Jason E. Hammond

Jason E. Hammond was born on May 17, 1862, in Ransom Township, Michigan in Hillsdale County, to Luther and Rhoba Hammond.{{cite book |last=|date=1900|title=Educators of Michigan|trans-title= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vaygAAAAMAAJ|language=English |location= |isbn=|pages=31–33}}{{cite book |last=Michigan Historical Commission|date=1924 |title=Michigan Biographies: Including Members of Congress, Elective State Officers, Justices of the Supreme Court, Members of the Michigan Legislature, Board of Regents of the University of Michigan, State Board of Agriculture and State Board of Education, Volume 1 |trans-title= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q2jhAAAAMAAJ|language=English |location= |isbn=|pages=387–388}} He was their fifth child. Hammond's mother died on July 27, 1876, when he was fourteen years old. His father was a farmer. Hammond worked at his father's farm from ages fifteen to nineteen, attending district school in the winter.{{cite book |last=Fall|first=Delos|date=1902|title=Sixty-Fifth Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Michigan|trans-title= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lgZRAQAAMAAJ|language=English |location= |isbn=|page=60}} At nineteen years old, Hammond started attended Hillsdale College. He attended four terms, and then taught at district school for seven terms. In 1883, he started attending the Michigan State Agricultural College (now known as Michigan State University). He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega.{{cite book |last=|first=|date=1901|title=Greek Letter Men of Michigan|trans-title= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=noU4AAAAMAAJ|language=English |location= |isbn=|pages=258}} He graduated in August 1886, with a Bachelors of Science.{{cite book |last=Fuller|first=George Newman|date=1924|title=An Account of Ingham County from Its Organization|trans-title= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BSToCAYzdUUC|language=English |location= |isbn=|pages=498–499}} He served as alumni secretary of his graduating class.

After graduating, in 1886, Hammond served as principal of schools in Allen until 1890. He then served a similar position in North Adams until 1891.{{cite web |url=https://archive.lib.msu.edu/uahc/FindingAids/ua10-3-67.html|title=Jason Elmer Hammond Papers UA.10.3.67|publisher=Michigan State University Archives and Historical Collections |accessdate=January 7, 2023}} During this period, Hammond spent a summer doing work at the Michigan Normal School (now known as Eastern Michigan University) as well as reading law. In 1888, was elected to the Hillsdale County Board of School Examiners, on which he served until 1891. In 1891, the Michigan Legislature created the County Commissioner of Schools office. In June 1891, Hammond was appointed as the county commissioner for Hillsdale. He served as the Hillsdale County Commissioner of Schools until January 1893. In December 1892, Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction-elect Henry R. Pattengill named Hammond as his deputy.{{Cite news |date=December 9, 1892|title=Around the State|page=2|work=Alma Record|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115906389/around-the-state/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} Hammond served as deputy for Pattengill's tenure in office, from 1893 to 1897.{{cite book |last=Johnson|first=Thomas E.|date=1921|title=Eighty-Third Annual Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction of the State of Michigan|trans-title= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_HFLAAAAYAAJ|language=English |location= |isbn=}} Hammond wrote the book The School Law of Michigan, published in 1896.

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In February 1896, Hammond wrote letters to Detroit politicians, expressing interest in seeking the Republican nomination for Superintendent of Public Instruction.{{Cite news |date=February 10, 1896|title=Sayings and Doings|page=5|work=Detroit Free Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115925693/sayings-and-doings/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} On August 6, 1896, Hammond was nominated by the Republican convention at Grand Rapids, in a four way race.{{Cite news |date=August 7, 1896|title=All Over!|page=5|work=Detroit Free Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115926129/all-over/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} Hammond won the general election with 293,578 votes, compared to the 232,196 votes of David E. Haskins, the Democratic People's Union Silver candidate.{{cite journal |last1=|first1= |date=1897|title=Michigan Manual|journal= Red Book|trans-title=|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015073066550|language=English |page=623}} After the general election, Hammond appointed Daniel E. McClure, one of his opponents in the convention, as deputy.{{Cite news |date=November 20, 1896|title=Michigan Matters|page=1|work=The Weekly Palladium|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115926437/michigan-matters/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} Before his election, in 1896, Hammond began an investigation into the conditions of ten counties' schools. He investigated a school in each county, and collected information on various aspects of their conditions, as well photographs. Results were published in the superintendent report of 1897–1898.

