at North Abington, Mass., on September 10, 1842, was graduated from the San Jose State Normal School in 1868 and from Cooper Medical College at San Francisco, in 1873 and is now practicing his profession at Butte, Montana. He married Miss Ann Eliza Simpson, a native of St. Louis, Mo., and they have six children, Emma Louise, Kate T., Hattie, Delia, Nelson, and Benjamin. Horace Alfred Hammond, the third son, was born at North Abington, Mass., on August 7, 1847, resides in Oakland, Cal., and is an engineer. His first marriage occurred on April 7, 1880, and united him with Miss Dolly McGregor, a native of San Francisco, who died in Oakland in 1884, leaving one child, Amy Evelyn. His second marriage united him with Miss Anna Elizabeth Harges. Hannah Sturtevant Hammond, the third daughter, was born December 12, 1849, and married Thomas B. Geffroy, who passed away in San Joaquin County. Mrs. Geffroy resides at Lodi and is the mother of seven children, Mabel, Carrie, Bertha, Arthur, Richard, Susie, and Amy. Clara Cobb Hammond, the fourth daughter, was born in North Abington, Mass., on November 8, 1853; on January 24, 1872, she married Rev. Orville Allen Ross, of Uxbridge, Mass., and they were the parents of eight children, Nettie Taylor being the only child living.
John Culver Hammond, the subject of this review and the youngest child of George Hammond's family, came with his parents to San Joaquin County in 1864 and was reared and educated at Lockeford. Previous to his death, George Hammond, the father, had sold a portion of his quarter section to his son Roland, but John Culver later leased this from his brother and engaged in general farming on the quarter section. John Culver received thirty-seven acres from his father's estate, which was grain land; he has since added to this until he now has ninety-five acres all in vineyard and the house in which he lives was built by his father in 1867.
The marriage of Mr. Hammond occurred in Lockeford on September 21, 1882, and united him with Miss Lucie Jane Coil, a native of Lincoln, Ill., born on December 25, 1864, a daughter of James Anderson and Mary Eliza Coil, both natives of De Witt County, Ill. They were the parents of three children, Mrs. Hammond being the oldest. Charles C. Coil is a merchant of Lockeford, and Myrtle is Mrs. Frank Hill of Fresno, Cal. Mrs. Hammond came to California with her parents in 1874 and received her education in the Lockeford schools. Her father passed away at the age of seventy-nine, while her mother died at the age of thirty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond are the parents of five children, as follows: Horace Coil Hammond married Miss Lena Dudley and they are the parents of one son, John C. H.C. is an employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad at Oakland; Alice Ethel married Dr. Phillip Petch, a native of Humboldt County, Cal., now practicing medicine in Oakland and they are the parents of one son, Phillip, Jr.; Myrtle Coil is a graduate nurse at the Stanford Hospital; James Anderson resides at home with his parents. On August 13, 1917, he entered the service of his country as a private and was sent to Camp Tanforan, Cal., in Battery B, 144th Field Artillery, 40th Division, known as the California Grizzlies. He remained at Camp Tanforan until October of 1917 when he was sent to Camp Kearney where he remained until August 2, 1918 and in August 15 of that year left New York for France. He trained first at Poitiers; then was sent to Bordeaux and after the armistice was signed was at Claremont-Ferrand, near Lyons, France, his foreign service covering the period from August 15, 1918, to January 3, 1919. Returning to the United States and California he was discharged at the Presidio, San Francisco, when he returned to his home in Lockeford. Clara Cobb Hammond, the youngest child is now Mrs. Charles Utterback residing at Christian Colony and they are the parents of two children, Charles, Jr., and Marjorie Jane. In politics, Mr. Hammond is a Republican, and fraternally is a past grand of the Odd Fellows, while Mrs. Hammond is a past noble grand of the Live Oak Lodge of Rebekahs. The family have been identified with the upbuilding of Lockeford and have been factors in movements for the betterment of the social and moral conditions of the people.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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