John Hammer, Sr.    

JOHN HAMMER, SR., retired manufacturer, Meadville, was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 22, 1822. He received a common school education and early in life was set to learn the cooper trade, at which his father, John Hammer, and his grandfather, George Hammer, both worked. He came to New York in 1846 and worked at his trade in that city until 1862, when he came to Meadville, and opened a shop, commencing with eighteen hands. He after­ward took in two partners and added a saw-mill to the business, then employing about thirty hands. In 1880 he commenced the manufacture of cigars, but has now turned the business over to his sons. He was married in 1847 to Rosena Long, a native of Bavaria. Their children are: John, cigar manufacturer, Meadville, married; Edward, in business with his brother; John, also married; Emma and Louisa, at home; Pauline, wife of George Hessinger, cigar manufacturer, Meadville. Mr. and Mrs. Hammer are members of the Protestant Lutheran Church.

History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania: containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1885, page 742

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