JOHN V. HANNA, a worthy and honored representative of one of the oldest families of Washington county, is a native of the same, having been born January 6, 1829, in Morris township. His grandfather had come to the county at a very early day, married, reared a family, and died after a long life of usefulness as a pioneer farmer. His children were: John V., Hugh, James, Eleanor, Martha and Nancy. Of these, James was brought up from boyhood to agricultural pursuits, his education being received at the common schools. When a young man he served a full apprenticeship to the trade of wheelwright, which he afterward followed in his own and neighboring counties. Soon after finishing his apprenticeship he was married to Phoebe, daughter of Benjamin Day, and the results of this union were the following named children: Benjamin A. (who died in Washington county), Hugh (died June, 1892, Carroll county, Ohio), Rebecca, John V. (the only one of the family now living), Samuel and James M. (the latter deceased in Washington county in 1872). James Hanna removed to Carrollton, Ohio, where he followed his trade many years and died. His widow afterward returned to Washington county, having in the meantime been married to Joseph Weir. She died in the fall of 1881. Mr. Hanna was a member of the Presbyterian Church. The youth of our subject was passed on the home place of his stepfather, with whom he remained until old enough to start out in life for himself (which he did at an early age), his education being secured at the common schools, which he attended a few months each year. He commenced life as a hired man on the farm, and by hard work and economical habits finally succeeded in purchasing a portin of the home place, thus step by step plodding on until now he isone of the solid men of his township; he has resided on his present place eighteen years. Mr Hanna enlisted August 16, 1862, in company K, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served three years, being discharged in June, 1865. Politically Mr. Hanna has always been a strong Democrat, and has held various township offices; in religious faith he is a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian Church.

Text taken from page 1042 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed June 1997 by Anna Lynn Cauffield Burns of Anaheim, CA as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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