RAY HAMMAN FAMILY FARM
By Robert McQuillen
2002 Graduate of Naperville North High School

Ray Hamman was born October 5, 1906. He was the second child of Peter L. and Elizabeth (Schwicker) Hamman. Growing up with four brothers, Aloysius, Joe, Charlie, and Arthur. Ray also had two sisters, Edna and Kathern. He married Clara Boynton on January 19, 1929. Then they bought a house at 413 North Street, Naperville. While there he worked for the Kroehler Factory. Ray and Clara had three children. Donald was born on February 2, 1930, and died February 5, 1930. Then they had Lloyd, born on August 9, 1933. Three years later they had their only daughter, Elaine, on November 20, 1936. In 1940, he retired from Kroehler and bought 5.95 acres at 26W055 Plank Road in Naperville. Clara and Ray grew corn and hay on their farm. They used this for feed for their animals and sold what was left over. They also raised chickens, ducks, rabbits, cows and pigs. Ray sold these to local butchers or sold them to people who wanted them. Once a week, Ray would take some animals to auction to be auctioned off. He would also help out at the cattle auction in Maple Park.

Saturday, October 22, 1988, Ray was burned when the tractor he was refueling exploded. He was burned over 80% of his body. A Lifestar medical emergency helicopter was called and he was taken directly to Loyola Medical Center. Ray was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit where he died on Sunday, October 23 1988, at 7:30 A.M. from his burns. After Ray’s passing Clara continued to run the farm with the help from her son Lloyd until she died on November 13, 1997. As her dying wish, Clara wanted the family farm to be run until this was impossible. Lloyd Hamman now runs the farm and renamed it the “Clara Ray’s Farm” in 1998. Lloyd and his family live in the same house where he grew up. They currently raise goats, pigs, cows, ducks, chickens, and rabbits. They sell all the livestock along with firewood, fresh eggs, pumpkins and Christmas trees.

Recently, Lloyd and his family were fighting the city of Naperville to keep their farm animals on their property. They won their case, which means that they can keep all of these animals until the property becomes less then 5 acres. Clara & Ray’s farm is one of the last farms in Naperville raising farm animals ands will be around for awhile more.

While the Naperville area needs to grow, development has consumed almost all of our farmland for housing. To keep our nation growing, we must maintain our farmland to provide for the nutritional needs of our growing nation.

Robert was a 2002 WPMA Scholarship winner.