California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 WILLIAM HALL HAMMOND. As president of the Mt. Whitney Power Company Will- iam Hall Hammond is sustaining the reputation for business ability and judgment, energy and unusual talent, won by him in the earlier part of his career in Tulare county. This project, which has felt the impetus of a master hand, was set in motion in 1897, when the purchase of the location and water rights on Kaweah was made ; in September of the following year the building was begun, and in July, 1899, the power was set in motion and the city of Visalia was lighted. The plant is located thirty-five miles east of Visalia on the Kaweah, where is to be found the finest water power in the state. The first plant put in is known as No. 1, and has a capacity of two thousand horse-power ; it is equipped with Doble Tangential wheels, and has a fall of thirteen hun- dred feet, brought down in a twenty-two-inch steel pipe. The second plant, known as No. 2, was put in a mile below, water being taken from the middle fork of the Kaweah, and this has a capacity of twenty-one hundred horse-power, the fall being less, but the volume greater. The two together have a capacity of forty-one hundred horse-power, the water returning to the stream above all ditches for irrigation of the valley below. It is carried down by wires and distrib- uted through the county by sub-stations. They now furnish light and power to Visalia, Tulare, Portersville, Lindsay and Exeter. The third plant, which is to succeed the Globe Light and Power Company, lately purchased by the Mt. Whitney Power Company, will be located on the Tule river, twenty miles above Portersville. and is to have a capacity of twenty-five hundred horse- power. In nine months over one-half million feet of lumber were sawed for the flumes for the first plants, which were conducted for a year by Mr. Hammond himself. In December, 1899, the Mt. Whitney Power Company was incorporated with a capital of $1,000,000, and with Mr. Ham- mond as president. The main office is located in Visalia in the Brown building. This is an achievement which has brought to Mr. Hammond much deserved credit and placed him prominently among the financiers of the county. The Hammond family came originally from Kent county, England, the first immigrant to America locating in Maryland. In that state William Hammond was born, grew to manhood and engaged in business. In 1851 he came to California and two years later died in this state. His son, Richard P. Hammond, was born near Hagerstown, Md., received his preliminary edu- cation in that vicinity and graduated from West Point. He served as a major in the Mexican war, after which he resigned from the army and came to California in 1849. He located in San Francisco and in 1857 became port collector for that city. He subsequently became identified with the Southern Pacific Railroad and for many years served as president of the California Pacific Railroad Company. He was very prominent in the municipal life of San Francisco, for fifteen years serving as president of the board of police commissioners, as well as taking an active in- terest in all movements calculated to advance the general welfare. In 1851 he was speaker of the house of representatives and thoroughly demonstrated while in that position the versatile talents which made of him so valuable a citizen in the formation of a new statehood. He died in San Francisco in 1891, at the age of seventy-one years and is buried in Oakland. He was a valued mem- ber of the California Pioneers of San Francisco, and also acted as regent of the University of Cali- fornia. His wife was in maidenhood Sallie Hays, of Tennessee, and daughter of Harmon Hays, who died in that state, and sister of Col. Jack Hays. She died at her home in San Francisco in 1867. Of her four sons and two daughters, two sons and one daughter are living. Richard P., a prominent civil engineer, was United States surveyor general, and was president of the Golden Gate Park Commission ; he died in San Francisco. John Hays, the celebrated mining en- gineer, is now a resident of New York City; Harry, a successful attorney, died in San Fran- cisco; and William Hall is the subject of this review. Born in San Francisco September 25, 1857, William Hall Hammond was reared to young manhood in his native city. He was prepared for college in New Haven, after his graduation from the Hopkins grammar school entering Yale University, where he studied for two years. Return- ing to California he entered the University of California, from which he was graduated in 1879 with the degree of A.B., in the same class with Governor Pardee. After his graduation he came to Tulare county and engaged in farming and stock-raising five miles east of Tulare. This he continued for several years, when he located in Visalia and engaged in the abstract and real es- tate business with John F. Jordan, which was incorporated under the title of Visalia Abstract Company. Although he has taken up other lines of endeavor, Mr. Hammond is still interested in this business and retains his connection with it. For a time he also took some interest in horticult- ural pursuits. In 1892 he was elected on the Democratic ticket county clerk by a large majority, and was re-elected for a second term, holding the office from January, 1893, to January, 1899. Refusing a further candidacy he entered upon the accomplishment of the project which has won for him large financial returns, wide commendation and the added esteem and respect of all who have known him. In addition to these extensive interests he is also identified with the Visalia Manufacturing Company, the Visalia Steam Laundry Company, the Kaweah Lemon Company, and the First National Bank, of all of which he is a director, giving to each interest the energy and ability characteristic of all his efforts. In Visalia Mr. Hammond was united in marriage with Miss May Brown, a native of this city, and the daughter of S. C. Brown. They are the parents of two children, William H., Jr., student of the high school here, and May, a student in Miss Head's School at Berkeley. A strong Democrat politically, Mr. Hammond has taken an active interest in the promotion of the principles he endorses, being an ex-member of the county committee and also of the state cen- tral committee. For several terms he has filled the office of mayor of Visalia and has also served on the school board for several terms. In 1883 he was elected to the office of county supervisor, discharging the duties acceptably for one term. Always an active figure in the commercial life of the city, he has served as a member of the Board of Trade since its organization, and is as- sociated with the Visalia Improvement Association. Fraternally he is prominent, having been made a Mason in Visalia Lodge No. 128, and now belongs to Visalia Chapter No. 44, R. A. M., in which he is past high priest ; Visalia Commandery No. 26, K. T. ; Islam Temple, N. M. S. ; and Oakland Consistory, being a Thirty-second Degree Mason. He belongs also to Visalia Par- lor No. 19, N. S. G. W., and Knights of Pythias. He is in all things a citizen who bears the impress of talent, energy and perseverance, coupled with dignity of purpose and integrity of aim which have won for him the esteem and confidence of his fellow-townsmen and brought about a per- sonal success neither lessened nor enhanced by the financial returns which his efforts have given him.