Merwin Kingsbury Hammond

		b. February 24, 1830 

bp. Hammond's Corner, Summit Co., Ohio 

m. (1) July 7, 1858, Samantha A. Fowler

m. (2) 

d. ? 

pd. Stockton, Illinois 

Figure 2.5: Merwin Kingsbury Hammond

Figure 2.6: Samantha A. Fowler Hammond

Merwin Kingsbury Hammond, the oldest son of Ward K. Hammond and Sophronia Hale, was born in Hammond's Corner^4.6, Ohio. He shared in the California Gold Rush in 1850, going overland and returning about 1856. He married and settled in Stockton, Jo Daviess Co., Illinois. With his growing children he developed a dairy farm there, which became the foundation for his later business and banking interests. By this time, there was fast train service into Chicago, which put a good market within reach of Stockton farmers.

Merwin's first wife and mother to all ten of his children, was Samantha A. Fowler. She was born January 14, 1836 at Hanover, Ill., daughter of Daniel and Anna Fowler. Samantha and Merwin were married on July 7, 1858 and several weeks later moved to Stockton. Samantha died March 4, 1904 in Stockton and is buried in Ladies Union Cemetery there.

Merwin remarried after the death of his wife in 1904, and built a fine new home which is serving as a bed and breakfast in 2002.