Los Angeles
County
Biographies
LAURENCE MANLY HAMM
The
firm, L. M. Hamm, Inc., is the oldest plumbing firm in continuous operation in
the western San Gabriel Valley, states L. Manly Hamm, who heads the firm. A business started by his father in 1905 in
Dolgeville, which is now known as West Alhambra, has been in continuous
operation for 55 years.
The
oldest son of John Frederick and Kate (McKenney) Hamm, Mr. Hamm was born on
June 21, 1898, in Buena Park, California.
His father, born in Iowa of German parentage, came to California in 1882
and settled in Buena Park. His mother, a
native of Missouri, arrived in Buena Park in 1884. Both families were pioneers of Buena Park.
Moving
to Alhambra at the age of 10, Mr. Hamm was educated in Alhambra public schools,
graduating from Alhambra High School in 1916.
Growing up with his father’s plumbing business Mr. Hamm purchased the
business from his father in 1927. In
1937 Mr. Hamm purchased the business of Robert H. Moorhead, which had at that
time, been operating for 50 years, and occupied a store at 41 South Garfield
Avenue, which had formerly been the office of the Alhambra Post Advocate
newspaper. Mr. Hamm moved his business into
larger quarters at 425 West Main Street in 1946, where he is presently located.
Mr.
Hamm is a veteran of World War I, and served with the United States Army, 160th
Infantry Band, 40th Division, A.E.F. in France, during 1918 and
1919.
Mr.
Hamm was commissioned a Chief Warrant Officer in the United States Navy in
1943, serving with the 127th Construction Battalion (Sea-Bees) until
December 10, 1945. Mr. Hamm’s tour of
duty included Williamsburg, Virginia; Port Hueneme, California; Maui, Hawaii; Guiuan, Samar, Philippine Islands; and Yokosuka, Japan.
A
member of the Alhambra First Christian Church, Mr. Hamm is a member of Granada
Lodge No. 608, F. & A. M., Alhambra Lodge No. 1328, B.P.O.E., and Alhambra
Lions Club, of which he served as president in 1954-55. He is also the 1932-33 past Post Commander of
the Alhambra American Legion Post No. 139.
Mr.
Hamm married Margarite Walitzek,
now deceased, on June 4, 1920, in Alhambra, California. They have two children, Mrs. Joyce Louise
Brockett, who resides in La Puente, California, and Richard Laurence, who
resides in South San Gabriel, California.
Mr. Hamm is very proud of his nine grandchildren.
In
1941 Mr. Hamm married Ruth L. Bellaire, who now resides in Rosemead. A son of this marriage, Joseph Manly Hamm, is
presently serving his country with the United States Army.
Mr.
Hamm’s two brothers, James F. Hamm and Joseph E. Hamm, reside in San
Gabriel. His sister, Mrs. Hazel I.
Pruitt, is a resident of Baldwin Park, California. Another sister, Mrs. Grace K. Davis, now
deceased, was a resident of Monterey Park, California.
For
relaxation, Mr. Hamm enjoys his hobbies of boating, fishing and golf.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 670-672, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES