Hanna & Co. - S. C. Hanna, Elk County. --
In 1882 S. C. Hanna, associated with his cousin Geo. S. Hanna of Illinois under
the firm name of Hanna & Co., bought a lot of Shorthorn cows from John D.
Gillett, of Elkhart, Illinois. Mr. Hanna describes these as wonderful cattle but
they took no pedigrees, simply using them for beef producing
purposes....(omitted text is description of herd and individual cattle)
Toward the end of 1915 Mr. Hanna, who was not
very rugged, felt it would be best to close up his business. He decided to
sell the herd and here is the story as he told it. "Col. Supies of
Tulsa and W. S. Fears of Broken Arrow came over and I sold them a few
head. Then John Kramer, representing Mr. Gillispie, came, and having no
children to whom to leave things and not wanting Mrs. Hanna to be burdened in
case of my death, I sold the rest to him in less than thirty minutes. He
took the whole lot at my own price, which was not half their value, but I did
not know it at the time. When I sold them, they were the greatest herd I
ever saw."
This is the story of a great herd of Shorthorn
cattle, told without any attempt to boast. The monument of their greatness
is found all over the country. I cannot finish the story without telling
something of the owner. Mr. Hanna was born in Attica, Indiana in
1850. When 31 years old he came to Kansas and the story of his herd is the
story of his life until four years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna were childless,
but they raised two children, who after being grown and educated, died.
Mrs. Hanna passed away two years ago and Mr. Hanna is living in his old home in
Howard. Recently two nieces, his nearest relatives, came to make their
home with him. When I visited him he was happy in anticipating their
arrival. No man ever identified with Shorthorn interests in Kansas is more
highly respected than is Mr. Hanna. Modest, unassuming, and thoroughly
honest, he has a knowledge of affiars in general and especially of Shorthorn
affairs that has given him a keen insight and unusual judgment which he has used
not only to his own advantage, but also for the benefit of the entire country.
