WILLIAM H. HANNA

William H. Hanna, one of the enterprising and successful agriculturists of Sugar Creek township, living on section 22, was born in Center township, Cedar county, on the 22d of February, 1855. His parents were Washington McNeil and Mary Agnes (Walkup) Hanna, both of whom were natives of Greenbrier county, West Virginia, the former born December 30, 1822, and the latter on the 16th of November, 1829. They were married in their native state, February 13, 1850, and in November, 1851, came to Iowa, casting in their lot among the early settlers. The father entered land in Center township and began transforming the wild prairie into highly cultivated fields. It looked then, however, as if the prairies would never be settled; that the acreage was so vast; that enough people would never come to this region to claim and improve it. The deer ate the corn out of the cribs and there were various wild animals and much wild game to be found in the neighborhood. Mr. Hanna became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of land and in addition to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate gave considerable attention to raising cattle and horses. He continued to make his home in Center township until his death, which occurred April 3, 1904. Mrs. Hanna died on the 4th of November, 1892, in Center township.

They reared a family of five children. Elizabeth Hamilton, the eldest, was born July 21, 1853, and became the wife of John F. Handley, who is now deceased, while his widow resides in Greenfield, Iowa. William H. is the second in order of birth. Marietta Caroline, born October 16, 1858, was married in November, 1883, to D. R. Alexander and now resides in Ivanhoe, Oklahoma. David W., born June 10, 1860, was married December, 1883, to Carrie Gay, who is now deceased. He lives at Miller, South Dakota. Joseph Walkup, born April 11, 1865, was married in October, 1906, to Jennie Courtney at Beaver City, Oklahoma, and they reside at Ivanhoe, that state.

William H. Hanna was reared on the old homestead and has spent his entire life in Cedar county. His boyhood experiences were those which usually fall to the lot of farm lads. He attended the district schools for the acquirement of his education. For one year he was a student at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, and in 1876 was graduated from Bryant & Stratton Business College at Davenport. For five terms he taught in the schools of Center township, this county. In the periods of vacation he worked in the fields and thus received practical training, which qualified him for the active duties of life which he assumed on attaining manhood. He always devoted his life to farming and now operates one hundred and ninety-five acres of land, which belongs to his wife, she having inherited the same as her share of her father’s estate.

It was on the 12th of February, 1879, that Mr. Hanna was united in marriage to Miss Laura F. Walton, who was born in her present home on the 27th of May, 1859, and is a daughter of James C. and Caroline Walton, of whom extended mention is made on another page of this volume. All who know Mr. and Mrs. Hanna—and they have an extensive circle of friends—speak of them in terms of high regard, for their upright lives have ever merited the good will and friendship of those with whom they have come in contact. Mrs. Hanna is a member of the Christian church.