Biography of  Thomas Hamman, pages 769 / 770.  History of De Kalb County, 
Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

Thomas Hamman, one of the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of De 
Kalb County, bought his farm on section 16, Smithfield Township, in the fall 
of 1847.  The next April he began clearing his land, which was heavily 
timbered, and the same year began the erection of a dwelling which he 
finished in the spring of 1849.  This was the first frame house in 
Smithfield Township.  It is 18x30 feet in size, with 13-ft. posts.  Mr. 
Hamman has always been a hard working man.  The first six years he was in De 
Kalb County he cleared and fenced sixty acres of heavily timbered land, and 
since coming to the county has chopped the timber from 140 acres.  He now 
has 312 acres of land, 135 of which is under cultivation.  His buildings 
are among the best in the township.  His barn which is 85x42 feet in size, 
was built in 1864, and for a long time was the best, and is not excelled 
now by any in the township. Mr. Hamman was born in Stark County, Ohio, in 
1823.  His father died when he was fifteen years old, and from that age he 
was obliged to rely on himself for a livelihood.  He was married in 1850 
to Elizabeth Sayler, a native of York County, Pa., who came with her 
stepfather, Adam Hood, to De Kalb County in an early day.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Hamman have had nine children, but five of whom are living---John Henry, 
Caroline, Thomas and Simon.  Samuel died at the age of thirty years in 
1883; Eliza and two others died in infancy.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com