Ernie Hammer is a long time Kiowa County Press contributor. This story is written by Ernie’s Aunt Liz, Elizabeth Katherine (Hammer) Smith Benatti, based on her memories and family research. The story begins in Germany with Oswald Hammer and Margarethe Marie von Barsewisch, Liz’s parents. Liz passed away at the age of 104. She was living at the Kohart Home in Kit Carson at the time of her death.

Oswald Hammer

In the small town of Weisig, near Freitag, in Saxony Germany, lived the coal miner, Ernest Heinrich Ludwig Hammer with his wife Augusta Wilhelmene Petermann and their five boys.  (Oswald had one sister.) Mr. Hammer worked deep in the hole; mining coal for the Royal Saxony Mines.  In this deep hole in the village, was a livelihood, no matter how unsafe the working conditions.  Day after day, the miners trudged down the rugged mountain into the valley and up the opposite side to the big hole where a hoist lifted them up, over, and down into the dark sooted foul air of the tunnels where they would chisel or force coal out of nature’s house.

Oswald was only ten years old when his father was killed in an underground mine shaft.  The mother, thin and ill from the valley’s impure air, received the report of his death.  Her husband, a good father, would be sorely missed, but the worst of all was the loss of income needed to support a growing family.  The accident was no surprise, as it was a common worry and occurrence.  Some miners, along with company officials, were chosen to take the dreaded news to the wife.  The mine manager offered help by giving ten year old Oswald an office job and his mother was given a job of sweeping out the office.  

As time passed, Wilhelmene would take time to look out her small window in awe of the sight before her.  Across the low valley she saw the big gaping hole of the mine.  Farther down the valley and to her left, she saw the community garden just beyond the “pit” pond where water for the gardens was passed to the plants through pipes.  On the left, was the fowler house where individual families kept their animals, such as ducks, geese, and guinea fowl.  There the women would meet and share news on their way to gather eggs or perhaps choose a fowl for dinner.  They often chatted in groups while picking vegetables or weeding the newly planted crops.

However, widow Hammer wasn’t much for gossip.  Rather, she would think about saving money for Oswald’s education.  When a professor confessed that this unusual boy should go on to a better school, she knew not how this could come to be.  Soon good news came when Oswald was promoted to overseer at the mine office.  This allowed the family to save for the much needed books and other supplies.

There were enough extra funds to allow Oswald to join the Young Men’s Christian Association of the Lutheran Church.  He was confirmed into the Lutheran faith at the age of fourteen.  As a member of this society he learned the need of ministers for the Lutheran migration to the United States.  Ludwig (Oswald) decided to follow the call the Lutheran Church offered.  They would bear part of the burden of financing such a trip.  As he became of very studious pupil, he soon learned to read and write in other languages.  In 1893 he was ready to sail on the first ship equipped by Lutherans.

Next week, Margarethe Marie von Barsewisch.  

Summarized by Janet Frederick

The Kiowa County Press invites those who live in or have ties to Colorado - especially the southeast, however all contributions are welcome - to share their story with our readers. Family history, current life, unique sites and adventures, and other aspects of living in Colorado are welcome. Contact us at editor@KiowaCountyPress.net.