Hammond was unopposed for Republican re-nomination in 1898.{{Cite news |date=August 16, 1898|title=Would-be State Officers|page=4|work=The Hillsdale Standard|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115982786/would-be-state-officers/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} In the 1898 general election, Hammond defeated Democratic People's Union Silver candidate John F. Evert.{{cite journal |last1=|first1= |date=1899|title=Michigan Manual|journal= Red Book|trans-title=|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015073066535|language=English |page=614}} In September 1899, Hammond made a new compilation of school laws.{{Cite news |date=September 12, 1899|title=New Compilation of School Laws|page=7|work=Detroit Free Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115984146/new-compilation-of-school-laws/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} Since 1898, Hammond was in favor of a normal school in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.{{Cite news |date=September 10, 1898|title=Upper Peninsula Normal School|page=2|work=The Ironwood Times|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115983597/upper-peninsula-normal-school/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} On September 19, 1899, the Normal School at Marquette (now known as Northern Michigan University) was opened.{{Cite news |date=September 20, 1899|title=Opening the Normal School at Marquettte|page=7|work=Detroit Free Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115984457/opening-the-normal-school-at-marquettte/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} In 1900, Hammond announced that he planned to retire from politics at the expiration of his superintendent term the same year.{{Cite news |date=March 3, 1900|title=Superintendent of Public Instruction Hammond Will Retire|page=7|work=Detroit Free Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115984970/superintendent-of-public-instruction/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} The same year, Hammond was granted an honorary master's degree from the Michigan State Agricultural College.

Hammond served as private secretary to Michigan Auditor General Perry F. Powers for four years, starting in 1900. From 1903 to 1912, he was manager of Hammond Publishing Company. From 1909 to 1915, he served as a trustee of the Kalamazoo State Hospital after an appointment by Governor Fred M. Warner. From 1912 to 1913, he served as a financial agent for Olivet College. From 1910 to 1919, Hammond participated in dry campaigns, rallying for the prohibition of alcohol at the local and state level, in Michigan, Illinois, and Missouri. In 1919, Hammond gave speeches to crowds of women, explaining the importance of voting, and educating them on the process of registering to vote.{{Cite news |date=March 13, 1919|title=To Comb City For All Women Voters|page=1|work=Lansing State Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115924598/to-comb-city-for-all-women-voters/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}}{{Cite news |date=March 7, 1919|title=Hammond Urges All Women to Register|page=2|work=The Times Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115924509/hammond-urges-all-women-to-register/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} In 1921, Hammond was appointed by Governor Alex J. Groesbeck to the state welfare commission.{{cite book |last=|first=|date=November 10, 1921|title=Moderator Topics|trans-title= |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a3XnAAAAMAAJ|language=English |location= |isbn=|page=184}}

On May 1, 1919, Hammond became the manager of the Michigan Retail Dry Goods Association. Hammond also served as treasurer of the Michigan Merchants' Association and as associate secretary of the Grand Rapids Merchants' Mutual Fire Insurance Company. On April 22, 1942, Hammond announced his retirement as manager of the Michigan Retail Dry Goods Association.{{Cite news |date=April 22, 1942|title=Retires|page=9|work=Lansing State Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115925445/retires/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}} His retirement was made effective July 1.{{Cite news |date=April 22, 1942|title=Dry Goods Group's Manager Retires|page=1|work=Lansing State Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115925363/dry-goods-groups-manager-retires/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}}

Hammond married Genevieve F. Whitten on April 5, 1893, in Jonesville.{{cite book |last=Leonard|first=John W.|date=1901|title=Who's Who in America, Volume 2|trans-title= |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015039596534|language=English |location= |isbn=|page=489|publisher=Marquis Who's Who etc. }} Genevieve was a teacher. Together, they had one son. Hammond was a Freemason, belonging to the Masonic Lodge at Lansing. Hammond was a Congregationalist. He served as superintendent of the church school at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing, and as a member of its educational committee.

After Hammond retired in 1942, he moved to New York City. He died there on October 20, 1957, in a nursing home on Fifth Avenue. He was interred in Jonesville, Michigan.{{Cite news |date=October 21, 1957|title=Prominent Figure Dies|page=17|work=Lansing State Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115909104/prominent-figure-dies/|via=Newspapers.com |access-date=January 7, 2023}}

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Category:1862 births

Category:1957 deaths

Category:American Freemasons

Category:Michigan Republicans

Category:Educators from Michigan

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Category:Michigan superintendents of public instruction

Category:People from Hillsdale County, Michigan

Category:Politicians from Lansing, Michigan

Category:Michigan State University alumni

Category:Hillsdale College alumni

Category:American temperance activists

Category:American school principals

Category:Writers from Lansing, Michigan

Category:19th-century American educators

Category:19th-century American non-fiction writers

Category:19th-century Michigan politicians