Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County, Iowa - 1888

John Hannah, farmer, in Jackson Township section 15, was born in the year 1831, in Brown County, Ohio, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Fulton) Hannah. The Hannah ancestors were of Irish origin, and the Fultons were probably of Scotch descent. Both James Hannah and his wife were born in Pennsylvania, and were married in Washington County of that State. James was by trade a shoemaker, but after his marriage engaged solely in agriculture, removing at a very early date to Brown County, Ohio, where he entered lands, built a house, and had a family of eight children before he removed to Clermont County in the same State. The children were as follows: Thomas, who died unmarried, had gone to New Orleans with a flatboat loaded with sundries, and on arriving there contracted yellow fever, and as he was returning home on a steamer died, and was buried at Cairo, Illinois, more than fifty years ago. Margaret wedded John McCarty, who during his lifetime was a farmer of Jackson County, Indiana, and after his death married George Hampton, of Illinois, and is now his widow; Fulton married first, Almeda Bryant, and after her death wedded Mrs. Lewis, and is a farmer in Brown County, Ohio; James wedded first, Margaret West, and after her death married a Miss Thompson, and also resides upon a farm in Brown County; Ann, deceased, became the wife of Matthias Freedman, a farmer of Jackson County, Indiana; David is wedded to Nancy J. Richards, of Clermont County, Ohio, and resides in Edgar County, Illinois, on a farm; Joseph wedded for his first wife Eliza Ketcham, and after her death married again, and resides also in Brown County, Ohio.

John Hannah, our subject, was married in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1851, to Miss Catherine Seton, daughter of Ebenezer and Barbara (Bushman) Seton. The Seton family were of Irish extraction, while the Bushman family were of German and English origin, although born in Virginia. Both families were early settlers of Ohio, and were among the first to take up claims in that part of the country. A great uncle of Mrs. Hannah, Thomas Seton, was a Captain in the army during the War of 1812. Great grandfather Seton was a weaver in Ireland, but very little history can be obtained, as all the elder members of the family who could have furnished it are now dead. Grandfather Bushman purchased 1,300 acres of land, which was left to his children, and his descendants yet own it. He died at Point Pleasant, Ohio, which his land adjoined.

Mrs. Hannah was one of a family of twelve: Elizabeth, Mary, Rebecca, Martha, William, John, Benjamin, Sarah, David, Catherine, Sippy A. and Ebenezer. The latter was born after his father's death. One son, John, was suffocated by damp in a well in Shelby County, Ohio, and of the entire family only Mrs. Hannah, Ebenezer and Benjamin are now living. Ebenezer is a farmer of Washington County, Iowa, and Benjamin, wedded to Nancy A. Donnelly, is a farmer near Blue Rapids, Kansas. After the marriage of our subject and his young wife, they remained two years in Ohio, and then removed to Jackson County, Indiana, near Seymour. They only remained there one year, and in November 1854, emigrated farther west and located in this township, on lands now owned by Alexander Kudobe. Benjamin Seton was a partner in the purchase of the 120 acres, and later Mr. Hannah sold his interest to Mr. Seton and purchased the farm upon which he now resides, on section 15, Jackson Township. One who looks at his fine improvements today would scarcely think that in thirty years such a farm could be made. In March 1858, Mr. and Mrs. Hannah moved into a little cabin which stood upon this tract, of which only three-fourths of an acre was then broken. Mr. Hannah was not a holder of United States bonds at that time, but he possessed a wealth of muscle and industry, and his good wife was ready to share in every undertaking. While her husband was at work getting out rails and grubbing brush, she was doing her share to aid in the work, and as children came to bless their home, the labor of love was lightened. Their first-born was Martha E., now deceased, who was time wife of Van Jackman; she was born in Ohio, and all the others in this township. Benjamin F. wedded Angelina Bunker; George died in infancy; Mary is deceased; Jane is the wife of Harlan Pickard; Owen W., John W., and Margaret A., deceased, and Robert F., complete the family. The three unmarried sons reside with their parents in a handsome cottage on the hill overlooking a wide expanse of country, and the site furnishes a view unsurpassed from any point in the township. Mr. Hannah came to this county a poor man, but by economy and hard labor he has realized a nice fortune, and his meager purchase of 1854 has grown to 235 acres, purchased as he was able. The good wife still superintends her household, and Mr. Hannah can take his ease if he desires, as they have already a competence, and the boys are skilled in farm work. Mr. Hannah has served in numerous official positions, his first election as Trustee occurring in 1860, since which time he has been frequently reelected to the same office, and has also served upon the School Board for several years. B. Frank, the eldest son, served two years as Township Clerk, and is the only son of age. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hannah are members of Donaldson Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has often served in an official capacity. We add this sketch with pleasure to the number of representative families in this county, and none are entitled to or will receive a more cordial greeting.

Ebenezer Seton, father of Mrs. Hannah, removed from Clermont County, Ohio, to Shelby County, Ohio, and while digging a well there, and leaving it for dinner, heard a noise below. Supposing water had broken in he sent his young son, John, down in the bucket to bring up the tools. The cause of the noise was damp, and the boy fell out of the bucket suffocated. The father, not knowing the cause, went down to rescue his child, and he also fell a victim, both being dead before they were got out by the neighbors. The mother, with her remaining children, returned to Clermont County, where she lived a widow until her death, dying in 1877, nearly seventy-nine years of age. She spun, wove, and worked in every way to keep her family together, and bring them up properly, as she did, and her children have came to revere her memory.

Another of the family, William, also met an accidental death. He was a resident of Jackson Township, having become a citizen of Henry County. November 9, 1874, while digging a cistern for Stephen Booth it caved in upon him. When the attempt was made to rescue him he was barely able to speak, but was dead before he was extricated.