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Name
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James Hanna47,30
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Birth
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2 Feb 1806, Philadelphia, PA30
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Death
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6 Nov 1888, Eureka, Humboldt, CA30
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Census
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1870, Eureka, CA
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Birth
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2 Feb 180848
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Occupation
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Lawyer, Former Pennsylvania State Senator,
Elected 183530,49
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Residence
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2nd & J Sts, Eureka, CA30
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Migration
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Philadelphia To San Francisco Via Panama May
1850, To Eureka 185430,49
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Military
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1st Lt., Philadelphia Grays, 1848, 184928
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Father
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John
Hanna
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Mother
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Elizabeth
Patterson
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Children
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Notes for James
Hanna
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Scotch-Irish ancestry
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Research
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James Hanna
James Hanna was born on the 2d of February, 1808,
in that part of the county of Philadelphia then called the
District
of Southwark and now included within the limits of the
city.
Both of his parents were from the County of Down,
Ireland.
He received such education as the private schools afforded
and
1820 was placed as a clerk ina large merchandise house,
where he remained until 1826, having during the intervening
time made two voyages to the West Indies as supercargo. In
the latter part of the same year he made his first political
speech.
It was hostile to General Jackson, then a candidate for the
Presidency. As far as it was delivered the speech was most
uproariously received and the speaker pitched out of the
hall. This treatment, of course, intensified his admiration
of Jackson and the kind of democracy he established!
In 1829 he commenced the study of law and was married to
Clarissa Sidney, granddaughter of Betsy Ross, who assisted
in designing and made the first American flag as established
by Congress. In 1832 he was admitted to the Philadelphia bar
and elected as a Whig to represent the county in the
Legislature of the State. The next year he was the Whig
candidate for the State Senate and was defeated. In 1835 he
was again nominated by the Whig party for the Senate, and
received a certificate of election. He was admitted to a
seat but was afterwards ousted, his election
having been contested.
In February, 1850, he left Philadelphia and by the way of
the Isthmus and sailing vessel from Panama, arrived in San
Francisco in May of the same year. His eldest son had
preceded him, but his wife and eight children remained in
Philadelphia. The family, excepting his wife, who died, were
afterwards all united in San Francisco.
In January, 1854, he left San Francisco for Humboldt County
and arrived in Eureka on the 2d of February, where, with his
children and several of his grandchildren, he still resides.
He has been District Attorney of the county for one term,
and one year he volunteered as a candidate for District
Judgeship against the Know-nothing nominee. Mr. Hanna
received a majority in this county, but Trinity County, at
that time a much more populous county, gave a larger
majority for the opposing candidate who was a resident of
that county.
As long as there was a Whig party he was a member of it,
then voted for Bell and Everett and afterwards became a
Black Republican. He was always and perhaps is yet a
Stalwart always voting as he was ordered from regular
headquarters without reading his ticket. He, however, once
voted under protest. He was required by the Whig party to
vote in the Congressional District in which he lived for the
less objectionable of two Democratic candidates for
Congress. He kicked but submitted to the harness. He voted a
ticket endorsed Democratic, but before touching it he put on
his gloves. Notwithstanding this precaution he fancied for a
month afterwards that his fingers smelt.
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Research
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James Hanna, age 60, born: US,
occupation: attorney, res: Eureka, Reg: 1 Aug 1866
#105857
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Research
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James Hanna
Knave readers who have followed the shipboard story which
James Hanna included in letters written in 1850 may be
interested in the man and of his life after he arrived in
California. Joseph Faunt Le Roy, who has furnished me with
copies of the letters follows the story with some old
clippings and comment.
