HAMMOND
The Hammond family was numerous in northern New York before the revolution. In Vermont the federal census of 1790 shows that Benjamin Hammond was living at Alburgh, Grand Isle, Chittendon county, and had in his family two males over sixteen, three under that age and two females. There was another Benjamin Hammond, of Cambridge, New York, at the same time, another at Pawling, Dutchess county, one at Whitestown, Montgomery county. The town of Hammond, N.Y. was named for Abijah Hammond, a merchant and speculator of New York City, who never settled in the town. Hammond was taken from the towns of Rossie and Morristown and incorporated in 1827.
(I) Benjamin Hammond, of an old New England family, was born in Vermont about 1775. He came thence to Plattsburgh, N.Y., where he was a farmer. He married Elizabeth _____. They had a son Ethan R., mentioned below.
(II) Ethan R., son of Benjamin Hammond, was born at Plattsburgh, N.Y., 1805, died at Morristown, N.Y., at the home of his daughter, Aug. 17, 1907, aged one hundred and two years. He had a common school education. When he was about twenty-three years old he located at Hammond, New York, where he followed farming until within a few years of his death. His last years were spent at the home of his daughter at Morristown. He was a well-known and highly-respected citizen. He married Mary M. Stowe, of Clinton county, N.Y.
Children:
1. Betsey.
2. Isaac, died in the service in the civil war.
3. Ethan, mentioned below.
4. Abigail.
5. Mary, married William DeLong of Morristown, N.Y.
6. Loretta, married Edgar Worden (deceased) of Morristown.
7. James. (deceased).
(III) Ethan, son of Ethan R. Hammond, was born in the town of Hammond, N.Y., Feb. 11, 1840, and is now living [1910] in Ogdensburg, N.Y. He was educated in the public schools. During his boyhood he worked on his father's farm. He enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, New York Volunteers, at North Hammond, Aug. 29, 1862, and was honorably discharged Feb. 14, 1865. He held the rank of corporal and sergeant; was present at the surrender of Fort Sumter and Charleston, South Carolina, and Fort Johnston. He was mustered out on account of ill health and never fully recovered. He returned to Hammon after he left the army and conducted his father's farm for a time. Then for year or two he worked on teh boats of the Swift Shore Line on the Hudson river. In 1867 he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was for a year or more an attendant in the state asylum.
Since 1868 he has made his home at Ogdensburg. He was an inspector in the cutsom house of the United States for six years and was afterward employed in a sawmill. Finally he engaged in his present business as life and fire insurance agent. He is a member of Acacian Lodge, No. 705, Free and Accepted Masons, of Ogdensburg; a charter member of the Grand Army Post, though not now affiliated, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He married, July 4, 1866, Fannie J., born at Iroquois, Ontario, daughter of Simon and Julia Ault. They have one son, Joseph Frederick, mentioned below.
(IV) Joseph Frederick, son of Ethan Hammond, was born in county Dundass, Ontario, Aug. 24, 1869. His parents were in Canada but for a short time. He was educated in the public schools and in Ogdensburg Academy. He began to study law in the office of Congressman Malby, of Ogdensburg, but never took the examinations for admission to the bar. He accepted an appointment in the county clerk's office in 1889. As deputy clerk and clerk he served the county for eighteen years. He was from early life an active Republican and is now chairman of the Republican county committee, and president of the incorporated village of Canton, where he resides. He is an officer of the State Charities Aid Society. Since 1901 he has been one of the owners of the Canton Hardware Company and since 1909 the sole proprietor. He is a member of St Lawrence Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Canton; of St. Lawrence Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; past commander of St. Lawrence Commandery, Knights Templar; Media Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Watertown; and of the Lodge of Perfection. He is grand patriarch of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the state of New York; member of the Maccabees of Canton and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Ogdensburg.
He married, in 1893, Jessie Howe, of Colton, New York, daughter of James P. and Clarissa (Matthews) Howe. They have one son, Frederick G., born at Canton, Jan. 5, 1895.