HANNEGAN, Edward A
What an interesting but odd life this man lead. Born June 25, 1807 in Hamilton County, Ohio, one of his major accomplishments that is still heralded today is his Texas statehood vote. The Senate was deadlocked with a 26-26 vote. Hannegan thought greatly on the matter and changed his vote, thus admitting Texas to the Union. It only took one vote (see photo from North Adams Transcript Fri 26 Oct 1956 p 9) and Hannegan always seemed to be that one who looked at things differently. For instance, in late 1847, while a US Senator, Hannegan and a few men headed to Covington to seek the answer to why there was little water coming down the canal from the locks to Attica. Hannegan was simply sitting at the bar stool, discussing the matter when Ezekiel McDonald came from Hannegan’s backside, knocked him off the stool and started stomping on his head. They hadn’t even exchanged a word. Evidently, a Crawfordsville paper immediately published a very biased, political opinion against Hannegan. The Washington Union (DC) later (6 Dec p 2) published a lengthy article on the affair. “Affidavits from 3 of the 4 who witnessed the whole show, brought reason to definitely believe (and from many other good authorities besides) that McDonald assaulted Hannegan from behind” and was always bombasting him and making matters difficult. McDonald was also responsible for more than 12 months of the locks problem, but Hannegan saved “the ruffian’s life,” as a fight ensued (Hannegan still recovering was not involved but trying to stop it) – he caught a club someone was ready to use, and repeatedly yelled, “Take the man out of the canal; don’t kill him; don’t let him drown,” meaning McDonald. Although it was an unfortunate affair no one was killed and the lock problem was solved, perhaps a bit roughly – yep~!
As a boy, he moved with his family to Bourbon County, Kentucky then studied law at Transylvania University in Lexington. About 1825, he went to Fountain County and was admitted to the bar in 1828, afterward moving to Williamsport where he began the practice of law but fairly quickly, moved to Covington where he served 1832-1833 in the House of Representatives and served again in 41 to 41. Between that time, he was a Democrat in the Congress 1833-1837. Returning home when he wasn’t renominated in 1836 he served as a Colonel in the Indiana militia serving at Fort Plymouth during an Indian conflict. In 42 he was elected one term as a Democratic Senator (March – March 1843-49). One of the three committees he served on was the Committee on Foreign Relations and thus President James K. Polk appointed him as the US Minister to Prussia in 1849 and he served well in the position and was asked back by the King but returned home to resume law. A quick temper and alcoholism seemed to be his only two problems, otherwise he was touted as being handsome, intelligent, likeable, a stimulating lecturer, but also fiery and impulsive. It may have run in the family as his grandson Ned and a friend (Thornton Haines) were friends and had been drinking and out rowing in the evening when they argued, Thornton drawing his gun and killed Hannegan by shooting him through the heart.
One very interesting incident happened on Hannegan’s way to Covington in search of a place to practice his profession (Evansville Journal 23 Sept 1891 p7) when night overtook him in a forest setting. He saw a light in a small cabin. Asking for permission to spend the night, he was accepted as a guest. The next morning he wanted to pay but the nice folks insisted – no charge. Some time later, the son of the rich neighbor of the people who so nicely gave Hannegan a place to rest the night murdered the son of Hannegan’s friends. He volunteered to be prosecutor and even with the obvious influence and all the money spent to keep their son from jail, Hannegan won the case. His life was full of such interesting cases but his life was literally ruined on May 6, 1852 when he and his brother-in-law, Capt. John R. Duncan, who lived with his sister and Hannegan in Covington had been drinking along with Hannegan. They got in a terrible fight, both verbally and physically. Sister to Duncan, wife of Hannegan begged him to go up to his room. He did but Duncan followed shortly. Finding Hannegan on the bed, he approached him, calling him a coward and slapping him in the face. On a whim and likely in protection, he grabbed a Spanish dagger and thrust it into his brother-in-law’s body. Friends came quickly, most of them both men’s friends. The Captain declared to them that he “alone was to blame. Hannegan hearing this rushed into the room and bathed his dying friend with his tears!” Duncan continued repeating it until his death the next day. Buried in Covington. Never tried for the offense, Hannegan basically killed himself with “drink, morphine and remorse” in St. Louis (where he had moved after continuing his Covington practice for a few years) on February 24, 1859.
Other sources used besides those cited above: Bjornstad, William. Biography of Hannegan on FindAGrave. Buried Woodlawn Cemetery, Terre Haute, his dear wife, passing in 1857 and is buried at Oak Grove in Covington!