Perry Hannah

Perry Hannah was born on September 22, 1824, on a farm outside Erie, Pennsylvania, to Elihu L. Hannah and Anna McCabb, both of Scottish descent.{{Cite book |last = Hotchkiss |first = George W. |title = Industrial Chicago Volume 6; The Lumber Interests |publisher = Goodspeed Publishing |year = 1891 |isbn = 978-1236057754 |language = en }}{{Cite web |title = Legislator Details: Perry Hannah |url = https://mdoe.state.mi.us/legislators/Legislator/LegislatorDetail/894 |work = Michigan Legislative Biography |access-date = April 13, 2022 |publisher = Library of Michigan }} In 1827, Perry's mother died, prompting his father to send him to his grandmother's house while attending public schools in Erie County.

In 1840, a young Perry relocated to Port Huron, Michigan, following his father, who had moved there for work some years prior. After working various jobs in Port Huron, Hannah began working for a Chicago lumber company. Subsequently, in 1846, Hannah moved once again to Chicago to work for Jacob Beidler, one of Chicago's wealthiest lumbermen.{{Cite news |title = Grand Traverse Biographical Sketches, No. 1: Hon. Perry Hannah |work = Grand Traverse Herald |date = January 7, 1892 |page = 4 |via = Digital Michigan Newspapers Collection |url = https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH18920107-01.1.4&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN---------- |access-date = April 13, 2022 }}

File:PerryHannahHouseTraverseCityMI.JPG in Traverse City]]

In 1849, Hannah partnered with A. Tracy Lay and James Morgan, both other Chicago lumbermen, to found Hannah, Lay and Company, a lumber firm with property at the head of the Grand Traverse Bay and along the Boardman River, then known as the "Ottawa River". This property was purchased from Horace Boardman, a native of Naperville, Illinois. Boardman, a wealthy farmer, sailed to the bay in 1847, and built a small sawmill.{{Cite web |date = March 4, 2012 |title = Cliff & Roy at Boardman Cemetery |url = https://www.positivelynaperville.com/2012/03/04/cliff-roy-at-boardman-cemetery/124 |access-date = April 13, 2022 |website = Positively Naperville |language = en-US }}

In 1851, Hannah, Lay & Co. purchased the sawmill from the Boardman family, and began cutting 50-60 thousand acres of land in the Boardman River valley. Hannah's company improved the now-dilapidated mill, increasing its investment and promise, thus attracting workers and settlers to Northwest Michigan.

In 1853, the only operating post office in the Grand Traverse Bay region was the one located at Old Mission, which was then known as "Grand Traverse". While in Washington, D.C. in 1852, A. Tracy Lay, one of Hannah's business partners, had succeeded in getting the U.S. Post Office to authorize a new post office at his sawmill settlement, which was to be known as "Grand Traverse City", after the eponymous bay. Lay proposed this name for its post office, but the Post Office Department clerk suggested dropping the "Grand" from the name, as to limit confusion between this new office and the one at nearby Old Mission. Lay agreed to the new, shortened name of "Traverse City" for the post office, and the village took on this name.

As Traverse City grew, Hannah, Lay & Co. offered more jobs, such as general mercantile and banking. By 1856, the company was the largest employer in the area, essentially making Traverse City a company town; anyone who desired a job with Hannah, Lay & Co. would receive one in Traverse City. The company built much of the infrastructure along Front Street and the Boardman River, a majority of which still stands today.

In 1857, Hannah ran for and won a seat in the 19th legislature of the Michigan House of Representatives, as a Republican representing the newly formed Grand Traverse County. He served on the Federal Relations and Indian Affairs committees.

Hannah was a supporter and ally of Abraham Lincoln and the Union during the American Civil War. In 1862, Hannah gave a speech addressing 25 Union enlistees departing Traverse City, stating that they were "gallant men who have left their families and their workshops to fight the battles of their country".{{Cite web |last = Anderson |first = Loraine |date = February 23, 2009 |title = TC contingents fought in Civil War |url = https://www.record-eagle.com/archives/tc-contingents-fought-in-civil-war/article_b4837a2e-63a1-5a69-9a35-82a7af7c1128.html |access-date = April 13, 2022 |website = Traverse City Record-Eagle |language = en }} Hannah was a Republican elector from Michigan in the elections of 1864, 1888, and 1900.{{Cite web |title = The Political Graveyard: Michigan Presidential Electors, 1864 |url = https://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/MI/ofc/pr1864-meeting.html |access-date = April 13, 2022 |website = Political Graveyard }}{{Cite web |title = The Political Graveyard: Michigan Presidential Electors, 1888 |url = https://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/MI/ofc/pr1888-meeting.html |access-date = April 13, 2022 |website = Political Graveyard }}{{Cite web |title = The Political Graveyard: Michigan Presidential Electors, 1900 |url = https://politicalgraveyard.com/geo/MI/ofc/pr1900-meeting.html |access-date = April 13, 2022 |website = Political Graveyard }} Furthermore, Hannah was a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Michigan in 1872, 1880, and 1888.{{Cite web |title = The Political Graveyard: Michigan Delegation to 1872 Republican National Convention |url = https://politicalgraveyard.com/parties/R/1872/MI.html |access-date = April 13, 2022 |website = Political Graveyard }}{{Cite web |title = The Political Graveyard: Michigan Delegation to 1880 Republican National Convention |url = https://politicalgraveyard.com/parties/R/1880/MI.html |access-date = April 13, 2022 |website = Political Graveyard }}{{Cite web |title = The Political Graveyard: Michigan Delegation to 1888 Republican National Convention |url = https://politicalgraveyard.com/parties/R/1888/MI.html |access-date = April 13, 2022 |website = Political Graveyard }}

