Biography of William A. Hamm, 1902, Baker Co. Oregon: Surnames: Hamm, Hardin, Riley, Coleman.

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
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An Illustrated History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties, pub. 1902
by Western Historical Pub. Co. of Chicago. page 271

WILLIAM A. HAMM

That sister country to the United States, Canada, has sent many of her sons to
enjoy the fuller freedom and benefits of our democratic institutions, who rent
asunder the ties that bound them to the native soil and accepted the
responsibilities with the privileges that were conferred by the foster
country, and no more loyal class of citizens exists in the bounds of the
states than this same number of which we speak; and a leading figure of that
class in this section is the man whose name initiates this paragraph and whose
life of honest industry and wise operations has been fraught with much
interest during the years spent in our midst, as well as in those of former
days.

The birth of Mr. Hamm occured in New Brunswick, near St. John, on January 1,
1830, being the son of William A. and Ann (Hardin) Hamm and of German descent.
His educational discipline was received in his native land and there he
remained until 1850 and then transferred his citizenship to the United States,
stopping for the first thirteen years in California, where he devoted his time
and energies to mining. In 1863 he came to Oregon, locating first in Canyon
City and engaging in placer mining. In 1863 he came to Oregon, locating first
in Canyon City and engaging in placer mining. Success attended his efforts but
later an unfortunate investment on Olive creek stripped him from all of his
accumulations. Eighteen hundred and seventy was the date when he first saw
Baker City, and freighting the occupation to which he devoted himself,
transferring goods to the Cornucopia mines and to other places. This, with
various other industries, was followed by him until 1898, when he was called
by the people of Baker City to act in the capacity of street commissioner, and
to the discharge fo the duties devolving upon him in this incumbency he has
devoted his entire energies continuously since, giving complete satisfaction
to his constituency, and to him is due much credit for the advancement of the
city's interests in the care and improvement of her highways. He has ever
taken the proper part of a stanch citizen in the affairs of the city, county
and nation. He owns a handsome residence at the corner of Fourth and Madison
streets, besides other property in various places.

The marriage of Mr. Hamm and Miss Sarah, daughter of Dr. Riley, was celebrated
on June 6, 1864, in California, and they are the parents of four children:
William G., a miner; Ulysses S.; Abbie, wife of Samuel Coleman, of Baker City;
Ida, wife of J. R. Coleman, of Hope, Idaho. It is a matter of note that when
Mr. Hamm first came to this section it was in Grant county and The Dalles was
the country seat. He has labored faithfully and assiduously for the
advancement of the country and city of his choice and has always displayed
that unswerving integrity and public spirit, coupled with enterprise and
wisdom that command the commendation and praise and admiration of all.