Gertrude Sofia Hammon was the only child of Milton Francis Hammon and his first wife, Lillian Barnes Hammon. [Lillian, Milton & Gertrude Hammon] Milton was born in South Trenton and attended the local school. He and Lillian were married in or around 1904. Lillian was born in French Canada, daughter of Williston and Lydia A. (Compo) Barnes [marriage certificate from family bible]. Lillian and her parents came to the US when she was 5 years old. Lillian died in in 1918 when Gertrude was 12 years old [obituary]. Milton died suddenly at the age of 49 of a heart attack. Milton is buried with his first wife, Lillian, in South Trenton Cemetery.
Gertrude attended a one room school in Trenton Falls and after leaving school, she worked for a Doctor in Utica as a housekeeper and a cook. She worked at many odd jobs before going to work at Dairymen's League in her early twenties where she met Elmer Badertscher. In 1930 she and Elmer were married. They eventually made their home in Austerlitz NY (see Elmer's history). Gertrude died December 30, 1972 [funeral announcement].
Lillian's sister Agnes J. Barnes (Auntie) and her husband Jim Mowers [Auntie & Jim] lived near and later with her niece Gertrude in Austerlitz New York Agnes was born March 19, 1871. It is said that Auntie inherited psychic abilities from her Grandmother Elizabeth Barnes who is known as "The Witch of Plum Hollow". Many of Gertrude's children remember both Gertrude and Auntie reading tea leaves and telling fortunes. Auntie died November 27, 1964 [obituary].