In 1881, the small community of Traverse City became a village, and Hannah became the town's first village president. He served two nonconsecutive terms, separated by Benjamin D. Ashton, a fellow Republican, physician, and Clermont County, Ohio native.{{Cite web |title = Legislator Details: Dr. Benjamin D. Ashton |url = https://mdoe.state.mi.us/legislators/Legislator/LegislatorDetail/3215 |work = Michigan Legislative Biography |access-date = April 13, 2022 |publisher = Library of Michigan }}{{Cite web |title = List of Mayors of Traverse City |url = http://www.traversecitymi.gov/downloads/list_of_mayors.pdf |publisher = City of Traverse City }} On May 18, 1895, Traverse City was awarded a city charter by the Michigan Legislature.{{Cite web |title = Traverse City Celebrates 125th Birthday |url = https://www.traverseticker.com/news/traverse-city-celebrates-125th-birthday/ |access-date = April 13, 2022 |website = The Ticker: Traverse City News & Events }}{{Cite web |title = Traverse City's 125th Birthday: A Virtual Celebration |url = https://www.traversecitymi.gov/news.asp?aid=764 |access-date = April 13, 2022 |publisher = City of Traverse City }} The office of village president was abolished, and Hannah automatically became the first mayor of Traverse City, serving until the end of that year.

Also In 1881, the Northern Michigan Asylum, later the Traverse City State Hospital, was established as the demand for a third psychiatric hospital in Michigan, in addition to those established in Kalamazoo and Pontiac, began to grow.{{cite web |title=Northern Michigan Asylum |url=http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/sites/5538.htm |accessdate=January 10, 2014 |publisher=Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online}} Perry Hannah famously used his political influence to secure its location in Traverse City.{{citation |author=Chris Miller |title=Traverse City State Hospital |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LJhzsNo3SY4C |pages=7, 8, 121 |year=2005 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9780738533896}} The hospital opened in 1885, and lasted until 1989.{{Cite web |title=Places from the Past: Traverse City village was once an asylum |url=https://www.hollandsentinel.com/in-depth/news/history/2021/09/26/places-past-traverse-city-village-once-asylum/5806840001/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=www.hollandsentinel.com |date=September 26, 2021 |language=en}}File:Perry Hannah Gravesite.jpg

In 1852, Hannah married Anna Amelia Flint of New York City. Together, they had three children: Julius (born 1858), Claribel (born 1864), and Hattie (born 1874).{{cite book |url = https://archive.org/details/cyclopediaofmich01newy |title = Cyclopedia of Michigan |publisher = Western Publishing and Engraving Co. |year = 1900 |location = New York |page = [https://archive.org/details/cyclopediaofmich01newy/page/80 80] |oclc = 3564202 |via = Internet Archive }} After living in a small cottage, the family moved into a new mansion located on Sixth Street in Traverse City.{{cite web |title = Hannah, Perry, House |url = http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/sites/5522.htm |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140301124815/http://www.mcgi.state.mi.us/hso/sites/5522.htm |archive-date = March 1, 2014 |access-date = February 22, 2014 |work = Historic Sites Online |publisher = Michigan State Housing Development Authority }}{{cite web |title = The Magnificent Mansion |url = http://www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com/who-we-are/the-magnificent-mansion |access-date = February 22, 2014 |publisher = Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home }} The mansion was completed in 1893, and continued to house members of the Hannah family until 1937.

Hannah died at age 79 on August 16, 1904, at his home in Traverse City, after suffering a stroke.{{Cite news |title = A Career of Honor |work = Grand Traverse Herald |date = 18 August 1904 |page = 4 |via = Digital Michigan Newspapers Collection |url = https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH19040818-01.1.4&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN---------- |access-date = April 13, 2022 }} His funeral took place on August 25, and was buried at Traverse City's Oakwood Cemetery.{{Cite news |title = Funeral of Mr. Hannah |work = Grand Traverse Herald |date = 25 August 1904 |page = 2 |via = Digital Michigan Newspapers Collection |url = https://digmichnews.cmich.edu/?a=d&d=GrandTraverseGTH19040825-01.1.2&e=-------en-10--1--txt-txIN---------- |access-date = April 13, 2022 }} After his death, his son Julius took over operations of the family company.

Hannah's name can still be found throughout the Traverse City area. Hannah Park and Hannah Avenue in Traverse City both bear his name. Additionally, the small hamlet of Hannah and Hannah Road, in nearby Mayfield Township was also named after him.

Perry Hannah's Mansion on Sixth Street in Traverse City continues to be preserved, and today is home to Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. The home has operated as a funeral home since 1937.{{Cite web |title = The Magnificent Mansion |url = http://www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com/who-we-are/the-magnificent-mansion |access-date = April 13, 2022 |publisher = Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home & Cremation Services |language = en }}

In 2015, a statue of Hannah was unveiled at the corner of Sixth and Union Streets in downtown Traverse City. A plaque honoring him as the "Father of Traverse City" is also at the site, now known as the "Perry Hannah Plaza".{{Cite web |title=Perry Hannah Statue, Plaza Proposed |url=https://www.traverseticker.com/news/perry-hannah-statue-plaza-proposed/ |access-date=April 13, 2022 |website=The Ticker {{!}} Traverse City News & Events}}{{Cite web |title = Perry Hannah Statue |url = http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/perry-hannah-statue |access-date = April 13, 2022 |website = Atlas Obscura |language = en }}

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