Sunday Gazetteer
Sunday, November 29, 1903

Death's call has been answered by another of our pioneer citizens.
After an illness of less than three days at the family home, 1015 West Gandy street, at a few minutes to 5 p.m. Saturday, November 21, there passed into rest Samuel Hanna, one of Denison's foremost citizens, prominent in every good work for her upbuilding from the very day her foundations were laid. For the past several years Mr. Hanna had been in delicate health; while not an invalid, he had not been physically strong, but he remained, from preference, in the harness until the Wednesday preceding death. He made ready to attend the funeral of Mr. Braun, but, feeling sudden illness, had to forgo the sad duty of paying the last tribute to a fellow pioneer, going to his home instead, from which he was not again destined to go forth. Thursday a physician was called but his case was not considered serious until shortly before noon Saturday, when a sinking spell alarmed his faithful wife.
A conference of physicians was hastily summoned, but little hope was entertained after this. His children were notified, but though living at nearby points, none of them reached here before his death, and the loving companion of his young manhood and of all the years of his later life, alone had the sad satisfaction of being with him to the end, and to watch the peaceful closing of that life which she alone best knows its goodness and unselfishness. The homecoming of the children, all of whom reached here Saturday night, except the youngest daughter, Mrs. Jennie Cash, of Hearne, was a sad one. The meeting of mother and children beside the bier of the husband and father now dead to all their loving tenderness was most pathetic. The warm hearted sympathy and loving help of friends was given in full measure, and it has not always been realized, the esteem in which the dead man was held, this hour of sorrow emphasized the fact that all who had known him were friends, enemies he had none. The most beautiful tribute it is possible for one to pay another was that paid the father by his elder son, speaking to the writer, who in simple, quiet words told of the goodness and unselfish devotion of the life that is no more. Mr. Hanna measured up to the full statue of a man in all the relations of life. He was a loving husband, a devoted father, a staunch friend, an upright citizen, honorable and punctious in all business relations, devoted to the best interests of his family, friends, home town, and of his country. He was a devoted, loyal member of his church, ever ready to deny self to advance its interests, and to give of his means and large hearted experience to its advancement. He was charter member; and senior elder of his church,  the First Presbyterian, and was largely instrumental in its founding. He had been superintendent of the Sunday school for nineteen years.  Think of it; giving of himself every seventh day for nineteen times three hundred and sixty-five that others might be led into right living. They have no claim but the broad claim of humanity. But this was all sufficient for him, whose pleasure was ever the good of others.
But how tame are words; would that I could pay just tribute to this grand and noble man. Fain would I place a lily on his tomb that its purity and perfume might tell to others the goodness of the life of him who "Has crossed over the river to rest beneath the shade of the trees."
Mr. Hanna was full of years, he had traveled a long journey to its end, patiently and cheerfully bearing life's burdens, ever extending the helping hand to those less qualified to meet and conquer life's difficulties, and finally, bidding the companion of the way farewell, like a tired child he sank quietly to his rest.
Mr. Hanna was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, August 8, 1834. Was married to Sallie M. Brown, also of Shelby Co., May 9, 1865. To them were born six children, four sons and two daughters, the widow and all the children survive him except the second son, William Brown Hanna, who died in his fifth year. How beautiful the thought that this little babe who crossed to the hitherland so many years ago, stood on the shore of the chill river to welcome the aged father home! Of the children, John, Mrs. Alice Acheson, Sam Jr., and Tom live in Dallas. Mrs. Jennie Cash lives at Hearne, Texas. Besides those mentioned, two brothers, T. K. Hanna of Kansas City and Dr. William Hanna of Henderson, Kentucky, and a sister, Mrs. Harbison of Denver, Colorado, also survive him. Mr. Hanna, with his brother T. K. Hanna, left his home in Kentucky, in 1870 for the west, the first halting place before Kansas City, Missouri, at which place the brother still resides. while he came south with the M.K.&T. through the Indian Territory arriving here a few days before the track was laid into Denison, that was to be, and took up his residence in the city of tents. His son, Sam Hanna Jr. was the first male child born in the new city on the prairie.
From the start, Mr. Hanna took a prominent part in the advancement of the city. He continued in the mercantile business which he had followed on his way south.
Through his efforts and those of Doctor and Mrs. Acheson the first Presbyterian church was built. He was elected member of the council, a committee of which then constituted the school board, and as member of such committee was one of the prime movers in building the Washington school building, the first free public graded school in Texas, and was largely instrumental in securing aid from the Peabody fund to give to the school a ten month session. He was a member of, and helped to organize the first wholesale grocery firm in the city, Hanna, Platter & Lingo and two years later into the firm of Hanna, Platter & Waples. He sold his interests in the grocery business and organized the firm of Hanna, Cowles & Co., hardware dealers, which later was changed to Sam Hanna & Son, hardware dealers. Mr. Cowles retiring from the firm, meeting financial reverses during the panic of 1893, the firm went out of business and Mr. Hanna engaged in the mercantile brokerage business up to time of his final illness.
Mr. Hanna served the city as mayor, was director in the State National bank, of the Denison Improvement Co., and . . . of the Denison Land and Investment Co. In the early days when the Drovers and Planters bank made a bad failure, Mr. Hanna was appointed receiver and by careful management finally paid its depositors in full.
When the old Presbyterian church was burned, Mr. Hanna was among the first to set on foot plans for its rebuilding, and the day of the completion of the handsome new structure would have been a happy day for him, had he lived to see his hopes realized. No more liberal, enterprising citizen has lived in Denison and none will be more sadly missed.
The funeral was held from the Waples memorial church at 2 p.m. Monday, the interment was at Fairview cemetery. The service, conducted by Rev. H. S. Little and Rev. W. B. Riggs of Dallas, was most beautiful, all who took part being intimate friends of the deceased, and the personal element gave it added pathos and solemnity. If consolation could be given at such a time it would be found in the brave, helpful words of the beloved pastor in the sweetly and strains sung by voices vibrant with the sympathy of true friendship, in the incense of the flowers that lent their beauty to hide the black pail of the coffin.
Memorial services will be held at Waples memorial church at 11 a.m. Sunday, November 29th.
From the fresh raised mound in Fairview we can look beyond and say:
"There is no death, the stars go down
To rise upon some fairer shore,
And bright in Heaven's jeweled crown
They shine forever more."

The Denison News
Thursday, March 6, 1873
pg. 3

DIED
In this city, Saturday morning, March 1, of congestion, after an illness of 2 weeks, Willie, son of Samuel Hanna, aged 4 years and 8 months.
Kansas City papers please copy.