H.C. HAMMOND

On last Saturday in the Community Church was held the last service for H. C. Hammond, who during his life in Olathe had given largely to the church from the wealth of his personality and the depths of his spiritual life. But not alone to the church had he given, the community was his debtor, and his influence is still felt in the lives of those pupils who came under his care. In the great silent world of the deaf he was an outstanding leader. He understood their needs, and met them; he knew their limitations and helped them; he understood their discouragements and inspired them. He enjoyed a well earned reputation as an educator and his administrative ability was recognized in every position he ever occupied.

Mr. Hammond was born in Detroit, Michigan, but grew up in Chicago, where he attended the public schools and the High School at that time there was but one. From there he went to Beloit College, Beloit, Wis., from which he was graduated in 1868. Immediately after his graduation he went as a teacher to the Illinois State Institute for the deaf at Jacksonville where Dr. Phillip G. Little was superintendent. After teaching there for five years he accepted a position in the Indiana Institution where he taught for five years before answering the call to the superintendency of the Arkansas School.

After five years spent in Arkansas he went to the School for the Deaf in Iowa where he was superintendent for three years, leaving there to take the principalship of the Deaf Mute Schools of Chicago. It was in 1895 that he left this position to take up the work as superintendent of the Kansas School for the Deaf at Olathe. Two years here and then, came the political upheavel in Kansas and Mr. Hammond went to Southern Missouri. But at the end of another two years he was recalled to Olathe as head of the Kansas School, where he stayed for fourteen successive years, the longest period of service ever given by any superintendent in Kansas. During these years he gave to the school the full benefit of his education, of his specialized training and of his wholesome personality so that the period of his superintendency of the Kansas School marks the period of its highest efficiency.

After leaving Olathe Mr. and Mrs. Hammond went to Newton, where they made their home with their son, W. L. Hammond, until Mrs. Hammond's death a few years ago. Since that time Mr. Hammond has made his home in Detroit, Mich., from whence he was recently brought to the Research Hospital in Kansas City, where came the end to his earthly life; a life that has been rich in service and full of inspiration.

He is survived by one sister, Mrs. R. E. Jones of Portland, Ore., and one son, W. L. Hammond, of Thayer, Mo., and two daughters, Miss Ethelyn of Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. R. T. Seymour of Delaware, Wise.

The Johnson County Democrat
September 14, 1922
Page 5, col 5-6