Story of James A. Paddy Hanna
The following is a condensed excerpt from “Grover Hanna's Story” in the Indian Pioneer History Project,Vol. 27, pp.330-339. Grover Cleveland Hanna (b. 21 Sep 1881- d.27 Mar 1955)was the son of James A “Paddy” Hanna “Wilson” (b.1854-1895) & Cynthia Ann McGhee (1859-1913)
Brothers (Jeremiah & James Hanna) married sisters (Joanna “Arch” & Cynthia Ann McGhee).
← Jeremiah E. Hanna (b. Nov 1851-d. May 1883) married 1874
Joanna “Arch” McGhee (b. Mar 1855-d. Aug 1944).
In 1881, they had two children.
James A “Paddy” Hanna (b.1854-d. 1895) after the death of his 1st wife & having 2 small children married 1880 Cynthia Ann McGhee (b. 1859-d. 1913).
The “Scrap” that Forever Changed Lives
On election day in 1881, a trio of relatives attended election celebrations in Southwest City. While there, James A. Hanna had a fight with an Indian, Tom Scraper. Knowing the road the group would travel home, Scraper made his way ahead of them and, in order to stop the wagon, laid himself crosswise in the road. Coming upon him, and thinking the Indian was passed-out drunk, James stopped the mule team, picked him up and put him in the back of the wagon. But Scrapper black guarded James knocking him out of the wagon. In the brawl that followed, James, using a .36 Smith & Weston, and intending to shoot Scraper, accidentally shot his brother through the right eye killing him when he came between the two combatants. James then turned the gun and shot Scraper three times through the neck and fled. During the excitement, the mule team ran away with Aunt “Arch” and was stopped some ways down the road. The Indian, Scraper, did not die.
Cynthia's unborn child, Grover, never met his father.
From: Indian Pioneer History Project 1937: Excerpt from interview with Belle McGhee re: character of Scraper.
Brothers (Jeremiah & James Hanna) married sisters (Joanna “Arch” & Cynthia Ann McGhee).
← Jeremiah E. Hanna (b. Nov 1851-d. May 1883) married 1874
Joanna “Arch” McGhee (b. Mar 1855-d. Aug 1944).
In 1881, they had two children.
James A “Paddy” Hanna (b.1854-d. 1895) after the death of his 1st wife & having 2 small children married 1880 Cynthia Ann McGhee (b. 1859-d. 1913).
The “Scrap” that Forever Changed Lives
On election day in 1881, a trio of relatives attended election celebrations in Southwest City. While there, James A. Hanna had a fight with an Indian, Tom Scraper. Knowing the road the group would travel home, Scraper made his way ahead of them and, in order to stop the wagon, laid himself crosswise in the road. Coming upon him, and thinking the Indian was passed-out drunk, James stopped the mule team, picked him up and put him in the back of the wagon. But Scrapper black guarded James knocking him out of the wagon. In the brawl that followed, James, using a .36 Smith & Weston, and intending to shoot Scraper, accidentally shot his brother through the right eye killing him when he came between the two combatants. James then turned the gun and shot Scraper three times through the neck and fled. During the excitement, the mule team ran away with Aunt “Arch” and was stopped some ways down the road. The Indian, Scraper, did not die.
Cynthia's unborn child, Grover, never met his father.
From: Indian Pioneer History Project 1937: Excerpt from interview with Belle McGhee re: character of Scraper.
"Tom Scraper killed Jack Rogers on the Missouri-Oklahoma state line near Southwest City. After he had killed him, he cut out his heart and put the heart on his spear and holding the spear, danced on the body of Rogers."
Warrant for the arrest of “Paddy” Hanna for the murder of “Jerry” Hanna (May 1881)
James A. “Paddy” Hanna, using an alias (James Wilson) assumed a new life in Sallisaw, OK. He married Ann Duncan and had five children: Henry 1887, Claude 1891, twins Celia & Velia 1895, & Earl 1896. Becoming ill, and correctly thinking he was going to die, James told his wife his “real” name and his story.
Ann's unborn child “Earl” never met his father.
Ann gathered up the family and came to Dodge (east of Grove, OK) found Cynthia and told her what had happened. The two women became good friends.
Picture from Carol Hartung-Rini .
Children of James A. “Paddy” Hanna →
(mother: Barshiba Carrigan 1858-1880):
Samuel Andrew & Mary Louise
(mother: Cynthia McGhee 1859-1913):
Grover Cleveland (3rd from right)
(mother: Ann ?Duncan /Butler b. ~1853):
Henry Morris, Claude Edward, Celia, (twin Velia died), & Earl Calima
Children of James A. “Paddy” Hanna →
(mother: Barshiba Carrigan 1858-1880):
Samuel Andrew & Mary Louise
(mother: Cynthia McGhee 1859-1913):
Grover Cleveland (3rd from right)
(mother: Ann ?Duncan /Butler b. ~1853):
Henry Morris, Claude Edward, Celia, (twin Velia died), & Earl Calima