Truman Kilborne Hannahs (1853 - 1918)

Born 6 Sep 1853 in Brooklyn, New York

Ancestors

Died 19 Jan 1918 at age 64 in East Orange, New Jersey

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Thomas Seemann [send private message]

Biography

Vol.4, history of the oranges, Biographical. Pages 284 -285 HISTORY OF THE ORANGES

TRUMAN KILBORNE HANNAHS A complete invalid for the first nine years of his life, and never robust, few men have made a brighter record while laboring under a physical handicap than Truman Kilborne Hannahs, owner and proprietor of the Park Avenue Coal Company and Empire Feed Company of East Orange, and Newark, New Jersey, for thirty years.

Through his mother, Delia Cushman, Mr. Hannahs traced his ancestry to Robert Cushman, who came over in the "Fortune," in 1621, after having conducted the negotiations in Leyden, which resulted in the purchase of the "Speedwell" and "Mayflower" the year before. The "Speedwell" proved unseaworthy, and there not being room for all on board the "Mayflower," some were obliged to go back, among them Robert Cushman. Descent from Robert Cushman continues through his son, Thomas, who came to Plymouth with his father in 1621 and became an important man in the colony. He married in 1636, Mary, daughter of Isaac Allerton, who came over in the "Mayflower." Robert Cushman remained in Plymouth about a month, returning to England on the ship "Fortune." The day before he sailed he preached a sermon to his old friends, designed to give them hope and courage. He was not a clergyman nor yet a preaching elder, but the sermon was a remarkable discourse and the first one delivered in New England that was printed. After his return to England, he acted as agent in London for the Plymouth Colony until his death in 1625, having planned to come again to New England. On the beautiful monument in Plymouth Burying Ground are cut these words: "He died lamented by the forefathers as 'their ancient friend'—who was as their right hand with their friends, the adventurers, and for divers years had done and agitated all their business with them to their great advantage."

Truman Kilborne Hannahs, son of William and Delia (Cushman) Hannahs, was born in Brooklyn, New York, September 6, 1853, and died in East Orange, New Jersey, January 19, 1918. His father was a hop merchant of New York City, of Scotch descent, who, when a comparatively young man left his widow with three young sons. She was a woman of strong character and brought up her children to habits of industry and thrift. Truman K. was a delicate boy and until nine years of age was practically a helpless invalid. But in a measure he outgrew his weaknesses and lived to the age of sixty-five. He completed his studies at Rutgers Preparatory School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and began his business career with the Singer Sewing Machine Company in Newark, New Jersey. Later he became secretary-treasurer of Atlanta University, and thence to Havana, Cuba, where he was in charge of the installation of the first steel cars sent from the United States to that country. After his return from Cuba, Mr. Hannahs engaged in the coal and feed business in East Orange and Newark. He was one of the founders of the Roseville Building and Loan Association and at the time of his passing was its president. He was a member of the Newark Board of Trade, and notably public-spirited. He was a lifelong Republican, never seeking office, yet most loyal in his support of his party. An organizer of the Fifth Ward Civic Association of East Orange, he was its first president. His clubs were the Roseville Athletic Association and the Lincoln Club of Newark. In religious faith he was affiliated with the Roseville Avenue Presbyterian Church, of Newark. A man with a high sense of honor and integrity in all his dealings, a loyal friend, a bright and courageous spirit, whose keen humor and sagacity made him a welcome comrade, Mr. Hannahs held a vital place in his community and in the lives of all who knew him. Mr. Hannahs married Alice Byrant Perry, daughter of Willard Parker and Serena (Damon) Perry, of Trenton, New Jersey. Mrs. Hannahs traces descent from an early Colonial family, who settled in Massachusetts in 1632, several collateral branches serving in the wars of the Revolution. In remote periods her ancestors came from Scandinavia, later were in Normandy and then in England, where the Shakespeare family is a collateral line. Mrs. Alice Bryant (Perry) Hannahs, who was a public school teacher and a graduate of the New York University, survives her husband and is conducting the business enterprise which he developed.

Sources