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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Col. Thomas HAMER 

Pages 235-237, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: AMRINE, DOEBLER, GILBERT, GRANT, GREENE, HAMER, HECOX, JOHNSON, KING, LINCOLN, LYON, MERSHON, POST, SEIBERT, SWARTZ, WALTERS, YATES] 

    
COL. THOMAS HAMER. On the opposite page is present a lithographic portrait of this gentleman, who is one of the representative citizens and prominent residents of Fulton County. He has distinguished himself in various walks of life, both as a brave officer in the late war, a prominent civilian, an able statesman, and a successful man of business. He is an old settler of this section, and has long been influential in its political and social life, and has been a potent factor in advancing its commerce and agriculture, and its material interests generally. For many years a resident of Vermont, the Colonel is living in one of the most attractive homes of this beautiful village. He has retired from business, but is active in public life as State Senator, representing Fulton and Knox Counties in the General Assembly of Illinois. 
    
Our subject is derived from fine Revolutionary stock, both his paternal and maternal grandparents having done good service in the struggle of American Colonists for freedom from the mother country. He was born in White Deer Township, Union County, Pa., June 1, 1818. His parents were James and Elizabeth (Seibert) Hamer, who were natives of Northumberland and Lancaster Counties, Pa., respectively, his father having been born in March, 1784, and his mother in February, 1786. The paternal grandparents, Thomas and Ellen (Lyon) Hamer, came from Scotland to this country prior to the Revolution and settled in Northumberland County, Pa., taking up their abode in Chillisquaque Township on a large tract of land. 
    
Thomas Hamer became a prominent man in those parts. He was the first Sheriff of Northumberland County, and served in the Revolution as Captain under Gen. Greene, and filled various offices. He was the father of the following children--James, Thomas, William, Joseph, Jesse, Abraham, John, Elizabeth, Nancy and Wyllie, all of whom married and reared families, having settled in various States. William moved to Brown County, Ohio. He had a son, Thomas L. Hamer, who became a prominent attorney, and commanded an Ohio Brigade as Brigadier-General in the Mexican War. He represented his district in Congress, and appointed Gen. Grant to West Point. His brilliant career was cut short at the close of the Mexican War by his untimely death at the age of forty-five, at Ft. Brown, Tex. 
    
The maternal grandparents of our subject were Joseph and Elizabeth (Gilbert) Seibert, who came to this country from Prussia in Colonial times, and located in Union County, Pa. He was a farmer by occupation. In the struggle of the Colonists for independence he gave his services to his adopted country and was a good soldier during the Revolution. His children were: John, Joseph, Elizabeth, Sarah and Christina. 
    
The father of our subject served in the War of 1812 in the company of his brother, Capt. Thomas Hamer, and was afterward Captain of a militia regiment. He was married in Union County, Pa., and in the fall of 1846 with his family emigrated to Illinois, traveling from Pittsburg by boat to St. Louis, whence they made their way with a wagon to Vermont. The father located in this township on eighty acres of land on section 19, and resided there until within three years of his death, in the summer of 1871. His wife preceded him to the other shore, dying in the winter of 1870 in Vermont Village. They were devoted Christians, and while they lived in Pennsylvania were members of the Baptist Church, but after coming to Illinois they united with the Christian Church, and remained true to that faith. Mr. and Mrs. Hamer were the parents of the following nine children: James, who came to Ogle County, Ill., in 1844; Margaret; Ellen, who died in Pennsylvania; Thomas, Joseph, John; Elizabeth, the wife of Samuel Doebler; Sarah, the wife of Benjamin Swartz, and Samuel, who died in 1851. Margaret is the wife of the Rev. Adnah A. Hecox, a prominent Methodist minister of California. She keeps the light-house at Santa Cruz, Cal., having been appointed to that position by Abraham Lincoln. 
    
Col. Thomas Hamer passed the early years of his life on his father's farm, and was given the advantages of a substantial education in the English branches at Wilton Academy. At the age of sixteen he entered upon a practical training for a mercantile career by becoming clerk in a store, and he was thus engaged in his native State until he came to Illinois, when he acted in a like capacity for Joab Mershon, of Vermont, remaining with him two years. He established himself in business in 1850, and carried it on successfully until 1861, when he sold it to his cousins, Edward and Patterson Hamer. He subsequently devoted himself to his country and patriotically gave his services for the defense of the dear old flag. 
    
With characteristic energy, and a military fervor inherited from his ancestors, our subject set about the work of aiding to raise a regiment for the service, and was prominent in enlisting and equipping the Eighty-fourth Illinois Infantry, commanded by Col. Lewis H. Walters, and was himself appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment by Gov. Yates. He proved to be a most courageous and efficient officer; his military career was brought to a close, however, at the battle of Stone River, as he was there so wounded and disabled that he was rendered unfit for further service. He had three horses shot under him while leading his men to charge the enemy, and in the thickest of the fight he was wounded in his left breast, had his left shoulder broken and his right knee injured. Notwithstanding the serious injuries he sustained that day, the gallant and determined Colonel appeared on the field the next day and assumed the command of his men. They were so delighted at the heroism and fortitude displayed by their valiant leader that they gave him a gold watch as a testimonial of their admiration of his conduct. He was obliged to resign his commission after that on account of his physical condition, and after the battle of Chickamauga he was honorably discharged from the army. 
    
