HANNA, Thomas - Putnam

Indianapolis, April 13 – Ex Lt. Gov. Thomas Hanna died this afternoon at his residence in this city of apoplexy. The funeral services will be held at Greencastle tomorrow and interment will take place in Forest Hill cemetery of that city. Mr. Hanna was nominated for Lt. Governor June 10, 1880 with the Hon. Albert G. Porter for Governor on the Republican ticket. He was elected after a sharply contested campaign and served as Lt. Gov during the full term.  After his retirement from office he opened a law office in this city and continued in the practice until the time of his death.  He was appointed special attorney for the Court of __ (smudged) by President Harrison which office he held two years. At the close of his term he returned to this city and continued the practice of law.

Source: Indianapolis News 15 April 1901

Thomas Hanna, who was elected Lt-Governor on the Republican ticket in 1880 served the term of four years, died Saturday at 4:30 o’clock at his home, 317 E Vermont St. The immediate cause of death was a stroke of apoplexy. For the last two years he had been suffering from rheumatism but his death came unexpectedly, a few moments of extreme illness preceding the stroke. He leaves a widow and three children – Gertrude, Thomas H and Morris M. Hanna.  The funeral services will take place at the family home at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow conducted by the Rv. CE Bacon of Robert Parks ME Church, assisted by Ellsworth Circle 128, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic. At 12:18 p.m. the body will be taken to Greencastle where it will be buried in Forest Hill cemetery. The escort from this city will consist of members of the GAR and a number of old comrades of the Persimmon brigade. Thomas Hanna was born in Lawrence County, this state Aug 24, 1841. In 1854 he removed with his parents to Greene County where his life was spent on a farm until 1861 when he entered Asbury (now DePauw University) with his younger brother. Being without means, the two brothers did such work about the town as they could find to get money to pay their board and tuition.  In 1863 he enlisted in Company C, 115th Indiana Volunteers. The regiment, which formed a part of the noted Persimmon Brigade was in the East Tennessee campaign and suffered many hardships.  It was on constant duty, confronting Longstreet’s army and covering Cumberland gap which was the key to East Tennessee.After the War in the fall of 1864 he returned to Greencastle and entered the freshman class.  He “worked his way” through college and was graduated in 1868.  He then began the study of law and two years later was taken into partnership by his preceptor, Judge FT Brown. From 1875-1879 he served as city attorney of Greencastle. He served as chairman of the Republican committee of Putnam County in the presidential campaign of 1876.  About this time his law partner, Judge Brown having retired from practice he formed a partnership with SA Hays. The first met with a large measure of success. The fact that Mr. Hanna had been a soldier contributed greatly to his nomination for Lt. Gov June 10, 1880 on the ticket headed by Albert G. Porter. This was the last October State election held in Indiana and Mr. Hanna participated in the Republican triumph last year.  In 1885, after the expiration of his term as Lt. Gov, he opened a law office in this city, continuing in practice until his death. Two years of this time he served as special attorney of the Court of Claims under appointment by President Harrison.  He was a candidate for the position of Commissioner of Pensions now held by H Clay Evans of Tennessee and had received the endorsement of more than 50 Indiana Grand Army posts for the position. – kbz