Biography of 	HANNA, Richard J., Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller August 1998

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Hanna, Richard James, president of the Orleans Metal Bed Co., City Park
avenue, and St. Louis street, New Orleans, was born at New Orleans, La.,
Aug. 21, 1874, son of Capt. John Holmes and Elizabeth (Spires) Hanna, the
former of whom was of Irish and the latter of English parentage.  Capt.
John Holmes Hanna, the father, was during many years actively engaged in
grain and steamboat business at New Orleans, where he early acquired the
title of "The Corn King of New Orleans."  He was affiliated with many of
the most important enterprises about the city of New Orleans throughout a
long, active, and unusually successful business career.  Both he and his
estimable wife were among the most in tensely interesting characters in New
Orleans life of the past generation.  The mother, Elizabeth Spires, was
from Cheltenham, England, and came to America with her parents, 2 brothers
and 2 sisters, in the year 1850, she being at that time 14 years old.  Her
father and 2 brothers died of yellow fever at New Orleans in 1853.  Her
mother died in l876.  Seven children were born to Capt. John Holmes Hanna
and his wife.  For full details as to parents and all of children, see
sketch of Capt. J. Stonewall Hanna elsewhere in this work.  Richard James
Hanna, the subject of this sketch, received a finished education, both
academic and commercial, in preparation for his life work, in the course of
which he became a student at several of the best educational institutions
available, among these being Centenary college, Jackson, La., from which be
graduated, later matriculating at Tulane university, New Orleans, from
which in due time he took his degree.  Following this he entered Soule'
college, New Orleans, where he took the complete commercial course.
Shortly after the completion of his education he became an attache of the
brokerage office of J. H.. Kamelate, at New Orleans, later on entering the
service of the New Orleans National Bank, where be remained about 15 years.

In the year 1910 he became identified with the Orleans Metal Bed Co.,
being, on Jan. 1 of that year, elected president of the latter company, of
which position he has remained incumbent to this time.  Upon the death of
his father, Richard James Hanna succeeded the latter as a member of the
board of directors of the New Orleans National Bank, and has since remained
in that capacity.  He also is a stockholder in the U. S. Trust & Savings
Bank, the Hibernia Insurance Co., the Gullett Gin Co., of Amite City, La.,
and several other corporations and business institutions in New Orleans and
elsewhere.  Richard James Hanna has been twice married.  His first marriage
was to Miss Jennie Edgerton Lincoln, who died Feb. 4, 1899 leaving one
child, Jennie Lincoln Hanna.  June 15, 1903, Mr. Hanna was married to Miss
Bessie Ramsey Thomson, a daughter of W. B. Thomson, of New Orleans, in
which city the daughter was born.  Mrs. Hanna's father has long been well
known as a wagon manufacturer.  To this latter union 2 children have been
born, namely:  Edith and  Bessie Lee, both of whom are now at the parental
home.

Source:  Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events,
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3,
pp. 764-765.  Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit. D.  Published in 1914, by 
Century Historical Association.