Person:Robert Hanna (9)

The Wayne County Press, Fairfield, Illinois, Thursday, August 1, 1901 Hon. Robert P. Hanna Expires From Heart Trouble After Several Months Illness

Hon. Robert P. Hanna died at his home in this city Monday night of this week at about ten o'clock. Mr Hanna had been in very poor health for several months, and the worst had been feared all along, but notwithstanding this the end came so suddenly and quickly as to greatly shock his family and friends. Deceased was born at Salem, Columbiana County, Ohio, Dec. 10th, 1834. His father, John Hanna, was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to the United States and settled in Ohio in 1818. R. P. Hanna came to Fairfield in '55, and studied law in the office of Judge Edwin Beecher. He was admitted in 1857, and for all these years he has practiced his profession in Wayne and surrounding counties, being a lawyer of marked ability. As a public speaker he was especially gifted, and in his earlier days entered actively into the discussion and solving of all public questions. This is shown by his election as a member of the constitutional conventions of '62 and '70 in which he served with distinction and credit. He had been chosen by his party upon three occasions as a member of the state legislature. The first time in '66, to the lower house, and in '76 he was elected state senator from this district. He was again a candidate for the senate in the late election, but in the convention it was his lot to receive a nomination for the lower house. He bowed to the will of his party and accepted the nomination. He was elected but the condition of his health interfered with his taking the position of prominence, which characterized his former service in legislative bodies. Mr. Hanna was married to Miss Clara Smith in 1859, to whom he has been a most devoted husband. He took great pleasure in his home, and especially in his later years has he looked upon it as a haven of rest where he could always be found with his family outside of business hours. Besides his loving and devoted wife he leaves four children to mourn the loss of a fond and affectionate father. The oldest, Frank B. Hanna, who was twice elected state's attorney of Wayne county, is now located at East St. Louis; the next oldest, Mrs. Minnie Brown, the wife of Chas. F. Brown, lives at Flora; the two youngest children, T. P. Hanna and Miss Clara Hanna, have made their home with their parents in this city. The funeral services were conducted at the family residence Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Benton of Albion, officiating. The interment took place at the new city cemetery. Among those who were present from a distance to attend the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Brown, Low Hanna and sister, Mamie, Col. Randolph Smith and son, Claude, Mrs. Dora Bond and Miss Hattie Brown, of Flora; and the following were present from Albion; L. W. Low, Sr., L. W. Low, Jr., Judge McGregor, Judge White, W. R. Strawn, N. E. Smith, W. B. Schofield, Harry Smith, J. F. Stewart, H. P. Craig, J. W. Clemens, Jos. Green, Loren Gibson, and Dr. Benton, the Episcopalian minister, who officiated at the funeral.