Benton Co., AR - Biographies - David H. Hammons

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        Date: 20 Jun 1998
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SOURCE:  Goodspeed Publishers, 1890.
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Hon. David H. Hammons, senator of the Twenty-fourth Senatorial District, which comprises Benton
and Madison Counties, of the State of Arkansas, and a successful physician, is a native of Cooper
County, Mo., born in 1836, son of Harbard and Elizabeth (Plemmons) Hammons, and grandson of
George W. Hammons. Harbard Hammons was a native of Warren County, Tenn., of Scotch descent, and
was a farmer by occupation. He immigrated to Cooper County, Mo., with his father when a young
man; was married here, but afterward settled in Newton County, of the same State. He died near
California, Mo., in 1840, at the age of thirty-eight. Elizabeth (Plemmons) Hammons was a native
of North Carolina, born in 1804, and was of German-Irish descent. She died in 1849. Their family
consisted of seven children, David H. being the fifth. He received the rudiments of an education
in the common schools of Carroll County, but received the greater part of his education by
private instruction, under the tutorship of Prof. George W. Pattison. At the age of seventeen Mr.
Hammons began teaching, and followed this profession for about five years. About 1858 he began
the study of law, and in 1861 was admitted to the bar at Carrollton, Mo., his preceptor being
Hon. B. D. Lucas. In the spring of 1859 he, in company with his two brothers and a cousin, went
to Pike's Peak on a mining excursion, but he returned in the fall, and in the May following
married Miss Fanny Lucas, daughter of 'Squire B. D. Lucas, who was a native of North Carolina.
This union resulted in the birth of four children, one living, May. Mrs. Hammons died in 1872,
and in 1873 Mr. Hammons married Mrs. Sallie Hamnett, nee Lowry, daughter of Thomas Lowry, and a
native of Kentucky. Two children were born to this marriage, Lena and David H. After being
admitted to the bar Mr. Hammons immediately began practicing at DeWitt, and at the breaking out
of the war he enlisted for six months in the State service, and at the end of that time re-
enlisted for six months longer. April, 1862, he enlisted in Company H. Sixth Regiment Missouri
Infantry, Confederate army, and was in service until the surrender. He was in the battles of
Carthage, Wilson Creek, Dry Wood, Lexington, Pea Ridge, siege and subsequent battle of Corinth,
Iuka, Grand Gulf, Fort Gibson, Champion Hills, Big Black, and was also in the Georgia campaign.
He was captured near Vicksburg, but was retained only two days, and at the battle of Pea Ridge he
was slightly wounded. He enlisted as a private, but was promoted from rank to rank until he
became captain of his company, receiving the last-named rank after the battle of Franklin. After
this battle he was taken sick, and was left at Tuscumbia, Tenn., where he remained until after
hostilities had ceased. He then located in Carroll County. Mo., and the next year went to
Bedford, Livingston County, where he began the practice of medicine, having studied the same
after the war, and where he continued to practice medicine, owing to the fact that the law
prohibited all attorneys who had served in the Confederate army from practicing or holding
office. About 1876 Capt. Hammons graduated as an M. D. from St. Louis Medical College, and
practiced for about four years more. As soon as the law [p.843] was repealed regarding his
attorneyship, he again took up the practice of law. In 1875 he went to Chariton County, Mo., and
farmed here until 1880, but in 1878 he was elected to the Legislature from the last named county.
He removed to Bentonville, Ark., in 1880, and since then has devoted his time and attention to
his profession, the law. In 1886 he was elected State senator, and served on judiciary committee
and circuit and inferior courts, on education, county and county lines, claims, etc. He is a
member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken nine degrees, Royal Arch Council Degree, and he,
his wife and eldest daughter are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.