Thomas J. Hannon, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Thomas J. Hannon
THOMAS J. HANNON, of Kouts, Porter county, one of the prominent farmers and stock-raisers in this community, was born in Porter county, June 15, 1855, and all his life has lived within its borders. He is the son of Michael and Elinor (Milligan) Harmon, both natives of Ireland, who immigrated to America in 1848. Michael Hannon was a farmer and passed his life in that occupation. Ten children came to them, five of whom died in infancy, those who survive being Matthew, Mary, David, John and Thomas, the latter of whom was the youngest born. When the Hannon family settled in Porter county the community was in a most primitive condition. The prairie was in a state of pristine wilderness, and wild game of all the varieties peculiar to this section of the country abounded. There were few settlers, with not more than six cabins between Kouts and the now thriving city of Valparaiso, then a mere hamlet. The Hannon children attended such schools as the county provided in those early days) and of the five who lived to grow up to years of maturity, Thomas J. and John were the only ones who remained in the family home, -- a fact which might be accounted for in view of their being the youngest of the children.
In 1886, when Thomas Hannon was thirty-two years old, he married and built a little home on the old family homestead, and there continued in the operation of the farm with his father. The parents passed away some years ago, -- the mother in 1896 and the father following in 1900. Upon their death the old home passed into the ownership of Thomas and John Hannon, and Thomas has since continued in the worthy work which his pioneer father begun so many years ago, and in which the son gave valuable assistance from his boyhood days. The farm has increased in production and value with every passing year, and is now regarded as one of the finest agricultural spots in Porter county. Under the able management of Mr. Hannon nothing has been left undone that might conduce to the general productiveness of the place, and it is a splendid example of what may be accomplished by the application of a generous portion of thrift and energy. The home is one of the finest to be found in this section, and is entirely in keeping with the strictly modern methods which Mr. Hannon endorses and applies in the management of his farm.
As previously mentioned, Mr. Hannon was married June 15, 1886, his wife being Miss Ellen O'Donahue. She was born in Valparaiso, Indiana, in 1859, and is the daughter of Florence and Mary (Hurley) O'Donahue, both natives of the Emerald Isle, as were Mr. Hannon's parents. The O'Donahues were farming people also, and Mrs. Hannon was the youngest of their ten children. Two bright and promising children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hannon, -- a son and a daughter, who are named John and Mary.
Mr. and Mrs. Hannon are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, the faith in which they were reared by their parents, and are faithful and generous in their adherence to that church. They are among the most highly esteemed residents of the town and county, and have a large circle of friends in the community who have known them practically all their lives, and who are appreciative of the high order of citizenship represented by the family.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company. 1912. History of Porter County, Indiana: A Narrative Account of its Historical Progress, its People and its Principal Interests. Chicago, Illinois: Lewis Publishing Company. 881 p.
Page(s) in Source: 592-594
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook