Draft:Francis G. Hamer

Francis G. Hamer (February 20, 1843 – August 10, 1918) was a justice of the Nebraska Supreme Court from 1911 until his death in 1918.

"Judge Francis G.

Hamer, associate 'justice of the Nebraska su-' preme court, end a candidate for re-nomination at the primaries to be 'held this month, died at his home here tjiis evening 'after a brief' illness of cancer of the stomach. Judge Hamer' was 75 years old at the tifn of his death and was ne of the pioneer members of the Ke--'Jbrajks bar. . He was born in a log cabin on a Ir little farm near Fostoria, Om Febru ary 20, 1843. Ten years later his family moved to Carroll county, Indiana.

At .the ate of 18 years yonng Ha-jner became' a Hoosier school master," and taught for. two years -. when he went to Indianapolis and 1 entered a law school - He supported "himself during his student days by ' teaching school and raising hogs and grain on a small rented farm. He ; was admitted to practice in the supreme court of (he state. Married in Iowa.

December 6, 1869, he was married to Miss ft. A. McCord at Eddyville, la. and immediately thereafter came to Nebraska and opened a law office at Lincoiik Two yearslater he went to Kearney, where he has since re- die-aided.

He was actively engaged in I fe-practiee until December, 1883, when ne was appointed one of the judges of the district court by V Governor Dawes. His district was the center ! of the. cattle industry of Nebraska and comprised one-third of the state. rail-He was elected twice to the same office and held the position of dis- trict judge for more tWMght years. Judge Hamer then resumed the practice of .law-and-waa elected to I.

-i ,.,u nil NehAra&amp; MlJT Nebraska Tn 1912; Judge Hamer, in his younger days, Wa a great lover of debate and be- longed to one Indiana, debatipg so-. : ciety for eight years., He was in late years frequently retained as attorney in criminal .cases Wher effort was being made to prevent execution of the death sentence. On several occasions he was able to ,hS Notable. among these were the wSSJZL v.b6th'4nstances theSentence-was finally carried out, but only after a protracted legal battle. A few days ago, ,6n account of the precarious condition of his health, he insisted that his name be taken off the ballot."