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Capt. D. Caswell Hanna
Posted by Jean Crowl 7 May, 2009
From the Portrait and biographical record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson counties, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1894) May, 1894. Lake City Publishing Co. CAPT. D. CASWELL HANNA, an honored veteran of the late war, makes his home in Monmouth, but is one of the most extensive land-owners of Henderson County, and has been prominently identified with the history of this community for many years. He was born in Warren County, Ill., on the 8th of June, 1836, and is a son of John and Sarah (Crawford) Hanna. The father was a native of Ohio, and from the Buckeye State removed to Indiana, from whence he went to Warren County in 1835, locating just across the line from Henderson County. The trip westward was made by team. He purchased eight hundred acres of land, built a log cabin, and developed a fine farm, upon which he lived until his death, which occurred on the 25th of November, 1862. He was laid to rest in Monmouth cemetery, by the side of his wife, who was called to her final rest in 1852. This worthy couple were the parents of eleven children, eight sons and three daughters, namely: Elizabeth, Jane, William, Samuel, Robert, James R., D. C, Lewis C, Orin L., Mary E. and John C. In the usual manner of farmer lads Capt. Hanna spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and in the subscription schools which he attended through the winter season his education was acquired. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age, when he went to Colorado, making the journey across the plains with ox and mule teams to Pike's Peak. There he engaged in prospecting, mining and freighting, until the autumn of 1861, when he returned to his old home in Illinois. In the spring of the following year he took up his residence upon a farm of three hundred and twenty acres on sections 11 and 14, Rozetta Township, Henderson County, and during the summer devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, but on the 12th of August responded to the country's call for troops. Mr. Hanna enlisted as a private, but at Camp Butler was mustered into service as First Lieutenant of Company C, Ninety-first Illinois Infantry. At the engagement at Elizabethtown, Ky., he and his company were captured by the rebel general, John Morgan, but he was only held prisoner for a short time, when he was sent to Benton Barracks, where he remained until exchanged, the following June. Later he participated in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and did scouting duty all along the river from that city to New Orleans. In the fall he started on the Banks expedition to Brownsville, Tex., where he remained over a year on duty along the Rio Grande and the Gulf Coast, and then returned to New Orleans, where he was engaged in garrison duty for two months. Later he took part in the battles of Mobile, Ft. Blakely and Spanish Fort. In Brownsville, Tex., he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and when the war was over he was honorably discharged at Camp Butler, on the 27th of July, 1865. His promotion was won by meritorous and faithful service, for he was always found at his post, and the Union cause found in him a valiant defender. Capt. Hanna at once returned to his home in Warren County, where he lived until the autumn of 1866. On the 18th of October of that year he married Miss Martha Heaton, daughter of James and Nancy (Henry) Heaton, and they removed to a farm in Rozetta Township, which he still owns, and on which he made his home until 1869, when he was elected County Clerk on the Independent ticket. He filled that office for eight years, or until 1877, and remained in Oquawka,where the succeeding ten years of his life were passed. Since the fall of 1887 he has made his home in Monmouth, and his time and attention are given to the management of his extensive business interests. As his financial resources have been increased he has made judicious investments in real estate, and now owns sixteen hundred and ninety-five acres of valuable land in Henderson County, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation, and therefore yields to the owner a handsome income. The family of Capt. and Mrs. Hanna numbered ten children, and nine are yet living, namely: Katherine, George F., Lewis H., Edward C, Mabel, Martha, Sippie, Quinta and John. Robert, the fourth in order of birth, died in infancy. >In his social relations, Capt. Hanna is connected with the Masonic fraternity and the Grand Army of the Republic, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a Republican, and in the fall of 1892 was elected as Representative to the General Assembly from the Twenty-seventh District. A trust reposed in him, whether public or private, is never betrayed. In all the relations of life he manifests the same loyalty which characterized his army record. Through the legitimate channels of business he has won a handsome fortune, and although he started out for himself with little capital, he has steadily worked his way upward from a humble position to one of affluence. |