Ernest Hamstead is known for being one of the Three Little Pigs, the other two being Jed Boarman and Alvin Swineheart. In the story, he was the pig that made his house out of straw, for which he is ridiculed on a few occasions. Hamstead is the former sherrif of Ferryport Landing, New York. Most of the time, he is in his human diguise, but when he gets too excited about something he reverts to pig form.