J. E. Hamaker Biography

	This biography appears on pages 1103-1104 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.


	J. E. HAMAKER, one of the leading business men and honored 
citizens of Spencer, McCook County, comes of staunch German lineage and 
was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, on the 28th of February, 1849, a 
son of Adam and Hannah (Grubb) Hamaker, both likewise native of that 
county and representatives of old and honored families of the Keystone 
state. Adam Hamaker was a wheelwright by trade and devoted his attention 
to the same for a number of years, later engaging in agricultural 
pursuits. In 1837 he removed with his family to Ogle county, Illinois, 
where he became a successful farmer and prominent citizen, his death 
there occurring in 1892, his wife passing away in 1901. 

	The subject of this sketch secured his early education in the 
common schools of Pennsylvania and Illinois, and as a youth he became 
identified with the great basic art of agriculture, to which he 
continued to give active allegiance until 1892. In the spring of 1880 
Mr. Hamaker came to South Dakota and took up a homestead claim in McCook 
county and a tree claim in Miner county. He made excellent improvements 
on both of these properties and continued to reside on his fine 
homestead until 1892, when he took up his residence in Spencer. In 1894 
he here established himself in the furniture and undertaking business, 
in which he has since continued. 

	In politics Mr. Hamaker is an uncompromising advocate of the 
principles of the Democratic party. In 1891 he was elected a member of 
the state legislature from his district, being one of the historic 
"faithful twenty-five," and making a creditable record as a 
conscientious and able legislator. He served several years as a member 
of the Democratic central committee of McCook county, and has been a 
member of the state central committee since 1902. Fraternally he is 
affiliated with Spencer Lodge, No. 126, Free and Accepted Masons, and 
Salem Chapter, No. 34, Royal Arch Masons. 

	On the 28th of December, 1881, Mr. Hamaker was united in marriage 
to Miss Rosa B. Jarver, of Ogle county, Illinois, no children having 
been born of the union.