Rev. R. P. Hamm, a pioneer Kansas minister and farmer, was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, November 27, 1831, a son of George and Ruth (Riggs) Hamm, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Maryland.
Mr. Hamm was one of a family of nine children, four of whom are now living. They were all ambitious, successful and upright citizens. He was reared in Kentucky where he attended the country schools, and when twenty-three years of age went to Illinois, locating near Bloomington. Here he entered land, and followed farming until May 10, 1857, when he came to Kansas and settled in what is now Jackson county, at that time Calhoun. He entered two quarter sections, which was allowable under the law at that time, and received his land warrants from President Buchanan.
He has added to his original holdings, and now has a fine farm of four hundred acres, located five miles west of Holton. He entered the ministry in the Methodist Episcopal church in 1861, and four years later became a regularly ordained minister. His first circuit embraced three Kansas counties, and he has generally been located in the vicinity of Holton. He carried on farming in connection with his work in the ministry, but in 1900, he was compelled to give up the ministry on account of the failure of his voice caused by a severe attack of grip. Mr. Hamm has probably performed more marriage ceremonies than any other official in Jackson county.
When he came to Jackson county there were only two houses where the city of Holton now stands, and they were "claimers." He has seen this country developed from an unbroken plains into the garden spot of the world. He was here through all the stirring days of the border war, but never took any prominent part in the events of those times. However, in 1864, he served in the Kansas militia, in the campaign against General Price.
Mr. Hamm was married August 31, 1864, to Miss Susan Million, a native of Kentucky, and to this union were born six children: Cora L., married John Peace, and resides in Jackson county; Ella, married John Bishop, who is now deceased; Barbara, married Alvin Able, Jackson county; Melville Grant, resides on the home farm; Mattie, married John Martlens, a sketch of whom appears in this volume, and Robert Hibbert, resides on one of his father's farms.
Mr. Hamm has generally declined to accept public office, but served as township trustee for a time.
He has travelled a great deal, but says that he has never seen any place that looks better to him than Kansas.