Hundreds of friends and neighbors of Halvor P. Hammer, paid tribute to a dominant figure in the development of Cooperstown, Griggs County and central North Dakota Monday afternoon as funeral services were held for one who had served as leader this section for half a century.
The services were held in the Cooperstown Lutheran Church where so many gathered that scores were turned away. Rev. I. O. Jacobson officiated.
Mr. Hammer died at his home here 8 o'clock last Friday morning as the result of two paralytic strokes suffered earlier in the week.
Since the spring of 1882—fifty years ago when Mr. Hammer settled on a homestead near Lee post-office, the located about 20 miles north of the present site of Cooperstown—has the name of H. P. Hammer been a vital part of the history of this section.
Engaging in farming at that point for four years, Mr. Hammer moved to Cooperstown in 1886 and
purchased the livery stable from the Green Mountain Stock Ranching Company and also a meat market from Julius Retzlaff.
These ventures were the beginning of long and varied business career that saw Mr. Hammer active in the general mercantile business, banking and real estate, farming, stock-raising and other activities.
In 1888, in partnership with G. H. Condy he bought the general mercantile business then conducted by Lawrence Brothers in the present location of the Thompson-McDeromit Company. This business he conducted for several years under the name of Hammer and Condy while also having extensive land and real estate interests.
Although still retaining his Cooperstown business interests, Mr. Hammer moved his family to St.
Paul and lived there for a period of five years following 1898. Since his return here in 1903, he made
Cooperstown his home and also since then did his operations reach their greatest proportions.
In connection with banks, implement businesses and other enterprises he had interests in not only Cooperstown, but Binford, Sutton, Glenfield, McHenry, Grace City and other towns.
Early in his residence here he began developing and breeding high grade stock on his farm. For
his activities in this life and for the benefaction which he conferred upon this industry in the state, he was signally honored in 1929 by having his portrait hung in the Hall of Fame of the Saddle and Sirloin Club of the Noth Dakota Agricultural College.
For 20 years he was president of the First National Bank at Cooperstown and at his death was president of the Hammer-Condy Company, Griggs County's oldest firm still in business.
From 1921 to 1927, Mr. Hammer served as mayor here and later was a member of the city council.
He also was active in community organizations. He was a member of the Cooperstown Masonic
Lodge and was a charter member of the Sons of Norway Lodge. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church here and displayed interest in this and educational institutions by his
contributions.
Born at Solar, Norway, December 7, 1857, Mr. Hammer came to America in 1879. For two years
he engaged in farming at Northfield, Minn. While there he was married to Miss Carrie Anderson of Lakeville, Minn., on March 24, 1881. They moved from Northfield to this section the following spring.
The widow and eight children survive. The children include, Mrs. Anna Cowen, Mrs.
T. G. Thompson, William, Henry, and Ralph Hammer, all of Cooperstown; Mrs. M.
T. Houghton, San Francisco; Mrs. E. O. Erickson, Tacoma, Wash., and Mrs. H. O.
Grangaard, Ryder, N.D. One daughter, Mrs. O. J. Melgard of Grace City is dead.
Other survivors are three sisters, Mrs. G. H. Condy, Minneapolis; Mrs. Anna Skofstad, Cooperstown, and Mrs. E. J. Rice, Long Beach, Cal., and a brother, Paul Hammer, Lakeville, Minn.
Burial was made in the Cooperstown Cemetery.
Active pall bearers were H. A. Brown, n L. A. Sayer, C. E. Peterson, Clarence Arneson, Hans Kolstad and A. M. Paulson.
The honorary pall bearers included: S. Almklov, John Fosholt, Jorgen Soma, Benjamin Tufte, Will H. Charleton, E. S. Hamilton, W. H. Butler, S. Friswold, Peter E. Nelson, A. W. Anderson, C. S. Christianson and Lewis Berg.
Published in the Griggs County Sentinel-Courier, Cooperstown, North Dakota, December 8, 1932.
