Hammetter, George J.

SCHILDBACH, GERSONDE, ARTZBERGER, DAY

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 12/4/2009 at 11:27:17

George J. Hammetter, who since 1903 has lived retired in Sumner, was for many years closely connected with agricultural interests of Bremer county and is, moreover, entitled to representation in this volume as a veteran of the Civil war. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 27, 1843, and is a son of George and Margaret Hammetter, who came to the United States in 1846, settling in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where the father took up a tract of timberland. He died ten months later, but the mother retained the homestead, which she operated for many years.

George J. Hammetter remained at home until he was nineteen years of age. In 1864 he enlisted for service in the Union army. He joined Company C, Forty-third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was in the Army of the West, taking part in all the engagements around Nashville, Tennessee, and in Alabama. At the close of the war he received his honorable discharge and returned to Wisconsin, whence in the spring of 1869 he came to Bremer county, this state. He purchased eighty acres of land on section 21, Sumner township, and added to this from time to time until he owned two hundred and forty acres. This he transformed from a tract of raw land into a productive and modern farm, steadily carrying forward the work of cultivation until 1903, when he retired. During his active life he was very successful in buying and selling land and his holdings at one time comprised two thousand acres. He has disposed of most of this to his children, retaining only one hundred and sixty acres. He also owns a farm in Texas. He has an attractive home in Sumner and an extensive acquaintance in the town.

In Wisconsin Mr. Hammetter married Miss Susanna Schildbach, who was born in Germany, a sister of J.L. Schildbach, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Hammetter became the parents of ten children, eight of whom are still living: John, of Fayette county, Katie, the wife of William Gersonde, of Bremer county; Sarah, who married Charles Artzberger, of Hazel, South Dakota; Walter, of the same locality; George H., a carpenter in Sumner; Monie, the wife of Ira Day, of Waterloo, Iowa; Herman, of Hazel, South Dakota; and Artie, of Sumner.

Mr. Hammetter was one of the organizers of the Zion Evangelical church in his neighborhood and has always been active in religious work. He holds membership in the Grand Army post and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is numbered among the valued citizens of Bremer county, having contributed greatly to its agricultural development, while at all times his influence and aid are given on the side of general progress and improvement.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914