James S. Hanna & Donia (Forbis) Hanna

Biographical Sketch
by Shirley D. Webb © 2003

James S. Hanna came to Grayson County, Texas, about 1872. He was born April 1848 in Washington County, Arkansas. It was not long after his arrival that he met and married Caledonia “Donia” Forbis, born in Wilson County, Tennessee, in April 1857, the daughter of Thomas Calhoun Forbis and the late Sarah J. Douglas Forbis. She was the granddaughter of Hamilton and Mary Douglas. James & Donia were married by Asbury Cartwright, Minister, in Grayson County on December 21, 1874.

James grew up in White River Township, Washington County, Arkansas, where his family had settled after coming there from Morgan County, Kentucky. He was the son of Ebenezer Hanna (1808-1863) and Martha Hamilton. Ebenezer’s parents were Samuel Hanna (abt 1780-1837) and Mary Cassiday (abt 1780-abt 1844).

There were 12 children born to the Ebenezer Hanna family: Samuel b. abt 1832 KY; Susan b. abt 1835 AR; Mary b. abt 1837 AR; William b. abt 1839 AR; Nancy b. abt 1841 AR; Cynthia b. abt 1843 AR; , Presley b. abt 1844 AR; Ebenezer, Jr.,b. abt 1846 AR; James b. Apr 1848 AR; Martha b. abt 1850 AR; Sarah b. abt 1852 AR; and Permilia b. abt 1854 AR.

After their marriage, James and Donia Hanna lived in Bell, Grayson Co., TX, where they started their family. Donia’s grandmother, Mary (Gill) Douglas, also lived with them until her death in 1888. James acted as Administrator of Mary’s estate.

Children of James S. and Caledonia (Forbis) Hanna were: Sarah Jane “Sackie” Hanna b. 1877; William Hanna b. 1878 and Jesse G. Hanna b. 1885. There was another child born about 1893 who died of scarlet fever in 1895.

Sarah Jane Hanna married Benjamin H. Booth about 1896. They lived in Fannin County. Their children were: Velma Booth b. 1898 who married Carl Orndorff; Edna May Booth b. 1902; Harvey Booth b. 1904 d. 1905; twins Ray and Roy Booth b. 1907; Floya Booth b. 1909 and Benjamin H. Booth, Jr., b. 1912 d. 1959.

James and Donia Hanna were still living in 1903 and are said to be buried in Virginia Point Cemetery but there is no marker for the graves.

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