Obituary
of Samuel
"Sam" Colman Hanna
Prominent Kansan
and Long-Time Resident of Elk County Dies After Long and Painful Illness
Samuel
Colman Hanna, an old time resident and one of Howard's most prominent
citizens died at Wichita, Kansas, July 12th, 1928.
He was born
August 19th, 1850, at Attica, Indiana. Mr. Hanna was one of four
children of Captain Barlow Hanna and Amanda Colman Hanna.
The
deceased was first united in marriage with Lucy Plowman in the year
1881 and following her death in the year 1918, was later united in
marriage with Ivison Scott, who together with his sister, Mary L. Hanna
survive him.
He was
educated at his birthplace and Ann Harbor, the University of Michigan.
In his
early manhood, Mr. Hanna, in association with his brother-in-law,
Charles F. Plowman, journeyed to Colorado and entered upon and became
interested in what afterwards proved to be the major interest of his
career, namely, the breeding and raising of fine stock.
He later
returned east and for a time was successfully engaged in the business
of street contracting in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana.
In the year
1881, Mr. Hanna located at Howard, Kansas, since which time Howard has
been his home.
Mr. Hanna
was a far-sighted, keen business man and firmly believed that better
types were essential to the standard and quality of both horses and
cattle in Elk and surrounding counties, and therefore soon after
establishing and equipping his large stock farm, adjacent to Howard he
began the importation of highly bred cattle from England and Scotland,
visiting these countries in person and carefully inspecting and making
his selections. He also imported pure bred horses from France and
Belgium.
Perhaps no
one person, through the introductin of famous sires did more to elevate
the stock raising industry in this section of Kansas than did of
Mr. Hanna.
(Picture of
Samuel Colman Hanna has been omitted)
Mr. Hanna
early became interested in the growing of alfalfa and it was through
his enthusiastic efforts and his lectures at the State Agricultural
College and the Granges throughout the state that alfalfa was first
introduced among our farmers, later becoming a staple major crop and a
boon to the community.
Mr. Hanna
was a practical stock raiser and farmer of the Country Gentlemen type
finding time aside from his extensive interests to take an active part
in county and civic affairs.
For a
number of years he was cashier of the First National Bank, of Howard,
served as a member of the city council and as mayor and was elected and
served as county commissioner and also as county treasurer of Elk
County. He was president of the Kansas Stock Breeders Association
and president of the Elk county Fair Association.
"Sam" Hanna
as he was best known to the people of Howard and Elk county was a
forceful character, frank and fearless in his views upon all questions,
never guilty of equivocation or the dodging of an issue, in short, one
of whom it may be truthfully said, "we know where he stands."
During his
long and useful life in our community, Mr. Hanna made many warm friends
among those who knew him best and if at time his impetuosity, fiery
zeal and free expression may have occasioned a temporary breach, his
friends and neighbors will never cease to cherish the memory of a kind
and true friend, of a man who integrity was unimpeachable, of one whose
ideals were unusually high and who was always to be found on the moral
side of every ethical question, as a chaste and clean living educated
gentleman, whom to know as a friend, it is a pleasure to honor.
Funeral
services were conducted at 7 p.m., July 13th, 1928, at his home in
Howard, Kansas, by Rev. A. R. Griggs, of the Presbyterian church,
assisted by Rev. Harry Crane, pastor of the M. E. church at Smith
Center, Kansas, formerly at Howard and a personal friend of Mr.
Hanna. The male quartette of Howard sang "Lead Kindly Light" and
"Beautiful Isle of Somewhere" The service closed with Mr. Hanna's
favorite prayer, read by his long-time friend, Mrs. Arthur Goodwin. -
G. K. R.
Taken from
the Howard Courant, Howard, KS, July 19, 1928 Submitted
by L. Morgan
Attica, IN. Dec.
3,1898.
Rev. E.J. Clovey,
a pioneer old-school Baptist preacher of Warren County, died at his
home in this city at age of 88 years, from rheumatic complications,
yesterday. He had preached all over this county for many years, and was
very successful financially, owning 7 farms in Warren County and some
good property in this city. He gave largely of his means to the church,
erecting a neat chapel on the Scicott reservation, at independence, 2
yrs ago. He was a prominent Odd Fellow and will be buried by that order
Sunday. His wife survives him.