Wallowa, Oregon
Linz Hammack, Early Day Freighter, Passes (By Lostine Correspondent)
Funeral services were held for John L. Hammack, better known as Linz at the Christian church. Rev. Earle Miller of Wallowa conducted the services.
The Pall bearers were: M. Crow, Roy Edgmand, Harrison Holmes, D. H. Magill, Edgar Marvin and Edward Thompson.
A quartette, Mrs. Ella McArtor, Mrs. Helen Bright, Chas. Bridwell and Melvin Crow, sang “No Night There”. And “Sweet By And By”. Mrs. McArtor sang the solo, “The Old Rugged Cross.”
There were many beautiful floral pieces. Burial was in the Summerville cemetery where a number of relatives are laid to rest and in the lot where his first wife was buried.
John L. Hammack, one of Wallowa County’s earliest pioneers, died at his home, August 28, 1937 at the age of 79 years and 11 days.
He was the first of the ten living children of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Hammack, (deceased), all of whom for many years lived in Union and Wallowa Counties, to have died.
John Lindsay Hammack was born August 17, 1858 in Wayne County, Iowa. During the summer of 1865, he crossed the plains with his parents. They spent the first winter in Marion County, Oregon, and the next summer, 1866, they moved to Union County where the Hammack family made their home until they moved to Wallowa County in 1881.
J.L. Hammack was married to Mary Cook in 1885 and to this union four children were born, Ora, who died at the age of 5 years, Mrs. Mamie Millard of Seattle, Jessie Hammack of Parma, Idaho, and Sadie Clemens of Merrill, Oregon.
His wife died in 1893 and in 1896 he was married to Irene Gaskill. To them were born Lee of Valsetz, Oregon, Lester of Jamison, Ore., John of Ontario and Fred, who lives at home.
Besides these children, he leaves two step-sons, Ben Gaskill of Echo and Elmer of Ontario, nineteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; four brothers, James L. of Enterprise, Marion and Floyd W. of Lostine, Bert of Medford; and five sisters, Mrs. Josie King, Ashland, Emma Gastin, Wallowa, Effie Cook, Carrie Caudle and Hattie Leonard of Lostine, besides a host of relatives and friends.
Mr. Hammack had a wonderful memory and could tell many adventures of Wallowa County’s early days. He used to freight from the Umatilla Landing to Boise, Idaho before the days of trains.
Besides his many relatives he leaves a host of friends who regret his passing.
Used with permission from: Wallowa Sun, Wallowa, Wallowa County, Oregon, Thursday, September 2, 1937
Transcribed by: Gary Jaensch
John Lindsey Hammack is my Great Grandfather, John F. Hammack is my Grandfather, my Mothers Dad, she is Teresa Hammack Raines. I always knew that Grandpa’s family came from Wallowa County. I lived in the county for almost 17 years when we worked for Bronson Lumber and BJ’s Lumber. I often wonederd how many of the people who I waited on everyday or Terry made deliveries to were relatives.
Thanks for sharing, Billie Jo!