Henry Hannon

HENRY HANNON, a successful farmer of Cherokee County, whose fine home, with its beautiful surroundings and well cultivated farm, is located in the northwest quarter of section 14, Crawford township, was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, near the city of Hamilton, November 3, 1831, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah (Hildreth) Hannon.

The paternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch were born in Germany, the grandfather being a sea-going man in young manhood. He married Mary Valentine, and they moved to Canada prior to 1820, after birth of Andrew Hannon, Henry's father, The mother was born in the State of New York, but was married in Canada, where she died in 1895, aged 75 years; the father died in 1893, at nearly the same age. They had 11 children, and the survivors are located in widely separated parts of the country. Mr. Hannon has one brother, Daniel, in the State of Washington, and another, Joseph, in Detroit, Michigan. Another, Adam, when last heard from, was in Northern Michigan.

Henry Hannon was reared in Canada, and during his boyhood had rather meager educational opportunities. This lack he has remedied by later study and reading. Until the winter of 1864-65 he remained in Canada, and then removed with his family to Cass County, Michigan, where he engaged in farming and conducted a sawmill and lumber concern until 1880. In the spring of 1882 he went to South Dakota, took up government land, and made a farm in Day County.

Mr. Hannon first came to Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1870, on a prospecting trip, and made two other trips before leaving South Dakota and locating here, in 1890. Mr. Hannon's finely improvd farm has all been made by himself. He set out the shade and orchard trees, and with infinite care and great industry has developed one of the most attractive and valuable homes in the locality.

In Canada, in 1851, Mr. Hannon married Nancy D. Hannon, who was born there April 6, 1830. They have had eight children, namely: Eliza, who married D. F. McAuliffe, resides in Crawford township, and has two children,—Henry, aged 22 years, now in California; and Nannie, aged 17 years, who is at home; Philander, residing in Day County, South Dakota, who is a farmer and thresher, and has a wife and six children; Samuel James, now of Salt Lake, Utah, who owns 400 acres in Crawford township, and 200 acres in Cherokee township, and has a family; Mahala, who married R. O. Johnson, a successful farmer of Day County, South Dakota, and has six children; Minnie N., who married E. X. Knight, resides at Butler, South Dakota, and has a farm near Pierpont; Rachel, who married A. S. McCall, of Cripple Creek, Colorado, and died in 1888, leaving three children,—Mabel G., Rolla E. and Franklin E., of whom the last named makes his home with his grandfather; Mrs. Angeline Crosby, who died in Michigan; and one who died in infancy.

In politics, Mr. Hannon is a Republican; he has taken an active part in politics, and has served as township treasurer. He is a well known citizen, and is held in universal esteem.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, instructor from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 2-28-97.