DOB:  July 4, 1835 DOD:  March 6, 1918 Age at Enlistment: 25 Date of Enlistment:  May 9, 1861 Place of Enlistment:  Franklin, TN Rank at Enlistment:  Captain Rank at Discharge:  Captain Casualty:  None Comments:  James came from a wealthy family.  His mother was the daughter of a physician in Williamson County and his father was a Methodist Preacher.  James was born and raised in Davidson County (Nashville).  He attended the Western Military Institute, when it was still located in Kentucky, and graduated in 1853.  Following Graduation he decided to follow in his grandfather’s foot steps and attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1857.  Hanner attended the University with John Handy, who was the son of Thomas K. Handy that briefly served in the Williamson Grays.  Following Graduation, he returned to Franklin, TN where the 1860 Census shows he was living by himself in District 1 (west of Franklin). He began his practice as a physician and was also the Principal of Harpeth Academy.  Based on a photo of him in Uniform, he was probably in the local militia as well.  The shoulder boards have a Lieutenant’s insignia, but he was a Captain from the start of the Civil War.  In May 1861, he told all the students in his class that a war was coming and any boy whose parents would allow them could join his company.  He then marched the boys through town to the Courthouse where they enlisted as well as others in town watching the parade.  Hanner’s younger brother, William, also joined the company.  Hanner went with the company to Camp Cheatham and his leadership ended there.  He became very ill and went back home to recover.  His health did not improve for several months and in December 1861, he resigned his commission.  He never commanded the company outside of Camp Cheatham.  In July 1863, he went to Spring Hill, TN and reenlisted as the Assistant Surgeon for Morton’s Artillery in General Forrest’s command.   Hanner served out the rest of the war with Forrest’s commanded and surrendered with them in May 1865 in Gainesville, AL. James’ name is typically misspelled Hanna or Hannah, leading to the assumption he pronounced words ending in ‘er’ as ‘uh’ which was common at the time.  Following the war he married Mary L. Walker on November 30, 1865 in Williamson County and the couple produced four children.  The 1878 Map of Williamson County shows Hanner living on the Columbia Pike across from where the modern day police station is.  By the 1900’s he had moved to 135 S. 3rd Ave, where the modern day City Hall stands.  James was a member of the Hiram Lodge of the Free Masons and the James McEwen Bivouac of the United Confederate Veterans.  He continued his profession as a Physician.  Hanner died of Pneumonia in 1918 and is buried in Section D of Mount Hope Cemetery in Franklin.      

Top Left:  James P. Hanner in his later years from the Confederate Veteran Magazine. Top Right:  Hanner in what is thought to be a militia shirt.  His insignia is of a 1st Lt. so it is not from the Civil War. Left:  His tombstone in Mount Hope Cemetery.