My Genealogy Hound

ABRAM HAMMATT.
Abram Hammatt, deceased, formerly chief clerk of the Supreme Court of Kansas, and one of the prominent and highly esteemed citizens of Topeka, was born at Howland, Maine, May 19, 1844, and was a son of William C. Hammatt. His death took place at Aiken, South Carolina, May 24, 1880.

Mr. Hammatt belonged to one of the old Puritan families of New England, his forebears having come to American shores in the “Mayflower,” landing at Plymouth Rock. William C. Hammatt was long a prominent citizen of Maine, an extensive farmer, a large lumber dealer and still later, a government official. The late Mr. Hammatt was educated in his native State, where he enjoyed academic and collegiate advantages and in 1869 graduated from the law department of Yale. Following his graduation, he made a pleasure trip abroad and upon his return he located for the practice of the law at Ottawa, Kansas. In the latter part of 1870 he settled permanently at Topeka, and was appointed chief clerk of the Supreme Court, a position he filled for the succeeding 10 years of his life. He was an intimate friend of all the judges. Mr. Hammatt was a man of superior education and more than usual native ability. When occasion demanded he showed powers as an orator and his complete perception of law and jurisprudence made his Supreme Court service one particularly satisfactory.

Mr. Hammatt married Maria B. Crosby, who is the daughter of John Crosby, one of the prominent men of the State of Maine. Mrs. Hammatt still survives, with two sons, Theodore D. and Daniel C., both of whom are connected with The Crosby Roller Milling Company, which operates the largest mills in Shawnee County, located at Topeka, the former as manager and the latter as secretary of the company. Both are enterprising and popular business men. Mrs. Hammatt continues to reside in her beautiful home at No. 602 West 10th avenue, Topeka. Socially, the family has always stood very high here.

While Mr. Hammatt was a stanch Republican, he was in no sense a politician. His education and travel made him a man of culture and he was deeply interested in the welfare of Topeka, not only in a material sense, but in its development into a city of beauty and intellectual prominence. It was his wish that his remains should rest with those of his ancestors, in his native State, and the desire was carried out. Personally he was a man of winning manner and he left not only his family to mourn his loss, but many friends and associates who continue to recall him affectionately.