Henry Jacob Hamel (August 10, 1863-March 10, 1938) was born to immigrant Hartman Henry Hamel of Hatzback, Germany and his American-born wife, Anna Maria Wirtz of Louisville, Kentucky. Henry J. Hamel's father grew up farming with his father in Germany before immigrating to this area by way of New York; he sailed aboard the vessel Harriett in May 1851, to join his brother in Illinois and in 1853 came to California by overland caravan. Settling in Hangtown (Placerville), he was unsuccessful in mining and took up work freighting between Sacramento and the mining camps. With his marriage to Anna Maria Wirtz on June 29, 1858 in Sacramento City, the couple bore fourteen children, raising nine to maturity:
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George F. (April 13, 1859-May 3, 1923)
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Henry J. (August 10, 1863-March 10, 1938)
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Carrie M. (October 30, 1865-May 27, 1956)
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Fred (December 23, 1867-1934)
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Alma M. (February 24, 1870-August 6, 1959)
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Charlotte E. (September 20, 1871-July 20, 1962)
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William C. (December 19, 1873-February 27, 1952)
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Edward (February 26, 1876-February 2, 1944)
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Elizabeth M. (April 28, 1882-).
In 1862, Hartman opened a meat market in Placerville and operated it until 1867 when he relocated his family to a 1200 acre ranch just south of Davisville; this ranch became the center of a large cattle and farming operation. All nine of the couple's surviving children were educated in the Davisville school district.
Henry Jacob married the former Lida O'Dea, of New York City who was brought to Davisville in 1866 by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick O'Dea. Together, the couple bore two children. In 1920, Henry J. built what is locally known as the H. J. Hamel House (505 2nd Street) for his family — today the building is leased to Coldwell Banker Doug Arnold Real Estate, Inc..
To learn more about Davis history, please visit our pages of Historic Places, Town History and Davis Timeline.
