Carl W. F. Dammast, a prominent factor in the commercial life of Clay county, where he took up his residence in 1870, and with whose growth and development he has been closely identified, is a native of Prussia, born at Stettin, Feb. 14, 1851, son of Albert and Charlotte (Schulze) Dammast. Albert Dammast was a successful hardware merchant of Stettin and his children were given careful training and the best educational advantages of the time. Carl W. F. completed a course in the Stettin Gymnasium or high school, in 1867, and initiated his commercial career as an office assistant with a grain company in London, England, subsequently entering the employ of the City Bank of London, in a clerical capacity. In 1870, with a brother, Harry Dammast, he came to America and located in Clay Center, Kan. He secured employment in a general store, as clerk, and soon afterward was appointed deputy treasurer of Clay county. Harry, the brother, removed to New York City in 1873, and Carl accompanied him and remained about six months. On his return to Clay Center, in the fall of 1873, he entered the employ of John Higginbotham, who was operating an elevator and who was the pioneer banker of the town, the honor of opening Clay Center's first set of banking books falling to Mr. Dammast. In 1876, with J. B. Snell, he organized the firm of Dammast & Snell, grain dealers, and this venture proved successful and was continued until 1880, when Mr. Dammast was offered and accepted the management of the Clay Center yards of the Chicago Lumber & Coal Company; and he remained in charge of this business until 1907. In September of that year he promoted the organization of the Clay Center Lumber & Coal Company, and the business of his previous employers was purchased. Of this company Mr. Dammast has been secretary and treasurer since its organization, as well as managing executor. The business of this corporation is the most extensive in its line in Clay county and Mr. Dammast is recognized by the trade as one of the most capable, progressive and energetic men in the lumber industry in central Kansas. Essentially a business man, he has had neither time nor inclination for public office, although he has always taken a keen interest in those questions affecting the public welfare and never neglects his civic duties. He has been a consistent and active supporter of educational betterment and has served as a member of the board of education. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Baptist church.

Mr. Dammast married, June 24, 1877, Miss Jennie Ward, daughter of Orville and Harriet A (Fuller) Huntress. Mrs. Dammast is Clay Center's oldest resident. She was born at Dixfield, Me., May 26, 1857, and came with her parents to Kansas in 1859, the family locating at Manhattan. In 1861 Orville Huntress located a homestead adjoining the present site of Clay Center, previous to the organization of Clay county. Here the family underwent the privations incident to those pioneer days. Leavenworth was the nearest source of supplies for food, clothing and building material, and Indians were plentiful and frequent visitors at the Huntress home. On the organization of Clay county, in 1866, Mr. Huntress was elected treasurer of the county, and he also received the appointment of postmaster at Clay Center on the establishment of the postoffice there, and served in this capacity until his death, June 8, 1868, his widow succeeding to the office and serving until 1876. The original homestead of Orville Huntress is now a portion of the city of Clay Center and is built over, with the exception of eight acres, which was given to the city for park purposes and is named "Huntress Park." The old Huntress home, built in 1861, is located in this park and is preserved by the city in its original condition, as a monument of her first pioneer. It was not only the Huntress residence, but Clay Center's first postoffice and hotel. The widow of Orville Huntress, born in Canton Me., Aug. 21, 1821, married for her second husband, C. M. Anthony, a distinguished member of the Kansas bar and a resident of Clay Center. She passed away Dec. 6, 1894. Mrs. Dammast and one son, Charles O. Huntress, survive her. The son is a graduate of the engineering department of Dartmouth College, class of 1874, was for twelve years assistant city engineer of Minneapolis, Minn., and is now chief engineer for the Bell Telephone Company, covering its Minnesota properties. Mr. and Mrs. Dammast are the parents of five children: Olive Charlotte, born April 22, 1878, is a graduate of Clay Center High School and the Kindergarten Normal School of Boston, Mass., and subsequently became a teacher; Nell Huntress, born Oct. 14, 1879, is a graduate of Clay Center High School, for one year was a student in the Kansas University, and is now office manager of a manufacturing concern in Ottawa, Kan.; Florence, born Jan. 26, 1881, is a bookkeeper and stenographer at Clay Center; Carl Donald, born June 14, 1885, is a merchant at Onaga, Kan., who married, March 31, 1909, Miss Georgia M. Groves; and Jean was born Sept. 19, 1897. Mrs. Dammast is a woman of broad culture and strong character, is self-reliant and possesses the sterling qualities so pronounced in the children of the pioneer families. She has observed every phase of development that Clay county has experienced, and since arriving at woman's estate has been an active and influential factor in the social and religious life of the county.