Abram A. Hammond
Encyclopedia
Abram Adams Hammond was the 12th Governor
of the U.S. state of Indiana
. He succeeded to the office upon the death of Governor Ashbel P. Willard
and completed the remaining three months of Willard's term.
March 21, 1814, the son of Nathaniel and Patty Ball Hammond. He moved to Indiana at the age of six when his family settled in Brookville, Indiana
. He attended school and later studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1835 he moved to Greenfield
where he opened a law office. He married to Mary Ansden in 1838 and the couple had one daughter. In 1840 he moved again this time to Columbus
where he partnered in a law office with John H. Bradley. He was briefly the prosecuting attorney for Bartholomew County
.
He moved again in 1846 moved to Indianapolis
where he and his partner relocated their law office. They moved again in 1847 to Cincinnati, Ohio
. Still on the move, they returned to Indianapolis on 1849 adding Hugh O'Neal to their law firm. In 1850 the Indiana legislature created a Court of Common Pleas and Hammond was selected to become its first judge. He held the post only briefly and resigned in 1852 to move to San Francisco to form a new law office with Rufus A. Lockwood. He returned to Indiana in 1853 and in 1855 moved to Terre Haute, Indiana
where he formed yet another law office with Thomas H. Nelson
. He remained in Terre Haute until he was elected Lieutenant Governor.
was nominated by the Democratic Convention to be the candidate for Lieutenant Governor. But when it was found he was ineligible due to his age the party's Central Committee choose Hammond, and former Whig. The remnants of the state Whig Party
completely integrated with the state Democratic party in 1852, and Hammond was one of its many pro-slavery member who merged. Hammond was included in the 1856 Democratic ticket as Lieutenant Governor with Governor Ashbel P. Willard
, in hopes of drawing the Whigs who had gone to the Republican Party.
When Governor Ashbel Willard died on October 5, 1860, Hammond was raised to the position of Governor where he served for three months. The death of Willard left the Democratic party without a candidate for governor. Hammond did not seek reelection as the party was in the midst of splitting with many member leaving to join the new Republican Party
. Hammond supported Stephen Douglas. Hammond continued to advocate for the peaceful solution to the issue of slavery.
His only act of significance was an address to the General Assembly on January 11, 1860. In it he suggested several new laws, and offered a temporary solution to the problems cause by the gridlock in the assembly. His main theme though, was to maintain harmony in the Union. He said,
In his speech, Hammond convinced the Assembly to send delegates to a Peace Congress held among most of the states in an attempt to negotiate a compromise on the slavery issue and avoid war. A delegation was sent, but voted unanimously against the conventions Crittenden Compromise
, which would have given concessions to the south to avoid the war. The nation was, however already set for war, and Indiana would become to first western state to mobilize forces for the invasion of the south less than four months later.
Soon after he had completed his term as governor, Hammond came to be severely afflicted with rheumatism
and asthma
, and retired from public life. He moved to Denver were he believed the warmer and drier climate would ease his suffering. He died there on August 27, in 1874. His body was returned to Indianapolis for a ceremony and he was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
.
Governor of Indiana
The Governor of Indiana is the chief executive of the state of Indiana. The governor is elected to a four-year term, and responsible for overseeing the day-to-day management of the functions of many agencies of the Indiana state government. The governor also shares power with other statewide...
of the U.S. state of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He succeeded to the office upon the death of Governor Ashbel P. Willard
Ashbel P. Willard
Ashbel Parsons Willard was state senator, the 12th Lieutenant Governor, and the 11th Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana. His terms in office were marked by increasingly severe partisanship leading to the breakup of the state Democratic Party in the years leading up to the American Civil War...
and completed the remaining three months of Willard's term.
Early life
Abram Adams Hammond was born in Brattleboro, VermontBrattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
March 21, 1814, the son of Nathaniel and Patty Ball Hammond. He moved to Indiana at the age of six when his family settled in Brookville, Indiana
Brookville, Indiana
Brookville is a town in Brookville Township, Franklin County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,625 at the 2000 census. The town is the county seat of Franklin County.-Geography:...
. He attended school and later studied law and was admitted to the bar. In 1835 he moved to Greenfield
Greenfield, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,600 people, 5,917 households, and 4,017 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,818.0 people per square mile . There were 6,449 housing units at an average density of 803.0 per square mile...
where he opened a law office. He married to Mary Ansden in 1838 and the couple had one daughter. In 1840 he moved again this time to Columbus
Columbus, Indiana
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Bartholomew County, Indiana, United States. The population was 44,061 at the 2010 census, and the current mayor is Fred Armstrong. Located approximately 40 miles south of Indianapolis, on the east fork of the White River, it is the state's 20th largest...
where he partnered in a law office with John H. Bradley. He was briefly the prosecuting attorney for Bartholomew County
Bartholomew County, Indiana
Bartholomew County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana, and determined by the U.S. Census Bureau to include the mean center of U.S. population in 1900. As of 2010, the population was 76,794...
