Caleb Hammer

Source Information:  

New York City Department of Records & Information Services;          New York City Birth Certificates; Borough: Brooklyn; Year: 1896                                                                                                   

Presbyterian Historical Society; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1907; Book Title: 1887 - 1900

Year: 1900; Census Place: Brooklyn Ward 27, Kings, New York; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0487; FHL microfilm: 1241065

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1905; Election District: A.D. 21 E.D. 24; City: Brooklyn; County: Kings; Page: 18

Year 1910. Census Place: Brooklyn Ward 28, Kings, New York; Roll: T624_982; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0914; FHL microfilm: 1374995

National Cemetery Administration. U.S. Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2019 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, 

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1915; Election District: 26; Assembly District: 05; City: New York; County: Kings; Page: 24

Year: 1920; Census Place: Brooklyn Assembly District 1, Kings, New York; Roll: T625_1144; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 40

Ancestry.com. U.S. National Cemetery Interment Control Forms, 1928-1962 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: 

Registration State: New York; Registration County: Kings; Roll: 1754136; Draft Board: 24. WWI

The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147.  WWII

Caleb Joseph Hammer was born on the 30th of July, 1896 in Brooklyn, New York and baptised at the Mount Olive Presbyterian Church on the 18th of October, 1896.  He was one of seven children born to Frank (Francis) Hammer, a German emigree, and Lucy (Lucinda) Wright, a native New Yorker whose parents were born in Great Britain.

Caleb was the youngest of the children and was born with a twin, a brother, Charles Thomas, who does not appear on any future census and may not have survived infancy. The other siblings were (Francis) Frank Jr., William, Fanny F., Lucy Frances., and (Alvina) Alva A.

Caleb's father had always worked as a cigar maker, however during the civil war he served as a drummer for the 9th Volunteer Infantry Regiment and the 103rd Volunteer Infantry Regiment.  Both regiments were organized in New York City.    

Sadly, Frank Sr., died in 1913 while visiting a daughter in New Jersey.  He is buried in Cypress Hills National Cemetery in Brooklyn.  William Hammer was also deceased by 1913 and Caleb, now the only child still living at home, was working as a clerk to help support his mother.  Caleb lost yet another sibling when sister Lucy, now Lucy Meyer, died from a brain tumor in 1916.

Caleb registered for the WWI Draft in 1918 and stated that he is employed by Booth and Flinn, a company that specialized in large municipal projects and was then one of the largest construction companies in the country.  By 1920, Caleb is still working as a subway constructor and is now living in the home of sister Fanny, now Fanny Kunzinger.  

Mother, Lucy Hammer, died in 1924 and, as the widow of a civil war veteran, recieved burial beside her husband, Francis, in Cypress Hill National Cemetery.  Caleb's oldest brother, Frank Jr., died in Brooklyn in 1946.

In 1942, on his WWII Draft Registration Card, Caleb states that he works at Sullivans Dry Dock and Repair Corp in Brooklyn.  His next of kin is wife, Elta Hammer and he is described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a light complexion.

Caleb Joseph Hammer died at the Cumberland Diagnostic Treatment Center in Brooklyn on the 1st of May 1981 and was buried on Hart Island on the 2nd of June 1981.