HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY 331 

Aubrey R. Hammett, prosecuting attorney of Randolph County and a former probate judge of the county, is one of the leading members of Randolph County bar. He is descended from pioneer families of the county as his ancestors came to this section when Missouri was considered the frontier, and here they have taken a prominent part in the civic life of the country. 

Mr. Hammett is a native son of Randolph County, born near Huntsville ,July 24, 1873, the son of J. D. and L. Allie (Rutherford) Hammett. The father, also a native of this county was born on a farm three miles northwest of Huntsville in 1847. He was reared in Randolph County and after completing his elementary education studied medicine, graduating 
from a medical college at Philadelphia, Pa., and soon began his professional career near Huntsville, where he practiced for many years. Doctor Hammett became one of the well known and skillful physicians of the county and stood high in the medical fraternity of central Missouri. He also became extensively interested in business and commercial affairs. He 
was in partnership, with Joseph Samuel in the lumber business. Later he purchased a large block of stock in the Hammett Bank at Huntsville which his father, Joseph M. Hammett had established and became assistant cashier of the institution and later he became president of the bank. He still retains his stock in the bank and takes an active interest in its 
affairs, although he has now given up active business life and lives in Moberly, Mo. 

Aubrey R. Hammett's paternal grandfather, Joseph M. Hammett, was a Kentuckian who became one of the early settlers who took up government land near Huntsville, where he cleared 320 acres from the virgin forest and resided there until his death in 1883. L. Allie ( Rutherford 'l Hammett was born near Huntsville, a daughter of W. T. Rutherford, a 
pioneer from Kentucky who located near Huntsville at an early day and became a tobacco dealer, owning and managing two tobacco factories employing many negroes in the care of the product and for many years was prominent in this line of business. Subsequently he became interested in coal mining and became a large operator in this district. He 
was a prominent man of central Missouri and Randolph County and his life was closely identified with the growth and development of Huntsville. 
He lived to be a man of advanced age and died in 1905 in his 91st year. Mrs. Hammett was a graduate of Christian College, Columbia, Mo. 

Dr. J. D. Hammett and his - wife became the parents of two children : Mary Belle, who married Rev. L. J. Marshall, a Christian minister, is deceased. Her husband had charge of the Christian Church of Inde- 
pendence, Mo., for seven years and also of Wabash Avenue Christian Church in Kansas City, Mo., erecting fine edifices in both places during his 
incumbency as pastor. 

Aubrey R. Hammett was reared on his father's farm in Huntsville and attended the local schools. He graduated from Missouri Military Academy at Mexico, Mo., as senior captain. Then entered the State University at Columbia, Mo., graduating with the class of 1897 with the degree of Bachelor of Law. The same year he opened an office at Huntsville and became city attorney in 1897. Mr. Hammett became recognized as one of the leading men of his profession and in 1904 was elected probate judge of Randolph County, serving in that ofhce until 1904. In 1914 Judge Hammett moved to Moberly and four years later, in 1918 was elected prosecuting attorney of the county, an office which he has since filled in a most able manner. 

June 11, 1897, Judge Hammett was married to Miss Oleta Wise of Callaway County, the daughter of James Wise, an early settler of that county; both he and his wife are now deceased. Four children have been born to Judge and Mrs. Hammett : J. W., Aubrey, Oleta and J. D. While n college, Judge Hammett was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.