.
He moved again in 1846 moved to Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
where he and his partner relocated their law office. They moved again in 1847 to Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. Still on the move, they returned to Indianapolis on 1849 adding Hugh O'Neal to their law firm. In 1850 the Indiana legislature created a Court of Common Pleas and Hammond was selected to become its first judge. He held the post only briefly and resigned in 1852 to move to San Francisco to form a new law office with Rufus A. Lockwood. He returned to Indiana in 1853 and in 1855 moved to Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
where he formed yet another law office with Thomas H. Nelson
Thomas H. Nelson
Thomas Henry Nelson was a U.S. diplomat and politician from Indiana.Nelson was born in Mason County, Kentucky on 20 October 1820. In 1860, he unsuccessfully ran for the United States Congress. He was appointed U.S. Envoy to Chile in 1861 by Abraham Lincoln, and to Mexico in 1869 by Ulysses S. Grant...
. He remained in Terre Haute until he was elected Lieutenant Governor.
Political career
In 1852 John C. WalkerJohn C. Walker
John C. Walker was a physician and prominent Democrat political figure in Indianapolis, Indiana during the American Civil War. In 1861, he was commissioned Colonel in command of the 35th Regiment Indiana Infantry . Disagreements with his superiors, including Governor Morton, led to his removal...
was nominated by the Democratic Convention to be the candidate for Lieutenant Governor. But when it was found he was ineligible due to his age the party's Central Committee choose Hammond, and former Whig. The remnants of the state Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
completely integrated with the state Democratic party in 1852, and Hammond was one of its many pro-slavery member who merged. Hammond was included in the 1856 Democratic ticket as Lieutenant Governor with Governor Ashbel P. Willard
Ashbel P. Willard
Ashbel Parsons Willard was state senator, the 12th Lieutenant Governor, and the 11th Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana. His terms in office were marked by increasingly severe partisanship leading to the breakup of the state Democratic Party in the years leading up to the American Civil War...
, in hopes of drawing the Whigs who had gone to the Republican Party.
When Governor Ashbel Willard died on October 5, 1860, Hammond was raised to the position of Governor where he served for three months. The death of Willard left the Democratic party without a candidate for governor. Hammond did not seek reelection as the party was in the midst of splitting with many member leaving to join the new Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. Hammond supported Stephen Douglas. Hammond continued to advocate for the peaceful solution to the issue of slavery.
His only act of significance was an address to the General Assembly on January 11, 1860. In it he suggested several new laws, and offered a temporary solution to the problems cause by the gridlock in the assembly. His main theme though, was to maintain harmony in the Union. He said,
It gives me great pleasure to say that Indiana as a state, has hitherto faithfully kept the bond of Union with all her sister States. Her record is unstained by any act of bad faith. She has never attempted, directly or indirectly, the evade or avoid any of the requirements of the Federal Constitution, and no man could doubt that if the same could be said of every other state, instead of discord, harmony would reign throughout our borders. Let us take pride in maintaining the high position we have thus far occupied as a conservative, union-loving state, and while we throw our weight into the scale in favor of any practice mode of settling the present trouble, let us continue to aid in the permanent and more lasting settlement that must flow from any restoration of amity and cordiality among our people, North and South.
In his speech, Hammond convinced the Assembly to send delegates to a Peace Congress held among most of the states in an attempt to negotiate a compromise on the slavery issue and avoid war. A delegation was sent, but voted unanimously against the conventions Crittenden Compromise
Crittenden Compromise
The Crittenden Compromise was an unsuccessful proposal introduced by Kentucky Senator John J. Crittenden on December 18, 1860. It aimed to resolve the U.S...
, which would have given concessions to the south to avoid the war. The nation was, however already set for war, and Indiana would become to first western state to mobilize forces for the invasion of the south less than four months later.
Soon after he had completed his term as governor, Hammond came to be severely afflicted with rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
and asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
, and retired from public life. He moved to Denver were he believed the warmer and drier climate would ease his suffering. He died there on August 27, in 1874. His body was returned to Indianapolis for a ceremony and he was buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 700 West 38th Street in Indianapolis, is the third largest non-governmental cemetery in the United States at . It contains of paved road, over 150 species of trees and plants, over 185,000 graves, and services roughly 1,500 burials per year. It sits on the highest...
.