Hammer, Lewis (1837-1917)

HAMMER

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 12/26/2008 at 13:38:57

Lewis Hammer
Sep 4, 1837 - Feb 8, 1917

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.27, Council Bluffs)
Lewis Hammer, Council Bluffs, was born in Lorain County, Ohio, in 1837. He came West to Harrison County, Iowa in 1857, and, in 1864, moved to Council Bluffs, where he opened a lumber yard on the corner of Vine and Market streets, where he does an annual business of $60,000, and employs six assistants. In Council Bluffs, in 1870, he married Rhoda Wood, and from this union three children have been born. Mr. Hammer was a member of the City Council of Council Bluffs, in 1878 and 1879. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.649)
THE WESTERN LUMBER AND SUPPLY COMPANY of Council Bluffs was established in 1888 by Jacob MARTINSON, Lewis HAMMER, and Ed MOTT. In 1889, Mr. MOTT withdrew. They first established with a cash capital of $35,000, which was afterward increased to $45,000. The annual amount of dues is $100,000, wholesale and retail. They deal in all kinds of building material and deliver at any point. The yards and office are at the corner of Third Avenue and Thirteenth Street, and are managed by Mr. L. HAMMER. This gentleman is also interested in another lumber yard, at the corner of Second and Vine Streets, under the firm name of L. Hammer & Co., established by them in 1867, with a cash capital of $25,000, afterward increased to $35,000. The annual amount of business there is $65,000 and the scope is the same as at the other place already mentioned.

Lewis HAMMER was born in Lorain County, Ohio, September 4, 1847, the son of Godfrey and Catharina (DOCHTLER) HAMMER and of German ancestry. The parents both died in Ohio. Mr. HAMMER, one of their six children, was reared in his native state to farm life, and at the age of 21 struck out in the world for himself, first working at the carpenter’s trade seven years, two years in Ohio. In July 1857, he came to Council Bluffs and followed his trade here five years, when he engaged in the lumber trade, purchasing a saw mill, which he operated two years. He furnished the first ties for the Union Pacific Railroad. The ties and lumber were rafted down the river to Omaha. After running that mill, located on the Bauyo River in Harrison County, two years, he came to Council Bluffs, where he has since been engaged in the lumber trade. He is also carrying on farming and stock raising extensively, under the firm name of Hammer & Wood. They have a farm of 2,500 acres and rear high-grade cattle, horses and hogs; 600 acres are under cultivation. The grazing lands are in Dawson County, Nebraska, on the Fort Kearney and Black Hill Railroad. Mr. HAMMER has assisted largely in building up Council Bluffs in all its interests, especially in the line of manufactories, etc. In 1859 he went by ox team to Pike’s Peak, being on the road 30 days from Council Bluffs to Denver, and spent a year there.

Politically, he is a stanch Republican; has been Alderman for the city two terms. He is a member of Council Bluffs Lodge No. 49, I.O.O.F., in which he has passed the chairs, and he is also a member of the encampment. He was married in March 1869 to Rhoda A. WOOD, daughter of T. K. and Deema (MANN) WOOD, of Kentucky, where she was born in 1858; and four of their five children are living: Etta, wife of Henry BRIER of Council Bluffs; Lewis H., at home; Elmer Arthur, deceased; Hazel J.; and Bessie L. at home.