An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1893

B.C. HANNAH, a retired farmer, stockman and fruit-grower of Island county,
Washington, residing in Oak Harbor, was born in Randolph county, Missouri, March
4, 1831. His parents, Benjamin and Delia (Hornbock) Hannah, were born June 15,
1794, and May 19, 1793, respectively, and were married April 28, 1818. Shortly
after the birth of the subject of this sketch, his parents removed from Randolph
county, Missouri, to Ray county, the same State, where they resided on a farm
the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1845 and the devoted mother
expiring in 1859, both being followed by the universal regret of the community,
which knew and appreciated their many estimable qualities. The subject of this
sketch was reared on the home farm and attended the schools in his vicinity,
where he laid the foundation of a good practical education. Hearing of the gold
excitement in California, he started in 1850 for this new El Dorado, making the
journey in the usual manner of the clay, by ox team across the long and weary
stretch of plain, he was four and a half months on the way, finally arriving in
Hangtown, or Placerville, California. He was here engaged in mining and farming
for eight years, when, during the Fraser river gold excitement, he left
California for the mines in British Columbia. He, however, proceeded only as far
as Whatcom, Washington, where he remained a few months, at the end of which time
he went to Whidby island, where he arrived August 1, 1858. He secured employment
in logging, which occupation he followed two years, when he began to farm on
rented land, in the mean time consummating a. marriage. He continued to rent
land for several years, when he took a homestead of 160 acres near Crescent
harbor, where he now has a fine fruit farm, and where he is extensively engaged
in stock-raising besides general farming. His prosperity is the direct result of
untiring industry and continued perseverance, and he is now justly numbered
among the most substantial farmers of his community. April 5, 1869, Mr. Hannah
was married to Amanda J. Doss, a worthy lady, who is a native of Virginia, born
December 8, 1835, and daughter of William and Jane (Mullen) Doss. She resided in
Virginia until 1868, when she came to Whidby island and soon afterward married
Mr. Hannah. They have five children: Mrs. Hannah F. Wallsburg, now residing in
Santa Clara valley, California; John W., George B., Chase and Edgar P. Mr. and
Mrs. Hannah have improved their leisure and prosperity by traveling extensively
throughout California and the United States, and to their natural culture and
refinement have added that polish which comes from contact with the world in its
various phases of life.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.