Francis Augustus HAMER, IV

Notes:

Died:
at his home

Family/Spouse: Pam (HAMER). [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Francis married Ruth Ann PRESCOTT on 7 Jun 1969 in Austin, Travis, Texas, USA. Ruth (daughter of Charles Edward PRESCOTT, Jr. and Ruth Ann STEPHENS) was born on 24 Feb 1943 in Bexar County, Texas, USA; died before 8 Jan 2004. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Francis married Dorothy Elinor BISSELL on 4 Nov 1939 in Austin, Travis, Texas, USA. Dorothy (daughter of Charles Gordon BISSELL and Florence Dorothy MORLEY) was born on 26 Sep 1920 in Austin, Travis, Texas, USA; died on 13 Nov 1996 in Travis County, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Birth:
at 9:05 a.m. at 1611 Brazos

Charles married Ruth Ann STEPHENS. Ruth was born on 11 Oct 1919; died on 23 May 1985 in Travis County, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Captain Hamer grew up on the Welch Ranch in San Saba County and moved to Oxford, Texas in 1894. He initially worked in his father's blacksmith shop, then as a wrangler. In 1905, he helped capture a horse thief while working on the Carr Ranch. The sheriff recommended him to the Texas Rangers, and Frank joined the organization in April 1906.

Frank became part of Captain J. H. Rogers' Company C. He resigned from the Rangers in 1908 to become the City Marshal of Navasota, Texas, a post he held until April 1911 when he became a special officer in Harris County. Frank rejoined the Rangers in 1915. During this second phase of his Ranger career he served on the south Texas border, served as Senior Ranger Captain at Headquarters Company in Austin, was instrumental in bringing order to the oil boom towns, and took on the Texas Bankers' Association "reward ring." Frank retired from the Rangers in 1932, but retained a special Ranger commission. In 1934 Frank was hired as a Special Investigator for the Texas prison system to track down gangsters Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. During the 1930s Frank worked for various oil companies and shippers helping to prevent strikes and breaking up mobs. He was called to Ranger duty again in 1948 by Governor Coke Stevenson to help check election returns in Jim Wells and Duval Counties in that year’s U. S. Senate race. He retired to Austin in 1949.

Died:
at 9:40 p.m. at his residence, 1007 Riverside Dr.

Francis married Gladys JOHNSON about 1918. Gladys was born on 5 Oct 1892 in Texas, USA; died on 17 May 1976 in San Marcos, Hays, Texas, USA; was buried in Austin Memorial Park, Austin, Travis, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
at 8 p.m. at her residence, 125 Franklin

Notes:

“Charles and his sisters inherited their father’s bookkeeping talents. Thus, after high school Charles worked as a bookkeeper in three businesses; in the third, the Sandahl Bottling Company, he worked for 27 years until retirement. Then, due to serious eye trouble, he and Florence bought a large, furnished mobile home and situated it in San Marcos on their children’s property.

“Charles was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church U.S.A. of Austin, serving as elder, deacon, trustee, Sunday School teacher and about 30 years as a tenor in the choir. He has received his 50-year certificates and pins as a Master Mason and Scottish Rite Mason. He is a 50-year member of the Ben Hur Shrine of Austin and played in the band for about 20 years.

“In 1972-3 Charles had three eye operations — glaucoma and cataract removal from both eyes. So now, aged 80, he can happily read again.”

Buried:
Sec 2, Lot 842

Charles married Florence Dorothy MORLEY on 17 Jun 1915 in Austin, Travis, Texas, USA. Florence (daughter of Wesley John MORLEY and Grace Darling LIVINGSTONE) was born on 2 Apr 1895 in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA; died on 26 Aug 1985 in San Marcos, Hays, Texas, USA; was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Austin, Travis, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

“Born in Michigan and after living in Ohio and San Antonio, Florence moved to Austin in 1908 and moved her church membership to the First Presbyterian Church U.S.A. of Austin.

“She graduated from high school and worked in the church young people’s group, later in the women’s group. She taught Sunday School and sang in the choir, as did Charles, for many years. Florence also served as secretary of the building council when the beautiful old church at 7th and Lavaca was sold and a new church build. She was organizing secretary and first secretary of the Council of United Church Women of Austin.

“Now, with no more car driving, due to her serious operation and to Charles’ eye trouble, they have become well adjusted and happy in their new, mobile home. They enjoy visiting their children, four grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and Spring, Texas. Thus, at 79, Florence gets about quite well except for some arthritis. She most gratefully gave invaluable help in preparing these Bissell biographies.”

Buried:
Sec 2, Lot 842