Amanda
J. Hammock See Childers Weathers
Effie
Hammock - See George Cook Bio
James Wesley Hammack
Nancy Josephine Hammock - See Thomas R. Cook Bio
Hammack Family - 65 Years on Main Street
Ben Weathers
The people whom I regard to be early pioneers are those who came to Oregon in the 1850s to the 1880s. My grandfather came to Union county in 1862 and he was among the first few families to settle in the Grande Ronde valley. Among others who came to Oregon in the 1860s were the Hammacks. Several families of them. They settled in different parts of the Grande Ronde, some in Summerville, La Grande and some in Island City. I heard of and personally knew some of the Hammack family ever since I can remember. They were friends of my parents and grandparents. Some I know quite well and others by hearsay.
Those of the older generation that I remember were Ephraim, William, LaFayette, Lindsey and James Wesley. They also had a sister, Amanda. When our family left La Grande for Wallow county just before the turn of the century, Ephraim and his family and William were still living in Union county. "Eph," as he was familiarly known, had several children but I do not know that Bill was ever married. Amanda, the sister, was still living there. She was the wife of John A. Childers, a pioneer of Union county, and later after his death she was married to my uncle Joe.
When we arrived in Wallowa county, Lace, Lindsay and Wesley were already living here and were considered old timers. They had settled in the Lostine section and were among the prominent citizens when I attended school there in the winter of 1901 and 1902. It was there that I came to know members of the Wes Hammack family quite well, as Floyd, one of the sons was in my class and we graduated from the eight grade the same year. Forty years later, Floyd and I were together as members of the Wallowa county court.
Since it was the Wes Hammack family with which I was most closely associated over the years, I will attempt to tell some of the history of James Wesley Hammack, a typical pioneer type of citizen, who lived and looked the part. As I remember him he was a large tall man with full white beard, broad shoulders and kindly disposition that won him many friends and the respect of his neighbors.
James Wesley Hammack was born in Knox county, Kentucky, April 2, 1838, son of James and Elizabeth (Moore) Hammack. As I remember him, he was a large tall man with full white beard, broad shoulders and kindly disposition that won him many friends and the respect of his neighbors.
James Wesley Hammack was born in Knox county, Kentucky, son of James and Elizabeth (Moore) Hammack. He, as well as other children in the rather large family stayed on the farm where he was born and acquired about the same education as young folks of that far distant day received. Going to school at such times as he was not needed on the farm, which was only a few weeks of the year.
In 1863, James Wesley Hammack was married to Miss Sarah Miller, daughter of John and Mahaly Miller, in Wayne county, Iowa. In 1865 he, with his family, started the long trip by ox team across the plains to Oregon. Like many other pioneers of Union and Wallowa county, Mr. Hammack first passed right through Union county and settled in Yamhill county. He stayed there but two years, however, and turned east again for eastern Oregon, settling in Union county. Several of his brothers also settled there. After successfully farming in Union county for nearly thirty years, Mr. Hammack moved with his family to Wallowa county and settled near Lostine, where he remained until his death. During their lifetime, Mr. and Mrs. Hammack became the parents of seventeen children, ten of whom were living when they came to Wallowa county. I knew some of their children quite well, Marion, Bert, Floyd, Hattie and Carrie. I was a schoolmate of Floyd and Hattie so knew them very well. Mrs. Caudle still lives in Lostine and is the only one of the Wesley Hammack family now living. The Caudle family have long been prominent citizens of the Lostine area.
Floyd, being near my age, and I continued to be close friends throughout his lifetime. He acquired part of his father's place after the father's death and built up one of the finest dairy farms in Wallowa county. The place is about a mile east of Lostine and is now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Bud Walker.
Floyd married Zelma Ogburn, daughter of Charles Ogburn, who for many years farmed near Enterprise, and they were the parents of six children, all of whom I know quite well. Since Floyd's death, some years ago, Mrs. Hammack has made her home in La Grande near the home of her daughter, Velva, (Mrs. Eddie Hoffman). Edna married Harold Glen and they live at Lostine. Edna is the only member of the family now residing in Wallowa county.
Of the four boys, Lyle has long been one of the leading businessmen of Portland, being manager of the Raven creamery for many years and later in the frozen food business. He married Lena [sic - Bernice] Miller, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Miller, and they love to return to their home county every summer, if possible, to visit with old friends and relatives. Last year Lyle was Chief Potentate of the Portland Shrine Club, which testifies to his popularity.
Charles is an engineer and Ross is also connected with big business in Portland. Both are married. Albert who farmed the home place for several years is now engaged in farming in another part of the state. Many of the Hammacks, cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews have left the county and are scattered over the northwest.
This remarkable large family of Hammacks helped to make history and did much in helping develop the Oregon country along with the other pioneers. Did you ever stop to think that you are making history now, and don't know it?
Wallowa County Chieftain
65 Years on Main Street
By Ben Weathers
Thursday, March 11, 1965
Submitted by: Tom Childers
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