JOHN WALTER HANBY

JOHN WALTER HANBY was born on February 18, 1850, in Montgomery County, Virginia, and died on

December 15, 1916, in Rockwall County, Texas.. He was the son of JONATHAN T. HANBY (b. September 8, 1806; d. September 27, 1882) and JULIANA McCHESNEY HANBY. (b. 1812; d. 1886) [Jonathan's second wife]. Jonathan is buried at Walnut Grove Cemetery, 2.3 miles from Bristol, Virginia. A newspaper clipping in the family memorabilia states: "Major J. T. Hanby...informs us he has established a colony in Texas, having two sons ... at Dallas County, Texas. These gentlemen recently left this neighborhood, and if they are pleased, after a brief trial, will remain there ...Messers. P. W. and John W. Hanby are farmers, and are gentlemen of intelligence and of the very best character. Our Texas friends can rely on the Hanby stock, who regard their words as their bonds. John W. took the King Oratorical Medal in a very strong contest and if he should emerge from the farm to any one of the professions, we predict for him permanent success. The two boys will be heard from in due time. Blood will tell. We promise for Major Hanby's "colony" a successful career in the Lone Star State. Major Hanby, himself over 70 years of age, remains with us, and is one of the most trusted, staunch and reliable men in our county." The article is attributed to the Pearisburg, Virginia, Gazette. John Walter was the younger brother of Peter Sharp Hanby. They moved from Virginia to Texas in 1877 and in the early 1881 they purchased adjoining farms near Heath and lived on those farms until their deaths. Their wives were sisters; Elizabeth Josephine Peck Hanby and Emma Cannon Peck Hanby. Among the family mementos, the following paper was found. "When Emma Cannon Peck came to Texas, she pulled and sent to John Walter Hanby, the first Texas flower she found on the meadows. John answered promptly with this little poem which he composed on receiving the flower.

To Emma

May 5, 1877 John Walter Hanby

I love my little Texas flower;

I love the hand that pulled it.

I love the mystic unknown bowers From whence the maiden culled it.

I love the power which prompted her To send so fit a token;

The gentle might of love to stir The heart with words unspoken.

I love the little gem that came, Frought with its sweet commission,

To kindle in my heart the flame

Of Heaven's purest passion

\And could I sketch in rainbow tints

Upon the Heavens vaulted,

My love for her I could not paint

in colors too exalted!

Augusta Lee Hanby Key, who wrote a family history several years ago, described John and Emma by writing "...John Hanby had graduated from King's College in Bristol, Virginia, where he won an oratory medal and had thought he would either teach or become a Presbyterian preacher. Emma had taught in a little rural school before she married ... they were able to supplement the meager efforts of the "teachers" in the Hebron and Heath schools. Precious dollars were saved to buy books and all the children became avid readers. They read Greek mythology, Shakespeare, the Bible, Pilgrim's Progress, O. Henry, Dickens, and the Oz books... Also, among the family memorabilia is a copy of an eight-page document, very beautifully inscribed, titled, "General Origin of Knowledge," in a folder labeled, Dissertation of J. W. Hanby.

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