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John William Hammond

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Birth	:	1829 West Yorkshire, England
Death	:	27 Apr 1899 Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas, USA
Burial	:	Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.4202995, -96.2055969
Plot	:	Section 14 - Lot 21 - Space 3
Description	:	Married on 29 Nov 1842. ****************** Legends of America: "The first building [Emporia, KS] was a 1-½ story wooden boarding house erected by John Hammond. Before long, a Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Clapp from New York came to town. Hammond hired Mrs. Clapp, the first woman in the settlement, to cook for him. Within no time, the boarding house was crowded to its utmost capacity. The building was also used for religious services, educational purposes, county headquarters, and a broker's office." ****************** Emporia Gazette, Saturday, April 29, 1899; p.1, c.6 John Hammond Dead. John... Read More	Married on 29 Nov 1842. ****************** Legends of America: "The first building [Emporia, KS] was a 1-½ story wooden boarding house erected by John Hammond. Before long, a Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Clapp from New York came to town. Hammond hired Mrs. Clapp, the first woman in the settlement, to cook for him. Within no time, the boarding house was crowded to its utmost capacity. The building was also used for religious services, educational purposes, county headquarters, and a broker's office." **************** Emporia Gazette, Saturday, April 29, 1899; p.1, c.6 John Hammond Dead. John Hammond, one of the oldest settlers of this town and county, a man who could look at half the old land marks around Emporia and remember when he held the contract and built them, died this morning at the Masons' Home in Wichita. His death was announced by telegraph to the local lodge, whose members were notified that it was the last wish of "Uncle Johnny," as he was best known about Emporia, to be brought here and buried. This wish will be carried out, and the remains will probably arrive on No. 6 at 2 o'clock tomorrow over the Santa Fe. The burial will be made in Maplewood cemetery. Mr. Hammond has four sons and one daughter living. The daughter, Mary, lives in Kansas City. The sons, Dan, William, Albert and one other live north of town. **************** Emporia weekly Republican, Monday, May 1, 1899; p.7, c.2 John Hammond's Funeral The funeral of John Hammond was held here, yesterday, at 2 o'clock. The remains arrived on the afternoon passenger train from the west and were met at the depot by the relatives, of this place, old friends and the Masonic lodge of which he was a member. the lodge escorted the remains to the cemetery. The services there were conducted by the Rev. Chaffee. The pall bearers were selected with regard to their former acquaintance with Mr. Hammond and were all from the lodge. They were: A. Leggett, D.W. Eastman, C.V. Eskridge, Isaiah Jones, S. R. Hall and T.G. Wibley. ****************** John Hammond. Emporia Daily Gazette, December 4, 1925 Digging Emporia's First Well "God bless you John Hammond, you've saved the town!" In these words the late Preston B. Plumb expressed his own and the town's appreciation of the important fact that the late John Hammond had struck an abundant flow of water in the well he had been employed by the town to dig. This was the summer of 1858. Emporia's greatest handicap, in the early days, as in some later times, was lack of water. Most of the water used in the town was hauled from the Cottonwood. Numerous wells had been dug but they were dry holes. The town company, early in this year, had employed a Lawrence man-- a little English man, says William Hammond, who recalls him distinctly--to "witch for water." At the alley back of the old Emporia House, the site of the Citizens National Bank, the cottonwood switch turned downward in the "witch's" hands, and here a well was dug. The diggers went down 180 feet, but found no water. Then indeed, the town ground, for the feeling was strong that there was no water on the town site, and, of course, there was no hope for water system until the town should have attained a much larger growth. Without water, there was little hope that it could grow, and many of the settlers felt that it was no use to try to build a town. Many of them, disgusted, went "back home to their wive's folks," and many others were ready to leave, after the deep well put down by the instigation of the "water witch" brought no relief to the thirsty town. About this time Mr. Plumb, a member of the town company, discussed the situation with John Hammond. Mr. Hammond had an idea that he could find water, by selecting what he termed a "likely spot," without reference to the water witch. The contract for digging a well was given Mr. Hammond by Mr. Plumb, acting for the town company, and Mr. Hsmmond, his young son, William, and a nephew, George Baker, went to work. The spot selected was on Mechanic between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Everybody laughed at them, but so strong was Mr. Hammond's faith that he would find water, that he had stones hauled from the bluffs north of the Teacher's College with which to wall the well, while digging was in progress. People passing inquired why stone was being hauled, and jeered when told it was to wall the well. "You'd better save your time and strength," said the pessimists, "you'll never get water." The two men and the boy worked faithfully for three days reaching a depth of 25 feet. Just before quitting time the third day, Baker called up from the bottom of the well. "Uncle John, we've struck gravel." Mr. Hammond told Baker that water would be found, if at all, immediately under gravel, and a tiny trickle of water was coming in when Baker was hauled up for the well that night. Next morning, there was a couple of barrels of water in the well. This was dipped out. Mr. Hammond scraped away the gravel, and saw immediately that there was a good vein of water. He called to the boys above the ground to let down some rock in a hurry, as the water was coming in so fast he must get the wall started at once. About this time Paul Beck strolled past, and when told that water had been found, he whooped and threw up his hat, and declared the town was made now. He got the first drink from the new well, then hurried over to Commercial street to spread the good news. A crowd soon surrounded the well, and the rejoicing was general and sincere. Mr. Plumb had been in Lawrence, and on his return the first news he heard was of the well of good water on the town site. He met the Hammonds as he came out of the old News office on Sixth avenue, shook hands with them and expressed himself as quoted in the opening sentence of this story. He had faith in Hammond as he brought from the town company the money with which to pay for the well digging, and when he unbuckled his buckskin belt and took from it five $20 gold pieces and passed them over to John Hammond, young William Hammond thought his family's fortune was made. He says he never had seen so much money in his life, and he felt they were rich indeed. This well furnished water for house use and drinking to most of the town for many years. When the sewer system was installed the well was filled up.--L. M. F.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John William Hammond's memorial?
John William Hammond's memorial is located at: Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Emporia, Lyon County, USA.
When did John William Hammond death?
John William Hammond death on 27 Apr 1899 in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John William Hammond's memorial?
Latitude: 38.4202995
Longitude: -96.2055969