There is this from the Philadelphia Press: "James Hanna, who
died on Tuesday, (November 6, 1888), last at Eureka,
California, was a native of Philadelphia, and 40 years ago a
prominent lawyer in this city, well known as a
public-spirited citizen and leader in the Whig party of that
day. He was born February 2, 1806, in the late District of
Southwark, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and was the oldest son
of John Hanna and Elizabeth Patterson. His father, John
Hanna, was a patriotic citizen of his adopted country and,
during the War of 1812, enlisted in the Independent Blues,
of which Peter A. Browne was captain. James Hanna was
educated in the private schools of this city, and became a
student in the office of William Taylor Smith, then a
prominent member of the bar, and on July 2, 1831, was
admitted to practice. He speedily acquired prominence in his
profession and took an active part in public and political
affairs. In 1835 he was elected Solicitor of the Board of
Guardians of the Poor, and was annually re-elected until
1850, when he resigned. In 1837 he was elected to the State
Senate. Upon the organization of the Legislature then chosen
arose the celebrated 'Buckshot War.' In 1833 he was
appointed by Governor Ritner Clerk of the Orphan's Court. In
1841 he was named in the act incorporating the Borough of
West Philadelphia as a commissioner of the borough, and in
1845 was elected Solicitor of the Board of Commissioners of
the District of Moyamensing. Mr. Hanna was also actively
interested in the militia, a contemporary with Gen. George
Cadwalader, John D. Miles, Horatio Hubbell, J. Sidney Jones,
Colonels James Page and Peter C. Ellmaker. In I the riots of
1848, and again at the burning of the 'California House' in
1849, he was first lieutenant, commanding the 'Philadelphia
Grays.' Its captain, George Cadwalader, was the 'general' of
the brigade.
Many Descendants·
"In February, 1850, Mr. Hanna sailed for San Francisco,
where he remained in the practice of his profession until
January, 1854, when he removed to Eureka, the county seat of
Humboldt County, California. He continued to reside at
Eureka until his death. He early took prominent part in
public affairs in California, was elected district attorney
of Humboldt County and was frequently a delegate to
Republican state conventions. He was also appointed
brigadier general of the state militia. He was a member of
the Masonic fraternity for many years and one of the oldest
surviving members of the Hibernian Society of Philadelphia,
of which he became a member in 1845. Mr. Hanna leaves
surviving a large circle of descendants in California, and
numerous relatives in Philadelphia. Mr. Hanna was a brother
of John Hanna, also of the bar of this city who died three
years ago, and Mrs. Edward Murdock and Mrs. Samuel Murdock,
both still living, and uncle of President Judge (William
Brantly) Hanna of the Orphan's Court." John and Aquilla W.
Hanna, sons of James Hanna, came to San Francisco in 1849,
preceding their father by a year. James Hanna brought the
remaining seven children to California in 1856 after the
death of their mother. They made the trip via Panama,
crossing the Isthmus by rail. There are many descendants to
James Hanna living in the Bay region and throughout
California. His sons and daughters married as follows: John
married Sally Bumm of San Francisco; Aquilla W., Hattie
Houghton of Humboldt County; James C., Sarah Catherine
Lothian of Humboldt County, William, who never married;
Elizabeth, Capt. Harry Kingston of Eureka, Clara, who
married Lewis Kayser Wood, one of the party which
re-discovered Humboldt Bay in 1849, and for many years
county clerk of Humboldt County. Ella Sophia, who married
Capt. William Hale Fauntleroy, commander USSS Massachusetts.
Florence married William P. Huestis, and Alice Mary married
Charles Liscom.51
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Census
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1870 Eureka, CA
Hanna
James 64 yrs Pennsylvania Eureka 272A
William P. 30 yrs Pennsylvania Eureka 272A
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Census
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San Francisco City
Directory-1850
Hanna, James, Attor. at law, Sac near Dupont58
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Obituary
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Obit- Daily Humboldt Times, Eureka,
5 Feb 188930
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Census Notes for Clarissa Sidney
Wilson
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1850 Bucks Co., PA Census
Philadelphia, City Dock Ward (Roll 817 page 445)
Clarissa Wilson, age 65, born PA
Elisabeth Campion, 44, MD
Sophia B. Hildebrandt, 44, MD
Clarissa Hanna, 40, PA
Sophia Campion, 19, PA
Elizabeth Hanna, 18, PA
Clara Hanna, 16, PA
William Hanna, 9, PA
Ella Hanna, 7, PA
James Hanna, 5, PA
Florence Hanna, 3, PA
Alice Hanna, 1, PA32
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Notes for James & Clarissa
Sidney (Family)
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Possible other children:
Lelora
Gertrude43
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Notes for Elizabeth P. (Child
1)
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stayed in Eureka28
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Notes for William Patterson
(Child 5)
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never married
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Notes for James Claypoole (Child
7)
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Hanna, James C.
1 Dec. 1845
23 May 1883
n/o--Philadelphia31
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Notes for Alice Mary (Child
9)
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youngest child14
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