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. Part 4 can be read here.

Colorado Springs

While Margarethe prepared for the train ride from Parkersburg, West Virginia to Colorado Springs, Colorado, Oswald went to Denver to apply for a homestead.  The land was near Colorado Springs, and Greta had already sent him money to buy a house and lot at 10 N. Walnut in Colorado Springs. 

It was a happy time, so many passengers riding in the same train car, with another three cars squeaking along the rails as the engine hurried westward.  When they came to the big city of Denver there were even more tracks than at Omaha or Chicago.  Here they switched trains to complete the journey to Colorado Springs.

Father ran towards them and hugged each one.  Poppa led the short distance over the viaduct onto Colorado Avenue left and down the street to North Walnut.  

Right away the plan for moving to the farm was ever on the minds of the children.  Oswald had built a three room hut at the homestead site.  A few months after the long winter the only thing that kept the eager family from moving to the homestead was Momma waiting for the birth of the baby she was carrying. 

Finally, Margarethe Hammer was feeling a real mission to be accomplished!  She would take over the life on the homestead.  As the family hurried packing everything for their trip to their new home, Margarethe delivered a cute little baby boy, born on May 28, 1907.  Oscar was the ninth in the Hammer clan and was just ten days old when the family headed for the homestead.

Now that the nester Hammer’s were far removed from city and town living, it was time to get on with learning about prairie living in eastern Colorado.  Hammer’s all seemed to rather fulfill the life of a dryland farmer and his daily work.  How a program never seemed to end on time.  Sometimes days were so busy they really didn’t believe you could finish one job before another demanded attention.  Of course, as Greta stated, “Many heads make work lighter.”  Each boy learned a job by helping until his body strength could develop into a working man.

So it was as the neighbors left their helping the new family get going.  The Shonts saw to the windmill and the watering of the house and animals; while Henry Moberly with his two boys, Doc and Bill, came to teach the sod plowing. As each of the boys grew older and stronger they took on the hard jobs and became the honor of the German family.  It took some doing when L.O. Hammer would leave and be gone for days and even a month or year.  But Margarethe was used to all that.  However, nothing much was made of it because he couldn’t do any kind of farm work.  

The first years went along quite good for there were other new homesteaders with as big or bigger families and they all were neighborly, and every one needed something, even the Moberly’s, the Shonts, the Gately’s or the Titus’.

Father wasn’t home much, for he having no job, went looking for one, but it seemed he always came out with more rubbish and used things for us but never a job of any note.  Nor would he work on the farm.  So he stayed in at 10 N. Walnut.  Then he would drive the horse and buggy out to the farm -unload his findings and collectibles like a rag man -stay a few days -discipline us all and leave again.  After Henry came the next year on December 26, 1909, and William the next year on July 18, 1911, and Gertrude entered the Hammer family at the homestead on June 28, 1912, pap’s trips became fewer.

Now the family was complete, but the drylands were becoming drier and the cattlemen and sheep men were infringing on our little hundred sixty acres.  So again, we wondered when we wanted a donkey or horse to ride or a bicycle, why we didn’t have money.  But we acquired the 40 acre Sherwood place, in a few years after that the Dew place and also got access to the Blower place and homestead.

Next week – Homestead Life

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.