HANNUM, Joseph A.

HANNUM, THOMAS, ROLLINS, BARRETT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/25/2003 at 09:22:04

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

JOSEPH A. HANNUM.

Joseph A. Hannum, familiarly called Joe by his numerous friends throughout this county, is one of DeWitt’s highly respected citizens, whose useful and well-spent life has not only gained for him the confidence of his fellow men, but has also secured for him a comfortable competence which enables him to lay aside all business cares and spend his declining years in ease and retirement.

Mr. Hannum was born in the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1849, a son of William and Jane (Thomas) Hannum, both natives of Ohio, the former born in Columbiana county, in 1820, the latter in Guernsey county. For a short time the father worked in the mills of Pittsburg, and then returned to Ohio, where he followed farming until coming to Clinton county, Iowa, in the spring of 1856. He purchased eighty acres of land in DeWitt township, and at once turned his attention to its development and cultivation. As he prospered in his new home he bought more land from time to time until he had three hundred acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings. He continued the operation of this farm until 1884, when he removed to Hand county, South Dakota, and followed the same occupation there until his death, which occurred March 20, 1899. His wife still survives him, and continues to reside on the home farm, with her son, Ross Hannum.

The subject of this sketch had three brothers and two sisters, namely: John, who enlisted during the war of the Rebellion, in Company A, Eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and being captured at Pittsburg Landing, died in a rebel prison; William N., who died at his home in Chicago, in the spring of 1901; Ross, who is living with his mother, in Hand county, South Dakota; Nancy, who died when a young lady; and Abbie J., wife of Fred Rollins, of Huron, South Dakota.

Being only six years old when the family came to this county, Joseph A. Hannum was here reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys in a frontier settlement, receiving his education in the country schools and the high school at DeWitt. He gave his father the benefit of his labors until twenty years of age, and then operated the old homestead on his own account for four years, after which he engaged in farming upon a rented place for one year.

In Clinton county, March 24, 1875, Mr. Hannum was united in marriage with Miss Martha Barrett, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of John Barrett, who brought his family to this county at an early day, and settled in DeWitt township, where Mrs. Hannum grew to womanhood. They began their domestic life upon his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which at that time was only partially improved. To the original tract Mr. Hannum subsequently added another one hundred and sixty acres, and converted the place into one of the best and most desirable farms of its size in the county by the many improvements he made thereon. He always gave considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock, and in both branches of his business met with marked success, so that he is to-day one of the well-to-do citizens of his community. Since 1896 he has lived retired in the village of DeWitt, where he has built a large neat residence in modern style of architecture, it being one of the best homes of the town.

The Republican party has always found in Mr. Hannum a stanch supporter of its principles since he cast his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant, in 1872, but he has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. Since his removal to DeWitt he has become a stockholder of the Electric Light Company, and also of the DeWitt Savings Bank, and as a public-spirited and progressive citizen, he gives his support to all enterprises tending to advance the public welfare. Both he and his wife are active members of the Presbyterian church, and he is one of the official board, serving as trustee and treasurer of the church, while his wife is a teacher in the Sunday school. Socially he affiliated with the Odd Fellows Lodge at DeWitt, and is quite a popular and influential citizen of his adopted town.