Biography of William S. Hanna - Conway Co, AR *********************************************************** Submitted by: Cathy Barnes Date: 21 Jun 1998 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm *********************************************************** SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas. Goodspeed Publishers, 1891. page 71 Hon. William S. Hanna, a prominent and successful lawyer of Morrilton, was born in Holmes County, Mississippi, in 1837. He was third in a family of ten children born to James and Mary C. (Truly) Hanna, who were natives of Mississippi. Paternal grandfather, Henry, settled in Mississippi while that State was a territory, emigrating from Virginia. He was a member of the first State Legislature. He was a weaver by occupation, and followed that industry in connection with farming pursuits in Mississippi, where he resided until his death. He was the youngest of seven sons, of Irish parentage, and was born on the ocean within one day's sail of the American coast, as his parents were immigrating to America. Maternal grandfather, John H. Truly, was also a pioneer to Mississippi. He was a Methodist minister who began preaching early in life and followed that profession, in connection with farming in Holmes County, until his death. James Hanna followed farming. He was a popular and prominent man in his day and time; was for a long time a magistrate of his township, a substantial member of the Methodist Church, and passed his entire life in Holmes County, where he died. His wife is still living and makes her home in Morrilton. Our subject's early youth was spent on the farm, where his educational advantages were limited, and where he worked until attaining his majority. He then, after diligent self-preparation began teaching school. In 1858 he came to Arkansas, and settled at Springfield, where, after teaching one term, he began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. J. A. Westerfield. During the winters of 1858-9 and '60, he attended lectures at the University of Louisiana, at New Orleans. He began practice in the spring of 1860, and at the outbreak of the civil war, the following year, recruited a company, which entered the Confederate army as Co. K, [p.71] Tenth Arkansas Infantry, and of which Mr. Hanna was elected Captain. The regiment was sent east of the Mississippi, and at Bowling Green, in 1862, Capt. Hanna's health becoming impaired, he resigned and came home. After a few months he raised another company, of which also he was elected Captain. At the organization of the regiment, a few days later, Capt. Hanna was elected Major. This was the first regiment of the Trans-Mississippi department, and was named for its Colonel, Dandridge McRae. Was in the battle of Prairie Grove, December 7, 1862, and soon after Major Hanna was promoted to the office of Lieut. Colonel of the regiment. They were then in the battles around Little Rock, and then went to Arkadelphia, and from that place Col. Hanna went north with Gen. McRae, and at Jacksonport raised a cavalry regiment. Our subject served in this regiment as Major till the end of the war; was with Gen. Price in his celebrated Missouri campaign, and surrendered with Gen. Jeff. Thompson, at Jacksonport, in May. 1865. After living for two years in Jackson County, Mr. Hanna returned to Springfield and resumed the practice of medicine. He now also began the study of law, and was admitted to the bar in 1869, and at once began the practice of that profession at Springfield. In 1879 he removed to Morrilton, where he erected a residence, and has since made his home. Mr Hanna has always been active and prominent in the political affairs of Conway County, and the people knowing his worth, have given him many offices of importance and trust. In 1874 he was elected a member of the State Constitutional Convention. In 1878 he was elected to the State Senate from this, the 26th district. In 1882 was elected to the lower house of the General Assembly, and in 1886 was again elected to the State Senate, and during the session of 1889, was elected by that body as its presiding officer. Mr. Hanna has been married twice, the first time in July, of 1860, to Miss Mary E. Morgan, a native of Alabama, and daughter of John Morgan. She died in 1876, leaving three children, three others had died in infancy. Alice (who was the wife S. M. Howell, died in 1888; Laura (wife of Robert Gordon); May, died in infancy, and Myra, died at the age of 12 years, in 1883. Mr. Hanna was married the second time in 1877. to Mrs. Alice M. Bogges, and to this union have been born four sons and one daughter, named in order of birth, James, William, Bennett, Charles and Mary. The family are members of the Methodist Church, in which, and in the Sabbath schools, they are active workers. Mr. Hanna is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Lewisburg Lodge, No. 105, and Lewisburg Chapter No. 56.