Biography of HANNA, Joe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana

Submitted by Mike Miller
Source: Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and 
Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 622-623.  Edited by 
Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.



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Hanna, Joe, the well known assessor of Ouachita parish, was born in the city 
of Monroe, Sept. 16, 1877.  His father, John E. Hanna, born Jan. 26, 1840, 
in Murfreesboro, Tenn., came in 1843 with his parents to Monroe, where his 
father, Dr. William Hanna, practiced medicine for a number of years, and 
later lived in Caldwell and Catahoula parishes.  John E. Hanna was clerking 
in a store at the outbreak of the Civil war when he enlisted in Co. I of the 3d
regiment Louisiana infantry with which he served through the war and 
surrendered at Vicksburg in 1865.  He entered as a private but was promoted 
in about 18 months and at the close of the war was quartermaster.  He served 
under Beauregard and Bragg.  After the war he returned to Caldwell parish 
and farmed for several years.  About 1870 Mr. Hanna removed to the city of 
Monroe and for a few years ran a warehouse for river steamers, after which 
he was with his brother-in-law, Capt. Chamberlain, in mercantile business.  
Later he became deputy sheriff under J. E. McGuire during his incumbency as 
sheriff.  In 1878 Mr. Hanna was elected clerk of the police jury of Ouachita 
parish, which position he held until his death, Jan. 15, 1911, and had the 
distinction of never missing a meeting in 33 years.  He was a Mason, a Knight 
of Honor, and a devout member of the M. E. church, South.  He was long and 
conspicuously identified with the affairs of Ouachita parish, having come here 
when there was no town of Monroe, the post office being called Fort Miro.  
In 1900 he was elected assessor of Ouachita parish and served for 4 years, 
during which time he installed a system of keeping records which was said 
by the governor to be the best of any parish in the state.  In 1904 he was 
re-elected, but resigned on account of age and feeble health.  Mr. Hanna's 
wife was Josephine E., daughter of William and Rachael Reitzell.  She was 
born July 9, 1843, in East Feliciana parish, where she lived on her mother's 
plantation until her marriage to Mr. Hanna.  They were the parents of 8 
children:  John R.,  Ben M.,  Mary Louise, died at 18 years of age;  Josephine 
Eva, now Mrs. R. Monk, of Monroe;  Robert E.; Joe, assessor of Ouachita 
parish;  Martha A., now Mrs. W. J. Crowder, Jr., of Shreveport; Fred, living 
in Monroe.  Joe Hanna has lived in his native city all but 7 years of his life.  
He attended public schools until 13 years old when he took employment 
with the Consolidated Ice Co., of Monroe, for 3 years.  Next he was with 
Meyer Brothers until March 1, 1896, when he accepted a position in Shreveport 
as bookkeeper for Henry Rose.  This he held for 3 years and then became 
salesman for the same house until June 1, 1903, when he went as traveling 
salesman for Kohn Weil & Co., of New Orleans.  This he retained until March 
1, 1912, when he resigned to take the office of assessor of Ouachita parish, to 
which he was elected that year.  Mr. Hanna is a member of the Masonic order, 
of the Woodmen of the World, of the Redmen and the Eagles.  He has always 
been a democrat in politics, and bids fair to rival his father in length of time in 
public service.  Nov. 12, 1901, Mr. Hanna was married to Eva, daughter of 
Lloyd Bowers of Nacogdoches, Tex., and to them 5 children have been born:  
Eva Elstner,  Josephine Ewing,  Martha Louise,  Robbie Lee,  Jennie Winbish.

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