Hanna, (Capt.) J. Stonewall

Submitted by Mike Miller

Hanna, Capt. J. Stonewall, secretary of the Orleans Metal Bed Co., New Orleans, was born at New Orleans, La., Dec. 27, 1862; 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 born in Londonderry, Ireland, May 24, 1835. His father owned and conducted a harness business at the place of the son's birth. The latter, through the days of his childhood, assisted his mother about the house, being the first-born of the children. His educational advantages were very limited, and when the lad had attained his 14th year, the father died, leaving the mother and 11 children. John Holmes was then apprenticed to a local grocer, but after 1 year he had fully decided that he did not like the grocery business, and furthermore, that he desired to try his fortunes in the land across the sea, of which he had heard much. The mother, of course was averse to parting with her first-born, but in the sincerity of her desire that the boy should not be hampered in availing himself of such slender opportunities as he might find, unaided and with but little education, she consented to his wishes and kissing his mother good-bye, he set out for the United States, crossing the ocean on board a sailing vessel, the good ship Leviathan. After 21 days at sea, the young man landed at the great city of New York. After passing 1 month at the American metropolis, he started South, with the home of his uncle, Dr. John W. Hanna, Natchitoches, La., as his objective point. After an eventful trip, he reached New Orleans, by boat, and landed at Post 18, near the old triangle building, in front of the St. Mary market. This was in the month of April, 1852, and upon counting his ''cash on hand," the new arrival in tile Crescent City found that he possessed just 3 sovereigns. After a very brief look at the metropolis of the South, he made his way to Natchitoches, to pay his respects to his uncle, and while there found employment in the store of Creswell & Co., where he remained about 1 year. He then returned to New Orleans, better prepared for seeking work, and after a diligent search for a job at such work as he was then qualified to do, secured a position as clerk on the levee with the firm of Sands Bros., receivers and agents for the largest produce house in New Orleans at that time. This work paid him a salary of $25 per month, but, guided by the habits of thrift inculcated by his mother across the sea, he was enabled to make this sum cover all of his expenses and yet leave some for savings, and after 2 years in this position he left his employers sale grain dealer. In the beginning made a specialty of s and other rivers and making the port of New Orleans, and within the incredibly short time of about 1 year, John Holmes Hanna had won the distinction of being in control of the greater part of the grain business entering the port of New Orleans. His business expanded with such rapidity that he soon became known through out all the region as "The Corn King of New Orleans."

However, the young corn operator from Londonderry, Ireland, went steadily ahead, and within a few years his name appeared among the list of directors of the New Orleans National bank. He also became a stockholder and a charter member of the Times-Democrat Publishing Co., treasurer of the Orleans Metal Bed Co., and largely interested in the Gullett Gin Co., of Amite City, La. He continued active in the grain business until the year 1892, when, it is said, he was forced out of business by the railroads.

March 8, 1858, Capt. John Holmes Hanna was married to Miss Elizabeth Spires, who was born at Cheltenham, England, and came to America when 14 years of age. She died in the year 1901. To their union 7 children were born, these being at this time: Ella Virginia, now deceased, who became the wife of Julius Hoerner, prominent in mercantile circles at Vicksburg, Miss.; Capt. J. Stonewall Hanna, now vice-president of the Orleans Metal Bed Co., New Orleans; Richard James Hanna, president of the Orleans Metal Bed Co., and elsewhere referred to in this work; Swinford Spires Hanna and Charles Holmes Hanna are now deceased; Elizabeth Lee Hanna, now residing at the family home on Louisiana avenue, New Orleans; Robert Hanna, capitalist and stockholder in the Orleans Metal Bed Co., several banks and other large corporations of New Orleans, also elsewhere referred to in this work. J. Stonewall Hanna, the subject of this sketch, in the course of acquiring his education, attended Soul college, at New Orleans, and later the University of Mississippi, at Oxford, from which he graduated with the class of 1879.

When he had completed his education, he came assistant to his father in the grain business and remained so employed about 2 years, when he accepted a position as clerk on a river boat. He remained in this latter connection until reaching his 21st year, when lie received his papers as captain, authorizing him to navigate a river boat. From this time he continued on the river until 1909, in the course of this interesting experience operating the following boats: Bart Able, Lacrona, John H., Hanna Jesse, K. Bell, James Wilson, John Howard, Steamboat St. John, Laura Lee, Maria Louise, Blanks Cornwell, H. Hanna Blanks, D. Stein, Clara S., Mabel Co. Mean, and the St. James, the latter being the last boat he operated on the river. In 1909 he retired from the river and became secretary and treasurer of the Orleans Metal Bed Co.

At this time, however, he occupies the position of vice-president of this corporation, of which the Hanna family purchased all the stock in the year 1910. This company owns and operates a large plant, manufacturing metal and brass beds and bed springs, and ships its product throughout the United States and Central and South America. Capt. J. Stonewall Hanna also is largely interested in several other important corporations and business enterprises in New Orleans and adjacent regions, and is a stockholder in the New Orleans National bank, The Gullett Gin Co., of Amite City, La.; the U. S. Trust & Savings bank, New Orleans; The Times-Democrat Publishing Co., New Orleans and the Hibernia Savings bank, of New Orleans. Capt. Hanna is a member of Trinity Episcopal church, Jackson avenue, New Orleans. June 1, 1882, J. Stonewall Hanna was married to Miss Eloise Carey, a daughter of T. J. and Sarah (Bracken) Carey, the former of whom was born in Ireland, and the latter in New Orleans. Five children have been born to Capt. And Mrs. Hanna, namely: Eloise Elizabeth, now Mrs. George W. Richardson, of Minneapolis, Minn.; Ella Virginia, now Mrs. Joseph W. Dale, of New Orleans; Ruby Lee, John Holmes, and Ralph Stonewall, the latter three now residing at the parental home in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Source: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 190-192. Edited by Alcee Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.