[History of DeKalb County, IN, Brown, Indianapolis, 1914, pp. 924-926.] Daniel F. Hamman He of whose history we now offer a brief resume is one of the venerable and sterling citizens of DeKalb county, Indiana, having been actively identified with agricultural pursuits here since boyhood and being the owner of a good farm in Smithfield township, where his friends are in number equal to his list of acquaintances, for his life has been one of signal usefulness and honor, begetting objective confidence and esteem. Daniel F. Hamman was born on January 23, 1844, in Stark county, Ohio, and is the son of John and Margaret (Frick ) Hamman. John Hamman was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and was a son of David Hamman. He was reared in his native state, and was there married to Margaret Frick. In the fall of 1846, loading their household effects into a big covered wagon, in those days familiarly known as a "prairie schooner," they started on the long, weary and ofttimes dangerous journey across Ohio to DeKalb county, where they bought a farm in Franklin township. Soon afterwards they disposed of this place and bought one hundred and twenty acres in section 19, Franklin township, of which they later sold forty acres. At that time none of the land was cleared and it was necessary to cut down the standing timber in order to find room for a cabin. There the mother died two years later, leaving five children: Sarah, Simeon F., Daniel F., John W. and Franklin J. One and one-half years later the father married Anna Clark, who survived him and now lives on the old homestead at the advanced age of eighty-three years. To this second union six children were born of whom two died young, the others being Susanne, Francelia, Freeman, Commodore and Hamilton. John Hamman was not only a successful farmer, but also achieved quite a local reputation as a veterinary doctor, having a thorough knowledge of equine ailments and being successful in their treatment. He died some time during the early eighties. After the death of the mother of the subject of this sketch, when the latter was about five years old, he and his younger brother, Franklin, then but a year old, were taken into the home of their aunt, Mrs. Mary Brandaberry, and by her were reared to manhood. When the Civil war broke out Daniel F. Hamman offered his services to his country, enlisting in August, 1862, in Company A, Eighty-eighth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which command was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. With his regiment Mr. Hamman took part in a number of important battles in Tennessee and on the Atlanta campaign up through the Carolinas, after which came the Grand Review at Washington, the greatest military pageant the world has ever known. Mr. Hamman was a faithful and courageous soldier and, with the exception of a slight wound received at the battle of Perrysville, he escaped without injury. He received successive promotions to corporal and first sergeant as testimonial to his effectiveness as a soldier. At the conclusion of hostilities Mr. Hamman returned to the home of his aunt, with whom he stayed about a year and a half, and then bought the farm in section 22, Smithfield township, where he now lives. In 1870 Mr. Hamman married Harriett E. Martin, who was born in Smithfield township, this county, the daughter of David and Lydia Ann (Shearer) Martin, who came here from near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. To this union five children were born: Herman M., who is represented elsewhere in this work; John D., David A., Lydia Ann and Jerry L. John D. married Sadie Warrick, and lives one mile southwest of his father's place, and is the father of three children, Waldo, Myrtle and Noah; David A., who lives one mile southeast of his father, married Cyranda Walker and has two children, Lester and Mabel; Lydia Ann is the wife of Charles Erwin, of near Summit, this county, and they have a son, Russell; Jerry L., who is unmarried, lives at home with his father. The mother of these children died on November 1, 1887,and in April, 1889, Mr. Hamman married Mary Snyder, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, the daughter of Bronson and Mary (Kirkwood) Snyder. She came with her parents to this country in 1865, they settling first in Steuben county, subsequently buying a farm in the southwest corner of Franklin township, where they lived until their death. For many years the subject of this sketch has been an important figure in local public affairs and served as assessor of Smithfield township five years and also served as a member of the county council. Fraternally, he is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, where he enjoys intercourse with his old army comrades. His life has been filled with continuous toil and endeavor and has been so ordered in all its relations that he commanded the unqualified esteem of those with whom he has come in contact, for he is one of the most popular men of the township where he has lived to such goodly ends. Submitted by: Philip Ritter