Scope and Contents

The Genealogical Information series consists of family data, correspondence carried on with distant relatives, and answers to queries. There is information on the Dorset/Palmer family and the Hammer Family. The Hammer family lines are separated into Hammer/Otto/Brice and McClure/Fruit divisions. The interest in genealogy in the Dorset family began in the 1890’s when Malinda Hammer and Nannie Dorset and her three daughters joined DAR. Malinda Hammer wrote to many of the Hammer relatives during the 1890’s seeking further family information. Helen Dorset did more research later, mainly in the 1920’s and 1930’s, attempting to trace more family lines back to the Revolutionary period. There are copies of several letters written by relatives of the Hammer family, describing life in La Crosse in the early 1850's that are of historical interest.