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Ancestors and Descendants of
Michael Hammes, Jr & Margaretha Hammen
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 1910 - 1972 (61 years)
Has 73 ancestors and 11 descendants in this family tree.
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| Name |
Richard Peter Hammes |
| Birth |
14 Oct 1910 |
| Gender |
Male |
| Death |
22 May 1972 |
Near the South Skunk River, about 4 miles north of Ollie, Keokuk County, Iowa  |
| Burial |
27 May 1972 |
Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Clear Creek Township, Keokuk County, Iowa |
| Person ID |
I21 |
Peter and Anna |
| Last Modified |
30 Jul 2015 |
| Father |
Nicholas Edward Hammes, b. 4 Sep 1881, At Home on Farm, Clear Creek Township, Keokuk County, Iowa d. 19 Feb 1951 (Age 69 years) |
| Relationship |
Birth |
| Mother |
Anna Christina Goeldner, b. 14 Jun 1889, German Township, Keokuk County, Iowa d. 16 Oct 1925 (Age 36 years) |
| Relationship |
Birth |
| Marriage |
11 Feb 1908 |
Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Clear Creek Township, Keokuk, County, Iowa |
| Photos
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 | Nicholas & Anna Hammes with son, Richard, circa 1912
Diggin thru some old family pics in the archive. In the pic is L-R My great uncle Richard, my great grandpa Nicholas his wife Anna and an unidentified family member. I would place this pic around 1912, taken on the family "home place" a modest clapboard two-story farm house typical of Iowa. While there are only 2 children in this pic, the house would go on to house 11 kids, including my Grandma Viola. A summer 40-50 yrs ago would always include spending weeks with my grandma Conklin, in Harper, IA. A town of maybe 200 or so people. We would venture into grandma's attic full of cool old things, pull out the old picnic baskets full of old pics...with her telling me who was who and other family stories. I remembered a lot but wish I had taped the chats. Good times.
Steve Stahl |
 | Nicholas Hammes & Anna Goeldner wedding
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 | Nicholas Hammes with his 11 children and 1 grandchild
Back Row, Left to Right: Nicholas, Viola, Clara, Dorothy, Marie, Richard, Leo and Lloyd
Front Row, Left to Right: Nicholas, Harold, Leroy, Howard and in front, Susanne Heisdorffer |
 | Nicholas & Anna Hammes kids as adults
Back Row (L to R): Richard, Viola, Clara, Dorothy, Marie, Nicholas. Front Row (L to R): Lloyd, Leo,Harold, Nick, Howard, Leroy |
 | Nicholas Hammes and his 11 children, and mother in law Susanna Goeldner. From Harper Ia
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 | Oswald Goeldner farm, Later passed daughter Anna and Son In Law Nicholas Hammes, now the home of Dorothy (Hammes) Kerber
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 | Nick Hammes and Children (and 1 Granddaughter)
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 | Nick Hammes' Kids - Photo 1
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 | Nick Hammes' Kids - Photo 2
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 | Nick Hammes' Kids - Photo 3
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 | Nicholas Hammes Family Farm House
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 | GOELDNER Farm, near Harper IA. Later to become the Nick and Anna Hammes farm, and Dorothy (Hammes) and Gordon Kerber farm. This farm remains in the family to this day. Probably over 125 yrs or more.
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 | Nick Hammes / Anna Goeldner farm - circa 1960s
Notice the large round hay bales in the foreground. The large round baler was introduced in the 1960s, so this was an early adoption of the technology. |
| Family ID |
F3 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family 1 |
Ruth Marie Kiefer, b. 20 Mar 1917 d. 18 Apr 1960, Keokuk County Hospital, Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa (Age 43 years) |
| Marriage |
21 May 1946 |
| Notes |
- BIRTHS
Sigourney Couple Have Second Set Of Twins
SIGOURNEY -- Mr. and Mrs. Richard Hammes of Sigourney, Iowa are the parents of twins born here, a boy and girl,
This the couple's second set of twins. They have two boys, 8 years old. The boy and girl were the first twins born at the Keokuk County Hospital.
SOURCE: The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Friday, July 22, 1955
- FEW ON MEMORIAL DAY CARRY BURDEN OF RICHARD HAMMES
BY DAN PERKES
SIGOURNEY (AP)—The mournful wail of a train whistle rebounded off the rolling green hills surrounding this small southeastern Iowa town.
Richard Hammes, 49, swung his head toward the direction of the sound and murmured, “They’re blowing the whistle longer ever since the children…”
His voice trailed off in a whisper as he remembered a day back in October, 1956, when his world almost stopped. Among all who remember on this Memorial Day, few carry tragic recollection of the weight borne on Richard Hammes.
On October 25, four years ago, Mrs. Hammes was driving the family automobile toward a country schoolhouse when it collided with a Rock Island freight train at a blind crossing just northeast of their
home.
In the car with her were the Hammes’ eight children, 9 year old twins Ronnie and Donnie; Karen, 8; Linda, 7; Gary, 6; Rosemary, 3; and Rickie and Vicky, 1 year old twins.
