Hanna, Robert

Submitted by Mike Miller

Hanna, Robert, capitalist, largely interested in various New Orleans and other corporations, was born at New Orleans, La., May 26, 1871, 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 during many years actively engaged in grain and steamboat business at New Orleans, where he early acquired the title of ''The Corn King of New Orleans.'' He was largely identified with many of the most important enterprises of New Orleans throughout a long, active, and unusually successful business career. Seven children were born to their union. For full details as to the parents and children, see sketch of Capt. J. Stonewall Hanna, elsewhere in this work. Robert Hanna, the subject of this sketch, received his early education at the public schools of New Orleans, where he graduated from the Boys' high school. Later he matriculated at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., from which institution also he in due time graduated. His first business undertaking, after the completion of his education, was the handling of coal in large quantities at New Orleans. This enterprise was a success from its inception, and he continued at the head of the business about 10 years, at the expiration of which time he became associated with his brothers, Capt. J. Stonewall Hanna and Richard J. Hanna (elsewhere referred to in this work), in the ownership and operation of the Orleans Metal Bed Co., one of the large and important manufacturing enterprises of the city. The name of Robert Hanna has become intimately connected with a number of the leading business organizations of the city in which he lives. Among these various affiliations it may be mentioned that he is a stockholder in the New Orleans National bank, the U. S. Trust & Savings bank, the Hibernia Insurance Co., the Times-Democrat Printing Co., and other corporations and enterprises of like importance, including also the Cullett Gin Co., of Amite City, La. July 5, 1892, Robert Hanna was married to Miss Mathilde Virginia Zebal , a daughter of H. L. and Adele (Morgan) Zebal, of New Orleans. H. L. Zebal was one of the best known citizens of New Orleans, brought into prominence born by his military and civil career. During the dark days of the Civil war he served the cause of the Confederacy as commissary sergeant of the famous Washington artillery, and during these years of stubbornly-contested battlefields and sanguinary conflicts, established a record for gallantry in action in every way worthy to be cherished by his descendants. Not until after the surrender did he return to his civil pursuits, when he became associated with T. C. Peyan in the clothing business, their store being located in the business portion of the old St. Charles Hotel building. He remained in this connection about 5 years, following which he became connected with the well-known and widely popular business house of Leon Godchaux, thus remaining throughout about 42 years, after which he engaged in the insurance business with W. C. Wilcox, continuing in this latter association to the end of his active business career. The mother of Mrs. Robert Hanna, was a daughter of Colonel Charles Morgan, of Pointe Coupee, one of the most widely-known citizens of Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hanna have two children, namely: Roy, now a student at Soule' college, New Orleans, and Mathilde Elizabeth. Members of the family are regular attendants at Trinity Episcopal church, where members of Mr. Hanna's family have been constant attendants during more than 40 years.

Source: Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form, volume 3, pp. 765-766. Edited by Alc e Fortier, Lit. D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.