Frank L. Hanna was born in Buck Creek township, Hancock county, on December 19, 1852, the son of Thomas and Mary Jane (Bolton) Hanna. Thomas Hanna married five times. He was the son of Robert Hanna, of South Carolina, who was born on April 6, 1786, and who died on November 19, 1858. Robert Hanna was one of the constructors of one section of the National Road, which runs through Greenfield. He was one of the first settlers. At one time he was justice of the peace in Hancock county, and he was killed on the Lake Erie & Western railroad in Indianapolis on November 19, 1858. His wife was Sarah Mowery, who was born on November 10, 1797, and who died on November 29, 1857. They were married in Brookville, Indiana, on March 18, 1813, by Judge Benjamin McCarty. They were the parents of ten children. Robert Hanna was a farmer and owned eighty acres of land on what is now Tenth street, in Indianapolis.

Thomas Hanna, who was the father of the subject of this sketch, had a limited common-school education. He farmed in Buck Creek township in this county. He was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land. He died in 1900. He was the father of the following children by his first wife: Robert B., Joseph A., Frank L., who is the subject of this sketch, and Mary Etta. The other wives of Thomas Hanna were Mary Jane Shaffer, who bore no children; Nancy Jane Helms, who bore no children; Elizabeth Edwards, a widow, who bore him one son, Julian; Ellie Collins, who bore him five children, Samuel, James, Asa, Mabel and William. Thomas Hanna was a member of the Masonic lodge.

Frank L. Hanna, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools, and has farmed all his life. He was married twice, the first time in February, 1873, to Glendora Apple, of Hancock county, who was a daughter of Jesse J. Apple, of McCordsville. To this union were born the following children: William, Melvin, Belle, Gilbert, Milton, Nellie, Thomas, John, Herman and Jessie. He was married, secondly, on February 16, 1908, to Minnie Holeman, who was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, on August 25, 1881. She was a daughter of E. W. and Harriette (Curry) Holeman. They were farmers and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a soldier in the Civil War and was wounded in the knee. Mr. Hanna has no children by his last marriage. He is a member of the Christian church and belongs to the Masonic lodge. He is the owner of two farms, one in Vernon Township of one hundred and fifty-nine acres, and one in Hamilton county, Indiana, of one hundred acres.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Pages 929-930.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI October 7, 2001.

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