Montgomery County TN Archives Biographies.....Hanner, Mac R. 1872 - 
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Author: Will T. Hale

   MAC R. HANNER. The thriving and beautiful little city of Clarksville, the

judicial center of Montgomery county, has at the present time its municipal

affairs ably and worthily guided by one of its native sons and by one whose

progressive policies and wise conservatism the best interests of the community

have been signally advanced. Mayor Hanner has been the incumbent of the office

of chief executive of the municipal government since 1910. and he brought to the

post admirable experience, as he had previously been a member of the board of

aldermen for a period of five years. He is one of the loyal and public-spirited

citizens of his native county, and here his circle of friends is coextensive

with that of his acquaintances.



   The present mayor of Clarksville was born in this city on the 7th of

September, 1872, and is a son of Rev. John W. and Blanche (Hamner) Hanner,

representatives of old and honored families of Tennessee and of somewhat distant

kinship. Rev. John W. Hanner was born in Williamson county, this state, on the

10th of February, 1840, and he passed the closing years of his life at

Clarksville, where he was summoned to eternal rest in February, 1907, secure in

the reverent affection of all who had come within the compass of his benign and

gracious influence. He gained his early education in his native county and

finally entered the University of Kentucky, at Lexington, in which institution

Hon. James G. Elaine, of Maine, was at that time an instructor. He was graduated

in the university and later in a theological seminary of the Methodist Episcopal

church, South, and he was ordained to the ministry in 1869. Thereafter he

continued in the work of his high calling until his death, and he labored with

all of consecrated zeal and devotion for the aiding and uplifting of his fellow

men. He was a man of high intellectual attainments and of most gentle and

tolerant personality, so that he naturally gained secure vantage ground in the

affection and esteem of all with whom he came in contact during his long and

active service in the ministry. He was one of the representative members of the

clergy of his church and was prominent and influential in its councils, the

major part of his pastoral service having been in Tennessee. He was a staunch

advocate of the principles of the Democratic party and was affiliated with the

Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias.



   It was given to Rev. John W. Hanner to render gallant service as a soldier of

the Confederacy in the war between the states. He enlisted in the Second

Kentucky Cavalry, under Gen. John Morgan, and participated in the ever memorable

Morgan raid into Ohio and Indiana. He was captured at this time, but succeeded

in escaping from the prison in which he had been confined, in the city of

Cincinnati, Ohio. Thereafter he served in the valiant command of General Forrest

until the close of the war, and in after years he manifested his continued

interest in his old comrades in arms by maintaining affiliation with the United

Confederate Veterans.



   Rev. John W. Hanner was married five times, and the present mayor of

Clarksville was the third in order of birth of the four children of his first

union, to Miss Blanche Hamner, who was born in Maury county, this state, in

1843, and who died in 1875, when her son Mac R., of this review, was a child of

about three years. Two children were born of the second marriage and none of the

other three.



   The paternal grandparents of Mayor Hanner were Rev. John W. and Elizabeth

(Wellburn) Hanner, who were natives of North Carolina and founders of the family

in Tennessee. The grandfather likewise was a clergyman of the Methodist

Episcopal church, South, having entered the ministry before the division of the

church into the northern and southern branches, and he was one of its honored

representatives in Tennessee in the early days, both he and his wife continuing

their residence in this1 state until the close of their lives. The maternal

grandparents of the subject of this sketch were William and Blanche (Olds)

Hamner, the former of whom was born in Maury county, this state, and the latter

in Ireland. William Hamner was a lawyer by profession and for a long period was

one of the representative members of the bar at Columbia, the judicial center of

Maury county, besides which he was a prominent and influential figure in public

affairs in that section of the state.



   To the public schools of the city of which he is now the able and popular

mayor is Mac R. Hanner indebted for his early educational discipline, which

included the curriculum of the high school. Thereafter he completed a course in

the Webb College, at Bellbuckle, Bedford county, and thereafter he initiated his

independent career as bookkeeper in a tobacco office in Clarksville. At the age

of twenty years he was appointed deputy clerk of the circuit court. In the

meanwhile he had shown distinctive interest in all that touched the welfare of

his native city and was known as one of its most, loyal and progressive young

men. Under these conditions, as combined with his unalloyed personal popularity,

he was certainly a most eligible candidate for the office of mayor, to which he

was elected in 1910 and of which he has since remained the incumbent. In 1905 he

had been elected' representative of the Sixth ward on the city board of

aldermen, and his effective service in this position added greatly to the

popular confidence shown in his subsequent election to the mayoralty. He is

doing all in his power to foster the growth and prosperity of Clarksville along

civic, industrial and commercial lines and also to compass improvements of

enduring benefit. His administration has been signally successful and acceptable

and will inure to his lasting credit and honor.



   The political proclivities of Mayor Hanner are indicated by the unwavering

allegiance which he gives to the cause of the Democratic party, and both he and

his wife are zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. Mr.

Hanner is an appreciative student of the history and teachings of the

time-honored Masonic fraternity, in which his affiliations are here briefly

noted: Clarksville Lodge, No. 89, Free and Accepted Masons; Chapter No. 4. Royal

Arch Masons; and Clarksville Commandery, No. 8, Knights Templar. He has passed

various official chairs in the lodge and chapter and is past eminent commander

of his commandery. He also holds membership in the local lodges of the

Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He served

two terms as eminent commander of the commandery of Knights Templar and at the

time of his original election was the youngest incumbent of this office in the

entire state. The Mayor and his charming wife are recognized leaders in the

representative social activities of their home city, and in their attractive

residence a spirit of gracious hospitality is ever in evidence.



   On the 7th of December, 1898, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hanner to

Miss Josephine Erwin, who was born in this state, and who is a daughter of Rev.

Joseph B. Erwin, a leading clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church, South,

and now pastor of one of the principal parishes in the city of Nashville. Mr.

and Mrs. Hanner have one son, Mac R., Jr., who was born in the year 1901 and who

is now a student in the public schools of Clarksville.





Additional Comments:
From:



A history of Tennessee and Tennesseans : the leaders and representative men in

commerce, industry and modern activities

by Will T. Hale

Chicago:  Lewis Pub. Co.,  1913





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