FYI- I am not related Surnames: Hannaher, O'Conner, O'Donnell, Henley, Edney Wolfe's History of Clinton County, Iowa; Vol 2; B.F. Bowen & Co; Indianapolis, Indiana: 1911 Whether the spirit of the times prevailing at the period of a person's birth has anything to do with his career is a question the biographer will leave to the psychologists and metaphysicians, yet it is worthy of note here that Thomas C. Hannaher, a well known and successful grain and flour dealer at Lyons, Iowa, was born as Macaulay, the great English writer, would have said, "in the brave days of old," the epoch of the famous "forty-niners," and whether that had anything to do with it or not, he has been very successful in his life work and has shown a progressive and courageous spirit in overcoming life's obstacles. His birth occurred at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, on June 10, 1849, and he is the son of Patrick and Margaret (O'Conner) Hannaher, both born in County Mayo, Ireland, the father on January 25, 1813, and the mother in 1823. They grew to maturity there and were educated in the home schools and married there. In order to escape the terrors of the famine of 1848 they emigrated to America, and located in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. They lived there until 1852, and lived for a short time at St. Charles, Carroll county, Illinois. They came to Lyons, Iowa, in 1855, and started a general merchandise store on the corner of Fourth and Main streets when Lyons was a mere hamlet. The father, Patrick Hannaher, was one of the most important and influential men in the early days of Lyons' history and did as much, if not more, than any other man in developing the place. He was looked upon as a leader and was a strong and admirable character and carried the farming on with credit up to 1861. He was the man who established Main street and laid it out in its present position, running due east and west. It formerly angled to the southeast from Sixth street and the position of the old street is still shown. In 1868 he built the Hannaher block, a three-story brick building, which was one of the first blocks in Lyons. At that time a three-story brick building was quite a novelty in this place, but the town grew rapidly and Mr. Hannaher's wisdom in placing faith in its future was proven. He gave up merchandising in 1861 and entered the grain business, buying and selling large quantities of grain which he usually stored in Lyons,- in fact, he became one of the leading and best known buyers in the Northwest in his day. He built a line of elevators along the northwest and retired from active business in 1880. He was highly esteemed by all classes and recognized by all as one of the most prominent men of Lyons in his day and one of the best friends of that place. His family consisted of eleven children, named as follows: John died in Dakota; Thomas C. of this review; Patrick and Mary both died in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Charles, James Edward, Mrs. Dehlia O'Donnell, Margaret; Mary is deceased; Mrs. Anna Henley; Catherine is a sister of Charity at Lyons, serving under the name of Sister Augusta. Thomas C. Hannaher was educated in the public schools of Lyons, Iowa, completing his education at St. Mary's College, on the lake at Chicago. (This institution is not now in existence) In 1870 he went into business as a partner with his father in the grain buying and flour manufacturing business. They owned and operated large elevators and mills on Front street and they carried on a very large business. The soon took active charge of the business in 1880, the father retiring. Thomas C Hannaher was also engaged in buying and shipping live stock. He has been very successful in whatever he has engaged in and has long been regarded as one of the leading business men of Lyons. He practically retired from active business in 1900, but he still looks after his large interests in a general way and has charge of a thriving grocery store and a flour and grain business. Mr. Hannaher is a loyal and prominent Catholic and he organized the Order of Hibernians in Lyons where he was a young man. At a very early age he began taking an active part in local politics and when twenty-one years of age he was elected alderman of Lyons on the Democratic ticket, and he became mayor of the city at the age of twenty-six, and for a number of years during his active life he was a prominent figure at all political meetings. He filled the office of mayor in a manner that reflected much credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, irrrespective of party. He did a great deal for the good of the city and community, carrying forward in a very laudible manner the commendable work begun by his worthy father. Mr. Hannaher was married on May 18, 1875, to Martha Jane Edney, who was born at Vincennes, Indiana, and who came to Lyons in 1865. Four children have been born to this union, namely: Thomas E., William John and Leo Patrick; the two latter are traveling in vaudeville in which they are making a great success all over the country; Ann B is the daughter. The Hannaher is one of the most prominent of the Irish Catholic families in Lyons, and the subject is a man whom it is a delight to meet- clear-headed, quick-witted, proud of his father's record, as he should be, for he did much for the people who settled in this community in the early days. He loaned considerable money, used his influence to bring in capital, and was always generous and public-spirited. Mr. Hannaher's father was the man who did great things for the Catholic church, furnishing half the money for a fifty-thousand dollar building, often furnishing a check for five hundred dollars when things looked bad. Mrs. Hannaher has also done the same thing. Cathy Joynt Labath The Irish in Iowa http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/