Hammond, George H.

Hammond, George H. (Henry)

(1838–86) meatpacker; born in Fitchburg, Mass. After working as a butcher and a mattressmaker, he moved to Detroit in 1854. There, fire destroyed his mattress factory so in 1857 he opened a meat market and slaughter house. He was the first to envision refrigeration cars and sent the first load of refrigerated beef to Boston (1868–69). By 1885 he had over 800 refrigeration cars in use. He expanded his operation to Omaha, Neb., and Hammond, Ind. (named after him).