SEVEN OF the children were killed outright in the crash. The eighth died a short time later at the county hospital in Sigourney.
Mrs. Hammes survived one of the worst traffic accidents in Iowa history.
More than a year later, the birth of a son, Myron, helped the Hammeses forget a bit about the tragic past.
They worked hard at rearing their son and building up the family business – wool, fur and hide buying and farming.
Then tragedy struck a second time.
Mrs. Hammes, 41, died last April 18 of a heart attack just before the scheduled birth to what would have been the Hammes’ second child of their new family.
“The doc said her heart was just too heavy with grieving about the children. It had to give.” Hammes said in a faltering voice. “She kept the grief all to herself. She never talked about what happened.”
HAMMES RECALLS the past like a man awakening from a frightening dream and wondering whether what he dreamed about could be real.Explained a sister, Mrs. Cleo Conklin:
“He doesn’t understand why he should have to bear it all. We don’t understand either. The answer is with God.”
Hammes, his neighbors say, has been making remarkable recovery for a man whose large family, once his life, has been cut down.
“Richard is a very strong man—both mentally and physically. That helps” one neighbor remarked. Hammes, his shock of red hair now flecked with gray, has found much of his gallantry for living in faith and prayer.
He finds solace from his sister-in-law, Sister M. Paulette of Pius XI high school of Milwaukee.In one of her most recent letters to Hammes, she wrote: “It seems being able to weep is the way God arranged it so that we poor mortals can get some relief from pain or sorrow.”
“….We look to God with trust and say, ‘You know best, God, your will be done. But please, God, don’t take any more—at least not for a long time.’ "
HAMMES ALSO finds solace among other members of his family, his friends and associates, all of whom are frequent visitors to the nine-room Hammes farmhouse.
Occasionally, Hammes, once nicknamed “Jolly Richard” joins in the laughter and merriment around the work shed or home. His mouth smiles. His eyes don’t.
He smiles most when he’s around his son, a sprightly 2 year-old. Hammes perhaps is a bit more doting than the average father.
“He’s going to take over the business one of these days. You’ll see” he said quietly. Then his eyes glistened with tears as he added:
“Ronnie would have been the fur buyer. Donnie the wool buyer…”
The sound of the train whistle carried over the lush hills to Sts Peter and Paul church, a small country parish located at Clear Creek, about 10 miles east of the Hammes place on Highway 92 about three miles east of Sigourney.
Next to the church is a small graveyard. Here the children and Mrs. Hammes are buried. Grass already has spread thickly over the youngsters large single grave. Tulips planted atop it are blooming.
A NEWLY-DUG mound next to the children’s is a poignant reminder of the latest tragedy in the life of Richard Hammes.
Perhaps Hammes finds some peace of mind in tranquil words inscribed on a memorial to the children in the same graveyard. They read:
“Now the Lord says, a voice is heard in Rama; it is Rachel weeping to her children and she will not be comforted for none is left; but thus He reassures thee: Sad eyes, weep no more; to their own possessions thy children shall return.” (Jeremiah 31:15).
SOURCE: Iowa City Press Citizen, Iowa City, Iowa, Monday, May 30, 1960
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| Children |
| | 1. Ronald Nicholas Hammes, b. 2 Nov 1946, Keokuk County Hospital, Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa d. 25 Oct 1956, Auto/Train Accident, East of Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa (Age 9 years) [Birth] |
| | 2. Donald John Hammes, b. 2 Nov 1946, Keokuk County Hospital, Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa d. 25 Oct 1956, Auto/Train Accident, East of Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa (Age 9 years) [Birth] |
| | 3. Karen Kay Hammes, b. 20 Feb 1948 d. 25 Oct 1956, Auto/Train Accident, East of Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa (Age 8 years) [Birth] |
| | 4. Linda Lee Hammes, b. 22 Jul 1949 d. 25 Oct 1956, Auto/Train Accident, East of Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa (Age 7 years) [Birth] |
| | 5. Gary Richard Hammes, b. 9 Aug 1950 d. 25 Oct 1956, Auto/Train Accident, East of Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa (Age 6 years) [Birth] |
| | 6. Rose Mary Ann Hammes, b. 4 Nov 1953 d. 25 Oct 1956, Auto/Train Accident, East of Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa (Age 2 years) [Birth] |
| | 7. Richard Dean Hammes, b. 16 Jul 1955, Keokuk County Hospital, Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa d. 25 Oct 1956, Auto/Train Accident, East of Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa (Age 1 year) [Birth] |
| | 8. Victoria Jean Hammes, b. 16 Jul 1955, Keokuk County Hospital, Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa d. 25 Oct 1956, Auto/Train Accident, East of Sigourney, Keokuk County, Iowa (Age 1 year) [Birth] |
| + | 9. Living |
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| Photos
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 | Funeral of the eight children of Richard and Ruth Hammes - 1956
Taken during the funeral of Ronnie & Donnie 9 yr old twins, Karen 8, Linda 7, Gary 6, Rosemary 3, Vicky & Ricky 1 yr old twins. The church could not hold all those attending. Notice all the people standing outside the church. Photo taken by Herbert I. Peiffer. |
 | Funeral of the eight children of Richard and Ruth Hammes - 1956
Photo taken by Herbert I. Peiffer |
 | Funeral of the eight children of Richard and Ruth Hammes - 1956
Photo taken by Herbert I. Peiffer |
 | Funeral of the eight children of Richard and Ruth Hammes - 1956
Starting with the priests at the left, you can see the procession of all the caskets to the cemetery. Ronnie & Donnie 9 yr old twins, Karen 8, Linda 7, Gary 6, Rosemary 3, Vicky & Ricky 1 yr old twins. Photo taken by Herbert I. Peiffer. |
| Histories |
 | Eight Children and a Train
The story of the tragic death of the eight children of Richard and Ruth Hammes in a car/train accident in 1956. |
| Albums |
| Eight Children and a Train (5)
The story of the tragic death of the eight children of Richard and Ruth Hammes in a car/train accident in 1956 |
| Last Modified |
13 Sep 2015 |
| Family ID |
F31 |
Group Sheet | Family Chart |
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| Photos
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 | Front: Susanna (Leuck) Goeldner, Anna (fuhs or Fuss) Leuck
Rear: Marie (Hammes) Heisdorffer, Oswald Goeldner, Richard Hammes.
