Name John Hammond Role Politician | Died May 28, 1889 | |
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Education Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | ||
John Hammond (August 17, 1827 in Crown Point, Essex County, New York – May 28, 1889 in Crown Point, New York) was an American manufacturer, Union Army officer and politician from New York.
Life
The son of Charles F. Hammond, a prominent owner and operator of lumber and iron businesses in crown Point, John Hammond attended the public schools of Panton, Vermont, St. Albans, Vermont and the academy in St. Albans. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and worked at his family's store in Crown Point before moving to California during the 1849 gold rush. He returned to Crown Point after several years in California, and resumed working in his family's businesses. In 1852, he married Charlotte Maria Cross; they were the parents of seven children, six of whom lived to adulthood.
At the start of the American Civil War, he assisted in raising and equipping a unit which was mustered into service as Company H, 34th new York Volunteer Infantry. He later helped raise a cavalry company, which he joined as a private; this unit became Companh H, 5th New York Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, and the members elected Hammond to be their commander with the rank of captain. During the war he took part in several battles, including the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Cedar Mountain. He was wounded twice, and advanced to become commander of the 5th New York Cavalry with the rank of colonel. After the war he received the brevet rank of brigadier general in recognition of his superior performance of duty. Hammond became active in the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, and the GAR post in Crown Point was named for him.
After the war, Hammond returned to Crown Point and became head of his family's businesses. he eventually engineered the merger of his family's iron company with several others, and became president of the newly-organized Crown Point Iron Company. he was also active in several other ventures, including serving as president of the Whitehall and Plattsburgh Railroad. Hammond also owned a farm, and was a breeder of cattle and horses. He was also a civic leader and philanthropist, and donated to or helped construct several local facilities in Crown point, including the Congregational church and the town library.
Hammond was elected in 1866 on the Republican ticket as New York State Prison Inspector, and was in office from 1867 to 1869.
He was elected as a Republican to the 46th and 47th United States Congresses, and served from March 4, 1879 to March 3, 1883.
He was buried at the Forest Dale Cemetery in Crown Point.