May was born to Lorenzo Orren Lowden and Nancy Elisabeth Breg. In 1868 the family moved from Minnesota to Point Pleasant, Iowa.
On October 24, 1875 she married John Augustus Hammer in Point Peasant, IA. They would go on to have five sons: Harold, Royal, Maxwell, Fred and Ivan.
In 1897 they moved to a farm south west of Elkton, SD. This is the farm my grandparents would eventually live on until the year I turned 18. In 1901 (according to my grandmother Adele Mary Hammer Bebensee) May planted peonies on two sides of the house. In 1984 I heard the new owners of the land were going to tear down the house so I got permission to dig all of the peonies. They are now in my yard in Brookings,SD.
In 1917, May's younger brother, Frank Orren Lowden, became the Republican governor of Illinois. He also was a contender for the 1920 Republican presidential nomination, and declined to run as vice president on the 1924 Republican ticket.
By 1920 they had moved into Elkton, SD and lived in a mortgage free house on Elk Street.My great grandfather Ivan Ward Hammer has taken over the family farm.
In 1925 May and John celebrated their 5oth wedding anniversary. She died in less that two years and is buried in the Elkton City Cemetery south of town. Her grave is to the north of the large cross.
May was born to Lorenzo Orren Lowden and Nancy Elisabeth Breg. In 1868 the family moved from Minnesota to Point Pleasant, Iowa.
On October 24, 1875 she married John Augustus Hammer in Point Peasant, IA. They would go on to have five sons: Harold, Royal, Maxwell, Fred and Ivan.
In 1897 they moved to a farm south west of Elkton, SD. This is the farm my grandparents would eventually live on until the year I turned 18. In 1901 (according to my grandmother Adele Mary Hammer Bebensee) May planted peonies on two sides of the house. In 1984 I heard the new owners of the land were going to tear down the house so I got permission to dig all of the peonies. They are now in my yard in Brookings,SD.
In 1917, May's younger brother, Frank Orren Lowden, became the Republican governor of Illinois. He also was a contender for the 1920 Republican presidential nomination, and declined to run as vice president on the 1924 Republican ticket.
By 1920 they had moved into Elkton, SD and lived in a mortgage free house on Elk Street.My great grandfather Ivan Ward Hammer has taken over the family farm.
In 1925 May and John celebrated their 5oth wedding anniversary. She died in less that two years and is buried in the Elkton City Cemetery south of town. Her grave is to the north of the large cross.
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