Jefferson County Online A part of the IAGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects Who's Who in 1921 & 1922 Thomas William Hannah

"The Fairfield Tribune"
Thursday, August 25, 1921
Page SIX

NO. 25

THOMAS WILLIAM HANNAH

History records that 96.4 per cent of our great men have been farmers. This same veracious history likewise records that 38.7 pe rcent o fthese (sic) great men have thought themselves possessed of so much education that, at some time in their lives, they sought to impart it to others in the schoolrooms. It follows that a man who was born on a farm, tried farming for a while, and then tried school teaching, must, of necessity become one of the few truly great.

With this preamble we will now proceed to the business of introducing to your kindly notice one Thomas William Hannah, a gentlemen who figures in both the statistical statements herein given, by reason of having been born on a Jefferson county farm and having essayed to teach a country school. We say "essayed" to teach, for even Thomas William lays no great claim to fame as a preceptor. In fact, if you can catch him in a confessional mood, he will tell you that he can look back now and see where he believes he was never intended as a school teacher.

Tom piddled around between the farm and the schoolhouse for a time but was never content; the bright lights were a constant lure for him. He sought some excuse for coming to some of the metropolitan centers like Fairfield and was willing to leave both the farm and the school flat on their backs.

One day opportunity came his way. One of the county's republican leaders of those days, now deceased, came out into Blackhawk with the announcement that the party was shy on a candidate for county clerk, and did anyone know of a likely young man who would take the job. Thomas William heard about it and hunted up the leader.

"I know just the person for the job," he told him.

"What's his name?" judicially inquired the political leader.

"Hannah," replied Thomas, q. a. a. f.

"Hannah?" contemptuously snorted the p.l. "Hannah? Well young man, this ain't no woman's job and we ain't lookin' for no Hannah, Rebecca or Eliza for it. We want a he-man."

"Twa in the good old convention days and Thomas went to the the (sic) convention full of battle. Twarn't much of a battle and he won out, then followed it up with a businesslike vote at the polls.

Thomas William was getting along nicely in the clerk's office and was very content until a fellow took him for a ride in one of those new-fangled things, an automobile. Tom's interest in the clerk's office languished. Every chance he'd work his friend for another ride in his Studebaker. People were a bit skeptical of motor cars in those days--it was the day when fellows drove in buggies past stuck autos on the highway and gave them a horse laugh. But Thomas William opined that the day of the horse would wane and that the auto was going to be so popular that there'd be a hundred or two of them right here in Fairfield. He could hardly keep his mind on his clerkship for thinking of his rides in that Studebaker. He was on the point of resigning when his term of office expired.

Tom lost no time in going to Chicago as soon as he got out of the clerk's office. He met a man on the street and asked him to direct him where he could buy an automobile.

"What kind?" inquired the sophisticated Chicagoan.

"What kind?" repeated Tom, in amazement. "Why, there's only one kind, isn't there? A Studebaker?"

The man tried to explain t o (sic) Tom that there were several makes of cars to be had.

"Where do you get that stuff?" says Tom. "Just because I'm from the sticks you don t'need (sic) to think you can kid me."

The Chicagoan didn't convince Tom and there are any number of people who will swear to it tha tto (sic) this day To mHannah (sic) doesn't know there is any other kind of a car manufactured other than a Studebaker. He sells Studebakers. About the only time that he will mention any other car is when you have an old one of another make that you want to trade in on a Studebaker.

Then he'll say, "Oh ,an (sic) Overland, eh? (or a Buick or Dodge, or whatever it chances to be) Well. I'm not surprised that you want to get rid of it and get a car--a real car."

Then Tom will sell you a Studebaker unless you keep your fingers crossed.

Thomas William is pictured here in action. Armed with a pencil and an order blank he is heading for the front door, having espied a man enter who looks as though he was pining to buy a Studebaker car. Tom likes to sell Studebaker cars. Furthermore Tom sells 'em. And if you think he can't sell them you just hint that you are in the market for a car and show Tom a sizeable bank roll. And, by the way, he has something of a place in which to sell them. Two or three acres of buildings covering a storage and repair garage and a big salesroom, with flowers an 'everything in the salesroom. Pretty impressive sort of a place. And when you go out of there an owner of a new Studebaker you have a pretty big sense of your own importance.

But Thomas William Hannah doesn't confine his activities to selling automobiles. When there's something to be done for the advancement and welfare of the community Thomas William is pretty likely to be found plugging along on thejob. In short, he is a pretty live-wire sort of a chap, the kind that helps make a good town. And just think of the poor fellows who would now be walking if Tom had decided to continue life as a pedagog.