Ernie Hammer is a long time Kiowa County Press contributor. This week, we begin a new series looking back at Ernie and his wife, Judy's, adventures. This series will continue over the next 14 weeks. To see Ernie's previous series, click here.

Second Time Around

My Grandparents Oswald Hammer and Margarethe von Barsewisch met in Switzerland. My grandfather was with a group of young Lutherans ministers and my grandmother was with a group of young nurses. These two groups got together for an outing and from there, Oswald and Margarethe, became interested in each other. Back in Germany they started dating and love grew. They became engaged.

Grandpa was sent to the United States to establish Lutheran churches. Grandma came to the United States about three months later and they got married. They both spent time on Ellis Island to take exams and pass test to become citizens of the United States of American.

Grandpa established Lutheran churches in New York and New England. I don’t know where Grandma and the children lived. By the time they got to Pennsylvania, they had eight children. So much for a paying nurse’s job.

Grandpa heard about Colorado, and about the Homestead Act, so he went there by train to check it out. He wrote to Grandmother and told her to bring the eight children to Colorado Springs on the train. They had a small house in Colorado Springs.

Earley one morning they left the courthouse and walked as far as they could, which was seventeen miles, and made their homestead application.

They had three more children on the homestead and my Dad was one of them.

When Dad was old enough to get a paying job, he got a job working for John Baker, who later would become my Grandpa. The Baker’s were Southern Baptist from Oklahoma and raised eleven children on a homestead in Hanover. 

My Grandpa Baker was also a livestock trader. He went to livestock sales at Calhan, Pueblo and Colorado Springs.

One time my Dad was working for John Baker and my Uncle Johnny was working with him. They were both smoking cigarettes when Grandpa came by. Before Grandpa could see his son smoking a cigarette, Uncle Johnny handed it to my Dad. Grandpa said “doggone, Boy, can’t you get enough smoking one at a time”.

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.