Franklin HAMMOND [2448]

  General Notes:

The Hammond history, by Frederick Stam Hammond, lists the 3 children as born in St. Louis, Gratiot County, Michigan, the last being born in 1853. I believe this to be an error. In the era of 1950 Oliver Hammond of Battle Creek, MI was doing research on the Hammond family and his research shows the family as living in Bradford, PA., then traveling to Olean, in Cattaraugus County, New York in 1854 where he joined a wagon train heading west to Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Since all three children were born before this they were not born in Michigan, but most likely in Bradford, PA. This info pertains only to Emeline, Franklin, and Adelaide Hammond, the children of Oliver Hammond and Rhoda Thompson.

Franklin moved to Bradford, PA when he was three years old, and later, in 1854 the family traveled back to Olean, NY to join up with the covered wagon caravan that was gathering to move west. The 30 covered wagons started west in 1854 and part of the wagons stopped in Michigan and the rest went on to Minnesota.

Franklin's parents settled in Laingsburg, Shiawassee County, Michigan, but later moved to a farm 3 ½ miles south of Elsie, in Clinton County, Michigan. Franklin went to school 3 miles south of Elsie, his oldest sister was his teacher for part of his schooling. At the age of 14 he moved to the woods 8 miles north of Elsie to hunt and trap, that was the spring of 1860. He made an excellent income from selling partridges and other game birds to hotels besides his income from the skins of animals he caught in the woods. Frank lived in this neighborhood during the great Chicago fire of 1860, which ran from Chicago all the way across the state of Michigan. He had quite a fight to save his cabin from burning, as the fire was all around it. In 1864 he took up 160 acres of land under the Homestead Act. He being only 18 years of age, his father had to sign the papers with him. This 160 acres of land was the s/w 1/4 of section 36, of Hamilton Township, Gratiot County, Michigan. He later bought 80 acres, the west 1/2 of the s/e 1/4 of section 36 from Hayes Sinclair for $1.00 per. acre. He would walk to Ovid in Clinton County and carry groceries that he needed at home for the 14 mile distance to town from home.

The roads at that time were mere trails which followed the ridges, as the swamps were full of water most of the year. Some of the trails were made by Indians. He farmed the land with a team of oxen. All the grain had to be cut by hand with a cradle and threshed with a flail. At that time before the year 1900, eggs were 8 cents a dozen, butter 10 cents a pound, 18" cordwood split body wood delivered 10 miles and piled up in neat piles was $1.25 per cord. Beef, mutton and pork cost 3 to 5 cents per pound. Sugar was 5 cents per pound. White beans sold at 60 cents per bushel. The only tax we had was real estate tax and personal property tax, to be paid once each year. No dog tax, no income tax, no sales tax, no inheritance tax, no union dues, no deer license, no hunting or fishing license, no car license, "no car". What little money we could get was all ours.

In 1896 the people of the neighborhood got together and had a logging bee and built the old log schoolhouse and founded the school district # 6. It was built on the north 1/2 of section 36, Hamilton Township, Gratiot County, Michigan. Those who helped build the schoolhouse were as follows: Franklin Hammond, William Mitchell, William Fisher, Mr. Hood, and Mr. Chamberlain. Mr. Hood furnished the land and most of the lumber. William Fisher was elected director, and Mr. Chamberlain was elected treasurer. When the school started there were 30 pupils. Frank Hammond was 4 years old and went to the new school the first year it was in operation. At that time, the teacher got $25.00 a month and had to pay $2.50 board & room. The school was first called the Fisher school, but later was called The Hammond school district in honor of Franklin Hammond, he being the oldest pioneer of the district. After the pine timber was all cut off and the saw mills and shingle mills moved away the school got down to 6 pupils, Frank Jr., Oliver, Lester, Chester, and Minerva Hammond and Albert Fisher. Franklin Hammond served on the school board for many years. Franklin and his wife are buried at the Ford Cemetery 2 miles north of Elsie, Michigan at the corner of Ridge Road and Hollister road in Gratiot County.

Per Gratiot County Herald, 30 July 1908, as follows:
"Stabbed With Pitch Fork"-Alvin Shell of Hamilton says Frank Hammond did.
Alvin Shell was in Ithaca yesterday looking for the prosecutor who was in Breckenridge. Mr. Shell who lives in Hamilton claims that while attempting to secure some marsh grass belonging to him. Frank Hammond and wife and son attacked him claiming that the grass was theirs beat him and stabbed him with a pitchfork certainly he is in hard shape but to what extent Hammond who has generally been considered a peaceable citizen is responsible is a question.

Per. the Gratiot County Herald, 6 Aug. 1908, as follows:
"Pitch Fork Scrape"-Hammond shows up his side-"pulled Mrs. H's hair"-so Hamilton says he jabbed him to make him release her-both farmers under arrest, trouble is over marsh hay. As was stated in last week's Herald, Alvin Shell of Hamilton complained against Frank Hammond, wife and son for beating and stabbing him with a pitch fork. Shell, too, has been arrested on complaint of Mrs. Hammond for assaulting her. The trouble arose over a piece of marsh land which Hammond claims he bought of Frank Kneeland of St. Louis. MI. Hammond's story is that he with the aid of his wife and son was engaged in hauling in the hay from this field. Hammond and his son had gone to the barn with a load leaving Mrs. Hammond in the field. Shell then appeared and told her he had bought the hay of Mr. Kneeland. Shell threatened Mrs. Hammond and she attempted to run away but shell seized her by the hair. She then attempted to defend herself with the fork she had been using. Her cries soon brought Hammond to the spot who succeeded in jabbing shell in the leg with his fork and he released Mrs. Hammond. About this time another warrior appeared in the person of Burt, a son-in-law of Shell, who tried to help Shell. Hamilton's (Hammond's is meant to be in this space) son then pitched in with his fork to help his father and beat Burt over the back with the stale. They then called a truce and resorted to the law to settle their difficulties. shell must appear before Justice Brown of Ashley, on 7 august, for examination, while Hammond and his wife and son are required to answer to the charge of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, in Justice Gidley's court.

- Michelle Boccaccio, 2005

  Burial Notes:

Ford Cemetery Photos

  Noted events in his life were:

1. He was buried at the Ford Cemetery in Elsie, Clinton, Michigan, United States after 30 June 1930. Ford Cemetery Photos (Ford Cemetery, 11067, 11253 E S Gratiot Co Line Rd, Elsie, Michigan 48831, United States.)

Franklin married Lavina FULLER [2449] [MRIN: 4212], daughter of Unknown and Unknown, on 1 March 1890 in Ashley, Gratiot, Michigan, United States. (Lavina FULLER [2449] was born on 12 December 1873 in Ashley, Gratiot, Michigan, United States, died in 1921 and was buried in 1921 in Elsie, Clinton, Michigan, United States.)

  Marriage Notes:

Marriage Record Vol.-C, Page 44, Record # 584, On 1 Mar 1890, Frank Hammond, W, Age 43, Of Hamilton Twp., Born In Ny., Father was Oliver Hammond, Mother was Rhoda Thompson, and Lavina Fuller, age 16, of Elba Twp., Born in MI, Father was John Fuller, Mother was Lucinda Cravens. First marriage for both Parties. Married at Ashley by Nathan Roof, Minister,Witnesses were Elizabeth Roof of Elba Twp. and Maude Binner of Elba Twp.