Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 714
MALEN H. HAMMER

For more than half a century Malen H. HAMMER has been identified with the history of Harrison county, Iowa. He was not yet a year old when his parents came to this county and he ever since has made it his home. Starting after his marriage as a farmer, he followed agricultural pursuits a few years and then moved to Modale, where he ever since has been engaged in the livery business. In connection with this business he has an extensive veterinary practice throughout that section of the county. He has been successful and now owns a farm adjoining the town of Modale, as well as several valuable dwellings and business houses in the town. He has been prominent in the civic life of his community and has held various official positions which have demonstrated his ability in a manner satisfactory to his constituents.

Malen H. HAMMER, the son of Jacob and Cynthia (BRIDGES) HAMMER, was born February 19, 1864, in Harrison county, Missouri. His parents, who were both natives of Missouri, of German extraction, were farmers and the parents of ten children.

When Malen H. HAMMER was about six months old the family moved to Iowa, and located in Pottawattamie county, and a few months later moved to Harrison county, Iowa, where they located a mile and a half west of Modale. Mr. HAMMER spent his boyhood days on the farm and attended the Modale schools. He remained at home until he reached the age of twenty-three, at which time he married and began renting land near his father's farm. He rented for five years and then moved to Modale and established himself as a veterinary surgeon and proprietor of a livery stable. He was one of the first horse breeders of the county and his first stallion was a full-blooded Morgan horse. He has handled high-class horses of various kinds ever since and now has the only livery barn in Modale, and has in connection with it the hearse which is used by a local undertaking establishment. In connection with his horse livery he runs two automobiles and along this line has built up a very lucrative business. Mr. HAMMER owns a well-improved farm adjoining Modale on the west, and also owns several town properties, among them being his own residence, two other residence properties, the post office building and his livery stable. He also owned the first telephone system in Modale, it being a single wire running from his livery stable to the hotel, which he also owned at that time. Eventually other establishments became connected with his line until it became necessary to establish an exchange. Thus Mr. HAMMER is justly entitled to the honor of having established the first telephone exchange in Modale.

Mr. HAMMER was married May 27, 1886, to Callie REGINS, who was born in Cincinnati township, this county, two miles south of Modale, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (PARCEL) REGINS. Her parents were natives of Illinois and early settlers in Harrison county. Mr. and Mrs. HAMMER have three children who are still living at home, Delbert, Glen and Beulah.

The family are all members of the Christian church of Modale. Mr. HAMMER is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and gives his hearty support to the Democratic party. He has served on the council of Modale and also on the school board, and in both capacities rendered faithful service to the citizens of the town. He is a man of genial disposition and has a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout this section of the county.

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