Robert M. Hamer was born on a farm near Mexico, Audrain county, Missouri, Nov. 18, 1867. His parents are Daniel and Elizabeth Hamer, the mother's maiden name being Elizabeth Manahan. Both parents were born in Ohio, but went to Indiana in childhood, grew to maturity and were married in that state. In 1865 they moved to Missouri, and in 1879, they again moved, this time to the farm in Greenwood county, Kansas, near Madison, upon which they now live. Here the children grew up and received such education as the boys and girls of that day acquired in the country schools of early Kansas.

With this as a starter Robert began life as a teacher in the schools of Greenwood county and later studied law in the University of Kansas, and was graduated in that course with the class of 1893. In June of that year he came to Emporia, where during the summer he studied in the law office of the late Judge Cunningham, and in the fall began the practice of law, at which he has been working ever since. He was associated with Judge Cunningham in the practice of law when the latter was appointed an associate justice of the supreme court. After a few months he became associated with Judge Graves, and was a member of the firm of Graves & Hamer when Judge Graves was appointed associate justice of the supreme court to fill the vacancy in that court caused by the death of Justice Cunningham. He is now a member of the law firm of Graves, Hamer & Harris. He is Republican in politics and has, while in Emporia, served one term as justice of the peace, one term as a member of the state legislature and was for nearly nine years postmaster at Emporia. He is now one of the directors in the Citizens' National Bank and is a member of the different Masonic orders represented at Emporia.

In August, 1897, Mr. Hamer married Miss Jennie McClure of Emporia, who died on Dec. 16, 1909, and left three daughters—Irene, Dorothy and Helen.