FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO - BIOS: FANNING, Richard J. (published 1880)
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History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties, Ohio
Pub by Williams Bros.,  1880

RICHARD J. FANNING

Richard J. Fanning was born in Waterford, Ireland,  July 31,  1845.  He
came with his parents to America in 1851,  arriving in New York on the
fifteenth of August.  The family located in Cleveland,  Ohio,  where his
father was engaged in business until his death,  in 1870,  and was
universally respected as a reliable citizen.  He was a man of fine
education,  and an ardent admirer of the constitution and laws of the
United States,  and as soon as was permissible,  he secured,  by
naturalization,  the right of franchise,  and cast his first vote for
James Buchanan for president.

Young Fanning passed his boyhood days in Cleveland,  and made rapid
progress in his studies.  Physically and mentally he approached an early
maturity,  and so it was not strange that when the war broke out he had
an intense interest and enthusiasm in the success of the Northern arms. 
He was only sixteen years of age,  but having a strong desire to enter
the army,  he,  notwithstanding the earnest opposition of his parents, 
enlisted,  October 5,  1861, and was enrolled as a private soldier in
battery C,  Fifth United States artillery,  at Cleveland,  and was sent
immediately to Camp Greble,  near Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  from which
place the battery was ordered to the front in time to participate in the
various battles before Richmond.  Battery C was attached to the famous
Pennsylvania Reserve,  organized by Governor A.G. Curtin,  of that
State,  and assigned to the army of the Potomac,  under General George
B. McClellan,  commander in chief.

The subject of this brief sketch was with battery C in the seven days
battle of Bull Run;  at South Mountain;  and on September 17,  1862,  at
Antieam,  where General McClellan defeated the combined forces of Lee
and Jackson.  At this battle Mr. Fanning received a painful,  but not
dangerous flesh wound on the leg,  yet,  although urged to do so, he
would not leave the front.  Three months later,  December 13,  1862,  he
met with more serious experience.  Upon that date, at the battle of
Fredericksburg,  Virginia,  he was severely wounded in the left arm. 
The bones and arteries were terribly shattered and cut,  and the young
soldier was totally incapacitated for further service;  in fact he has
never fully recovered the use of his arm.  He was honorably discharged
from the army,  in June 1863,  and returning to Cleveland,  he led, for
two years,  a life of enforced idleness,  his injury making it
impossible for him to follow any vocation.

In 1865,  he received an appointment as clerk in the Cleveland &
Mahoning railroad office,  and continued to work for that company, and
the Atlantic & Great Western railroad company for ten years,  or until
1875.  In that year,  Arnold Green, esq, clerk of the supreme court of
Ohio,  appointed him his deputy.  His efficient and faithful service as
Mr. Greens assistant,  and a wide personal popularity,  won for him in
1877,  the nomination,  upon the Democratic State ticket,  for the
office of clerk of the supreme court.  He made a splendid run, being
elected by a large majority,  and has served ever since in the office to
which then chosen,  giving unqualified satisfaction,  and securing the
warm personal friendship of all with whom he has had official
relations,  without regard to party proclivities.

On the eighth of November,  in the same year,  Mr. Fanning was united in
wedlock to M. Cecilia Miller,  third daughter of the late Hon. Thomas
Miller,  of Columbus.  By this fortunate union,  and the acquirement of
property where, at first, he had put an official residence,  he has
doubtless become,  as he considers himself,  a permanent citizen at the
State capital.
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