In connection with the military life of our subject we will add the following incident, gleaned from an article in the Chicago Inter Ocean, of his early career, relating "How and Why Fulton County's Industrious Legislator Failed to Become a West Pointer." Young Hamer entered the office of his cousin, Congressman Thomas L. Hamer, in Ohio, after he left his home in the Keystone State, and while there a vacancy occurred at West Point, which it was his cousin's privilege to fill, and he suggested to his young relative that he become a cadet at the famous military school. Our subject gladly availed himself of the opportunity thus offered to gain a military education, and laid aside his law books and went to Washington. His commission was made out and he was waiting to go where he was to receive several months preliminary training, when his cousin came to him one day and said: "Tom, this arrangement I made for you to go to West Point is all spoiled. Here's a letter I just got from Jesse Grant asking me to appoint his son. Now Grant is an influential man in my district out in Ohio. The district is very close. I want his influence, but I don't want any charge of nepotism brought against me. I want to have Grant's influence, so Tom, I'll have to withdraw your name and get Grant's son appointed in your place." Our subject could do nothing better than to gracefully yield the point and withdraw, which he did. Gen. Grant never forgot the Hamers, and during his Presidency when his influence was asked to have the Colonel's son Le Ray appointed to West Point, he promptly and cheerfully preferred the request for the appointment, which was concurred in by Secretary Lincoln. Much to our subject's disappointment his son finally decided not to accept the appointment, but the General's kindly offices in the matter have never been forgotten. 
    
After his return from the South our subject was unable to get out for six months, but as soon as he recovered sufficiently he resumed business, built a fine store and carried on a large and profitable trade until 1878, when he leased his building, sold his business, and retired. He also managed a farm of eighty acres besides attending to his other affairs. Col. Hamer has been a conspicuous figure in the public and political life of town and county from early days. He has represented Vermont as a member of the County Board of Supervisors four terms, and has held various local offices. He has been a delegate to nearly every State Convention since he came to Illinois, first as a Whig, and after the formation of the Republican party as its representative. In 1848 the Whigs nominated him for the Lower House of the Legislature, and although he had a Democratic majority of nine hundred to overcome, he came within three votes of being elected. In 1852 he was again nominated, and this time was elected, but was counted out. He was prominently mentioned as a candidate for Congress, and was urged by his friends to accept the nomination, but declined and used his influence for Gen. Post. In the fall of 1886 the Colonel was elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature, and so acceptably did he serve in that capacity, that he was elected to the State Senate in 1888 to represent Fulton and Knox Counties in that honorable body, of which he is still a member. His long experience as a business man and as a politician has been of value to him in his legislative career, and his course as a statesman has justified his selection as Representative and as State Senator by his constituents. 
    
As a member of various important committees while in the Lower House, he was instrumental in bringing about much needed legislation to protect and advance the interests of the State and people. He was Chairman of the Committee on Enrolling and Engrossing bills, served as a member of the House and Finance Committee, and was a member of the Committee for Appropriations, State Institutions, Canal and River improvements, Sanitary Affairs and State and Municipal Indebtedness. In the Senate the Colonel has been Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Claims, has been one of the Committee on State Charitable Institutions, Canals and Rivers, Federal Relations, Roads, Highways and Bridges, and executive Department. 
    
Col. Hamer has been a prominent member of the independent Order of Odd Fellows for forty eight years, and originated the Vermont lodge, and he has been connected with the Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons for thirty years. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while his wife belongs to the Universalist Church. He is popular with all with whom he associates. He is gifted with a frank, generous nature, is a lover of fun, and is a witty and entertaining conversationalist. He has gathered a never ending fund of anecdotes, and is never more interesting than when he is relating some story of his experiences of the war, of life in camp and on the battlefield. 
    
Our subject has been twice married. March 25, 1850, his union with Miss Harriet E. Johnson was solemnized. She was a daughter of Franklin and Hopy (King) Johnson, who came to this State from Herkimer County, N. Y., and were early settlers of Vermont, where Mr. Johnson was a pioneer druggist. Seven children were born to our subject by that marriage, of whom four boys died when from tow to four years of age, and one daughter at the age of six years. The children living are: Wyllie, wife of Ansel Amrine; and Le Ray. The latter is States Attorney at Oklahoma. He is well educated, a graduate of Abingdon College and Bloomington Law School. He stands high in business and political circles, and is an orator of ability. Mrs. Hamer departed this life April 13, 1871, at the age of forty years, leaving behind her a good record as wife, mother and friend. She was a sincere Christian. In early live, with her husband she was a member of the Congregational Church, but the exigencies of the war broke up that church, so many of its members were removed, and she afterward connected herself with the Methodist Episcopal Church. The marriage of our subject to his present wife, formerly Miss Maryette Johnson, a sister of his first wife was consummated August 10, 1876, and has been productive of mutual happiness.