Family Members:

Spouse

Mrs Abigail Jane Pennel Hammond

(1825 - 1906)

Children

William Howard “Wen” Hammond

(1846 - 1936)

Daniel “Dan” Hammond

(1853 - 1911)

Alfred P. Hammond

(1860 - 1933)

Joseph A. Hammond

(1860 - 1934)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Andrews Episcopal Church Columbarium
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4084053, -96.1796799

2. Soden Family Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3872190, -96.1813510

3. Cottonwood Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4130096, -96.2725525

4. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3932991, -96.1418991

5. Greenwood Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3546982, -96.2082977

6. Evergreen Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3572006, -96.1791992

7. Wilhite Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3830500, -96.1240900

8. Camp Alexander Grounds
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4177210, -96.1072080

9. Fowler Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3897018, -96.1091995

10. Gunkel Burial Ground
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3646600, -96.1138300

11. Haworth Cemetery
Plymouth, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3804207, -96.3178024

12. Americus Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5154686, -96.2420425

13. Forest Hill Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4124000, -96.0604900

14. Badger Creek Cemetery
Neosho Rapids, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4049988, -96.0582962

15. Grandview Cemetery
Plymouth, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3838997, -96.3542023

16. Rosean Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5344009, -96.1464005

17. Old Quaker Cemetery
Toledo, Chase County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4208100, -96.3693200

18. Union Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4375000, -96.0425034

19. Fruitland Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5078011, -96.3308029

20. Hillside Cemetery
Toledo, Chase County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4305992, -96.3741989

21. Chicago Mound Cemetery
Neosho Rapids, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3478012, -96.0610962

22. Frost Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5573900, -96.2022300

23. Stark Cemetery
Olpe, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2789600, -96.2446300

24. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Olpe, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2667007, -96.1628036