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 | Susanna Goeldner Home: Sigourney IA.
Susanna (Leuck) Goeldner, Viola (Hammes) Conklin Heisdorffer, Richard Hammes, Marie (Hammes) Heisdorffer
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 | (standing) Susanna (LUECK) Goldner, Marie (Hammes) Heisdorffer, Anna (fuhs or Fuss) Lueck . Richard Hammes.
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 | Anna (Goeldner) Hammes, child: Richard Hammes, Anna (Fuhs or Fuss) Lueck (Anna Hammes' Grandmother) Susanna (Leuck) Goldner. (Anna Hammes' Mother)
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 | Anna (Fuhs or Fuss) Leuck...Richard Hammes in rear.
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| Notes |
- OBITUARY
Rites For Father Of 8 Who Were Killed in ’56 Crash
SIGOURNEY, IOWA - Funeral services will be at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church near Sigourney, Iowa this morning for Richard P. Hammes, 61, of Sigourney, Iowa, whose eight children died in a car-train accident in 1956 that ranks as one of Iowa’s worst traffic accidents.
Keokuk County sheriff’s officers said Hammes body was found Thursday morning in a wooded area along the banks of the South Skunk River about four miles north of Ollie, Iowa.
County Medical Examiner, Opas Jutaba ruled that death was caused by a self-inflected rifle shot.
Hammes had been missing since Monday night, when he was last seen by friends in Sigourney, Iowa. His car was found early Thursday morning near an old boat-landing dock beneath a bridge over the river.
Found Body
Searchers combed the wooded areas along the river banks and found his body in a seated position at the base of a tree. Officials were unable to determine the exact time of death.
Hammes was picking corn on his farm near Sigourney, Iowa October 25, 1956, when he was informed by law enforcement officials that all eight of his children were killed when a Rock Island Lines freight train ripped into the family auto at a “blind” crossing near Sigourney, Iowa.
His wife, Ruth, who was driving the children to school, was the only survivor of the collision.
Mrs. Hammes was still a patient in a Sigourney hospital when more than 1,000 persons attended the funeral for the eight children at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in the rural, unincorporated community of Clear Creek eight miles east of Sigouney, Iowa.
The children who ranged in age from 9 to 1 and included two sets of twins, were buried in a mass grave at the church cemetery.
Nearly two years later Mrs. Hammes gave birth to another son, Myron, now 14, who is the only survivor of the Hammes family.
Heart Attack
On April 4, 1960, Mrs. Hammes then 41 died of a heart attack while awaiting the birth of another child. The child was stillborn.
Until about a year ago, Hammes continued his farming and fur-buying operations that he was involved in when the tragedy first struck. Young Myron lived for several years with Hammes’ sister, Mrs. Cleo Conklin of Harper, Iowa, until Hammes re-married. Myron then moved in with his father.
The second marriage ended in a divorce about two years ago, according to friends of the family and Hammes was observed becoming increasingly despondent.
Keokuk County Sheriff J. Bud Wallerich, a lifelong friend of Hammes said that the man never got over the deaths of his children in that accident.
“I had reports that he had been brooding about it quite a bit lately,” Wallerich said.
High Mass
A requiem high mass will be celebrated by seven priests at 10: a.m. today in the same church in which Hammed attended the funerals of his wife and children. Burial will follow at the church cemetery.
Sheriff Wallerich said Myron probably will move in with his aunt, Mrs. Conklin. Other survivors include three other sisters and five brothers, all living in the Sigouney, Iowa area.
SOURCE: The Des Moines Registar, Des Moines, Iowa, May 27, 1972
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