He arrived in Montana in 1867, worked as a woodcutter and store clerk, eventually becoming a partner in the mercantile firm of Bonner, Eddy and Company.

During World War I, Hammond was the largest supplier of Sitka spruce wood to the U.S. Army, which needed it to manufacture airplanes.

[5] Hammond is most known for his role in the poaching of federal timber during his years in Montana, and his anti-union efforts during the early twentieth century.

Ironically, much of the Hammond Lumber Company lands that were illegally acquired under the federal Timber and Stone Act in Humboldt County eventually formed the bulk of Redwood National and State Parks.

The most common armament mounted on these merchant ships were the MK II 20mm Oerlikon autocannon and the 3"/50, 4"/50, and 5"/38 deck guns.