Indiana McCaslins

In the 1850 US Federal Census for Smyrna, Jefferson, Indiana, 50-year-old Maryland-born farmer Peter Hammond owns $2,500 worth of real estate. He and his 48-year-old Virginia-born wife Nancy [Chambers] Hammond have in their household their Indiana-born children, 25-year-old Robert H, 22-year-old Cynthia, 17-year-old Amanda, 14-year-old James, 11-year-old Emmeretta [?], and 7-year-old Sarah E and 14-year-old pauper James Kakee, whose relationship to the family is unknown. All of the children have attended school in the past year.

In the 1860 US Federal Census for Pawnee County, Nebraska Territory, 34-year-old Indiana-born farmer R H [Robert H] Hammond owns $500 worth of real estate and $460 worth of personal property. He and his 26-year-old Indiana-born wife Martha [Woods] Hammond have in their household their children, 5-year-old Indiana-born Charlotte and 2-month old Nebraska-born John Hammond. Charlotte has attended school in the past year.

In the 1870 US Federal Census for Township 2, Pawnee, Nebraska, 44-year-old Indiana-born farmer R H [Robert] Hammond owns $1,500 worth of real estate and $440 worth of personal property. He and his 36-year-old Indiana-born wife Martha [Woods] Hammond (who is "keeping house") have in their household their children, 14-year-old Indiana-born Charlotte, 10-year-old Nebraska-born Jos [Joseph, named as John on the 1860 census], 8-year-old Nebraska-born Nan, 4-year-old Nebraska-born Etta, and 1-year-old Nebraska-born Wm [William]. Charlotte, Joseph and Nan have attended school in the past year. Joseph cannot write. Robert is a male citizen with voting rights.

In the 1880 US Federal Census for Pawnee, Pawnee, Nebraska, 54-year-old Indiana-born farmer Robert H and his 46-year-old Indiana-born housekeeper wife Martha J [Woods] Hammond have in their household their Nebraska-born children 20-year-old farm laborer Joseph, 17-year-old Anna [Nancy A], 14-year-old Etta, 11-year-old Willliam and 5-year-old Guy. Anna, Etta and William have attended school in the past year. Robert's father was born in Maryland and his mother in Virginia. Martha's parents were born in Kentucky. Living next door to Robert and Martha is their 28-year-old Ohio-born farmer son-in-law Josiah Wilson and his 26-year-old Indiana born wife Charlotte [Hammond] Wilson who is the Hammond's oldest child. Josiah and Charlotte have in their household their Nebraska-born children, 4-year-old Grace, 2-year-old William and 6-month old Maud. Josiah's father was born in Missouri and his mother in Pennsylvania. Charlotte's parents were born in Indiana.

In the 1900 US Federal Census for Pawnee City, Pawnee, Nebraska, 74-year-old Indiana-born retired farmer Robert and his 66-year-old Indiana-born wife Martha J have been married 46 years and have had eight children, six are living. In their household they have their Nebraska-born two youngest children, 34-year-old Etta and 25-year-old retired farmer Guy. The family can read, write and speak English. Robert owns his house free of mortgage. Robert's father was born in Maryland and his mother in Virginia. Martha's father was born in Kentucky and her mother in Indiana. [sic]

From "Portrait and Biogrphical Album of Johnson and Pawnee Counties, Nebraska": "ROBERT H. HAMMOND. It is nearly thirty years since this honored pioneer of Pawnee County first set foot upon the soil of Nebraska, having come hither in 1857, during its Territorial days. He pre-empted 160 acres of land in Pawnee Precinct, upon which he effected considerable improvement, and then added to his landed estate to the amount of 160 acres on section 4. He now has one of the finest farms in this region, devoted largely to stock-raising, an industry which yields him a handsome income. The native place of our subject was in Jefferson County, Ind., and the date of his birth Nov. 1, 1825. His father, Peter Hammond, was born in Maryland, but reared mostly in Pennsylvania, to which State his parents removed when he was quite young. He was reared a farmer's boy, and upon reaching man's estate married Miss Nancy Chambers, a native of Virginia, who was the daughter of Robert Chambers, who subsequently emigrated to Indiana. He was born in 1800, and died in Jefferson County, Ind,, in 1836. His excellent wife survived him a period of forty years, remaining a widow, and passing to her final rest in 1876. To the parents of our subject there were born five sons and five daughters, six of whom are still living, making their homes mostly in Indiana. Robert H., our subject, was the third in order of birth, and, like his brothers and sisters, received his education in the common schools of Jefferson County, Ind. He remained a member of his father's household until reaching manhood, then commenced farming for himself, and labored thus a period of seven years before taking unto himself a wife and helpmate. He was then married, in 1854, to Miss Martha J., daughter of Joseph and Mary (Snodgrass) Woods, and in 1857 they started overland with wagons upon the long journey to Nebraska The first few years of their experience on the frontier were similar to that of the pioneers around them, during which they endured many hardships, but patience and endurance met with their legitimate reward, and in due time they had reason to congratulate themselves that they had come hither. Mr. Hammond commenced operations on a tract of unimproved land, and it is hardly necessary to say that the task of bringing it to its present condition has involved years of labor and the outlay of thousands of dollars. It has proved, however, a solid and safe investment, independent of the fluctuations of trade or business. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hammond was blessed by the birth of six children, the eldest of whom, Charlotte A., is the wife of Josiah Wilson, of Pawnee City; Joseph A. is prosecuting farming in Kansas; Nancy A. is the wife of John A. Perdew, of Nemaha Precinct; William H., Etta and Guy are at home with their parents. Mr. Hammond, politically, votes the straight Republican ticket. He may be numbered among the self-made men who have risen from a humble position in life to a good standing, socially and financially, among their fellowmen. He comes of excellent stock, people who have almost uniformly been distinguished by their industry, sobriety, and all the qualities of character which go to make up the model citizen. His paternal grandparents were Jonathan and Martha (Peppers) Hammond. who were of Scotch-English ancestry, and the parents of ten children. The mother of our subject traced her forefathers to England."