Hundreds of friends and neighbors of Halvor P. Hammer, paid tribute to a dominant figure in the development of Cooperstown, Griggs County and central North Dakota Monday afternoon as funeral services were held for one who had served as leader this section for half a century.
The services were held in the Cooperstown Lutheran Church where so many gathered that scores were turned away. Rev. I. O. Jacobson officiated.
Mr. Hammer died at his home here 8 o'clock last Friday morning as the result of two paralytic strokes suffered earlier in the week.
Since the spring of 1882—fifty years ago when Mr. Hammer settled on a homestead near Lee post-office, the located about 20 miles north of the present site of Cooperstown—has the name of H. P. Hammer been a vital part of the history of this section.
Engaging in farming at that point for four years, Mr. Hammer moved to Cooperstown in 1886 and
purchased the livery stable from the Green Mountain Stock Ranching Company and also a meat market from Julius Retzlaff.
These ventures were the beginning of long and varied business career that saw Mr. Hammer active in the general mercantile business, banking and real estate, farming, stock-raising and other activities.
In 1888, in partnership with G. H. Condy he bought the general mercantile business then conducted by Lawrence Brothers in the present location of the Thompson-McDeromit Company. This business he conducted for several years under the name of Hammer and Condy while also having extensive land and real estate interests.
Although still retaining his Cooperstown business interests, Mr. Hammer moved his family to St.
Paul and lived there for a period of five years following 1898. Since his return here in 1903, he made
Cooperstown his home and also since then did his operations reach their greatest proportions.
In connection with banks, implement businesses and other enterprises he had interests in not only Cooperstown, but Binford, Sutton, Glenfield, McHenry, Grace City and other towns.
Early in his residence here he began developing and breeding high grade stock on his farm. For
his activities in this life and for the benefaction which he conferred upon this industry in the state, he was signally honored in 1929 by having his portrait hung in the Hall of Fame of the Saddle and Sirloin Club of the Noth Dakota Agricultural College.
For 20 years he was president of the First National Bank at Cooperstown and at his death was president of the Hammer-Condy Company, Griggs County's oldest firm still in business.
From 1921 to 1927, Mr. Hammer served as mayor here and later was a member of the city council.
He also was active in community organizations. He was a member of the Cooperstown Masonic
Lodge and was a charter member of the Sons of Norway Lodge. He was an active member of the Lutheran Church here and displayed interest in this and educational institutions by his
contributions.
Born at Solar, Norway, December 7, 1857, Mr. Hammer came to America in 1879. For two years
he engaged in farming at Northfield, Minn. While there he was married to Miss Carrie Anderson of Lakeville, Minn., on March 24, 1881. They moved from Northfield to this section the following spring.
The widow and eight children survive. The children include, Mrs. Anna Cowen, Mrs.
T. G. Thompson, William, Henry, and Ralph Hammer, all of Cooperstown; Mrs. M.
T. Houghton, San Francisco; Mrs. E. O. Erickson, Tacoma, Wash., and Mrs. H. O.
Grangaard, Ryder, N.D. One daughter, Mrs. O. J. Melgard of Grace City is dead.
Other survivors are three sisters, Mrs. G. H. Condy, Minneapolis; Mrs. Anna Skofstad, Cooperstown, and Mrs. E. J. Rice, Long Beach, Cal., and a brother, Paul Hammer, Lakeville, Minn.
Burial was made in the Cooperstown Cemetery.
Active pall bearers were H. A. Brown, n L. A. Sayer, C. E. Peterson, Clarence Arneson, Hans Kolstad and A. M. Paulson.
The honorary pall bearers included: S. Almklov, John Fosholt, Jorgen Soma, Benjamin Tufte, Will H. Charleton, E. S. Hamilton, W. H. Butler, S. Friswold, Peter E. Nelson, A. W. Anderson, C. S. Christianson and Lewis Berg.
Published in the Griggs County Sentinel-Courier, Cooperstown, North Dakota, December 8, 1932.
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