William Gause Hannum

William Hannum began his life as a privileged child. He was the son of Cheyney Hannum and Eliza Gause who were married on March 18, 1830. His father was a gifted schoolteacher who enjoyed a multifaceted career. He studied law under Judge Bell in West Chester, Pennsylvania and had a gift for political reporting. He entered into a partnership with Marris Mattson, publishing The Literary Casket and General Intelligencer. When Mattson sold his share to James A. Hemphill, Esq., the publication was renamed the National Republican Advocate and Literary Gazette. Later, Hemphill sold his share to future Congressman John Hickman and publication continued under the firm of Hannum, Hickman & Co..^[1]

Meanwhile, Cheyney Hannum’s main income came from working as a school teacher. In 1832, the year his first son William Gause Hannum was born, he became the Principal of the West Chester Boarding School for Young Men and Boys. The school was founded in 1829 by Jonathan Gause, his brother-in-law.^[2] Cheyney Hannum made his mark with the publication of the Chester County Almanac for 1833^[3], in which he, along with John Rutter, made all the astronomical calculations. This was the first almanac authored and published in the county. In 1837 Cheyney Hannum became the principal of the prestigious Unionville Academy in East Marlborough Township.

Cheyney Hannum’s successful career was cut short upon his death in 1839 at the age of only 35. His wife was left with overwhelming responsibilities. Not only did she have her two sons William and James Franklin “Frank” to care for, she also was pregnant with a daughter Fannie. What was more, Eliza Hannum was left in the embarrassing situation of having more debts than capital.^[4] She quickly remarried to George Price Davis, a schoolteacher who became a storekeeper in Kennett Square.^[5]

The two boys were placed in the care of their uncle Jonathan Gause,^[6] who was hired to take over as principal of the Unionville Academy. Gause was an esteemed schoolmaster in Chester County. His teaching methods were radical in their day. Instead of relying on corporal punishment for discipline and respect, each child became like a member of his family, to be guided individually to their full potential. Curiosity and the love of learning were fostered in each child. Gause is remembered for his leadership at the West Chester Academy, Unionville Academy and the Greenwood Dell School.^[7]

After his education was completed, William Hannum obtained a position as a clerk in Kennett Square, as recorded in the 1850 Census.^[8] But widowhood came to William’s mother Eliza again when George Davis died in 1856.^[9] Eliza Davis then supported herself by running a boarding house in Kennett Square.^[10]

William’s career took a new direction when he learned the art the photography. According to the 1856 Septennial Census, he is listed as a Daguerreotypist living in Kennett Square.^[11] The 1860 Census however, revealed that he was working as a store keeper and was living in his mother’s boarding house.^[12] A map of Kennett Square^[13] lists William G. Hannum as running a general merchandise store. Also around this time, Hannum married Phebe V. Dixon and they had a son Charles, born on April 11, 1861.^[14]

According to the Kennett Square tax lists, Hannum owned two horses in 1861 & 1862.^[15] Were they used to deliver merchandise from the store or did they pull a photographic wagon? Another mystery is what Hannum was doing when he disappeared off the tax lists from 1863-1866. While one may assume that he enlisted during the Civil War, his name is not found recorded in local Pennsylvania Volunteer Corp units. Since he came from a Quaker family, it is unlikely that he served.

William Hannum came into an inheritance in 1869 upon the death of his Aunt Ruth Gause. He was appointed the administrator of her estate. The sale of his aunt’s personal property and 28- acre farm was divided among four nieces and nephews.^[16] This provided some ready cash for investment.

Hannum worked with a number of different partners during his photographic career. One of those was surnamed Branson. This brings to mind John M. Branson who had a gallery in Coatesville, fourteen miles away. There are three cartes-de-visite in Chester County History Center’s collection to document the partnership with the imprint reading: “Hannum & Branson, photographers, Kennett Square, Chester Co., PA.”^[17] There is no evidence in tax lists, directories or newspapers sources verifying who Branson was. However the images date from the mid-1860s according to costume and thickness of the mounting card stock.

In 1869 he was working with someone named Donnell. Their partnership is documented by a carte-de-visite in the collection of the Chester County History Center of Lizzie Passmore Hill inscribed: “Taken 3^rd [month], 28^th [day], 1869. Their imprint read: “Donnell & Hannum, Kennett Square, Chester Co., PA”. Their partnership lasted long enough to order more carte-de-visite mounts – however, there was a misspelling on these. It read: “Donnell & Hannums, Kennett Square, Chester Co., Penna.”

William G. Hannum is listed as a photographer in Kennett Square in county directories for 1870 through 1874. Some cartes-de-visite bear an imprint of his name alone: “W. G. Hannum, Kennett Square, PA” or “W. G. Hannum, PHOTOGRAPHER, Kennett Square, Chester Co., PA.” The typeface chosen for all the cartes-de-visite, with or without partners is the same. All the extant examples of his work in the collection of Chester County History Center are portraits.

Hannum’s business as a photographer was well enough established that he was confident to move ahead with his life goals. On January 24, 1872, the Hannum’s purchased a 20-acre lot just outside the borough of Kennett Square.^[18] Here they had room for some farming and their milk cow. For many photographers having a second source of income helped during the slow times; having a farm guaranteed that your family would always be fed. The Daily Local News of April 15, 1873, reported on the developments with the land: “FIRST OF APRIL CHANGES IN KENNETT SQUARE… William G. Hannum is erecting a very neat and handsome cottage, just outside of the borough, on the land he purchased last spring of John Lamborn.” In order to accomplish this, the couple took out a mortgage for $1000 from the Building Association of London Grove on December 1, 1873.^[19]

Hannum’s next business partner was a former sewing machine salesman nick-named “Jersey” according to the Daily Local News of January 7, 1873:

It may also be that the partners travelled through the county during that summer.^[20] The Daily Local News reported on April 28, 1873, “Kennett Square’s Photographic artist is having a photographic wagon built with which he proposes travelling through Chester County this summer.” It is unfortunate that the article does not name the photographer directly. Since Hannum was not taxed for a horse during this period, either “Jersey” owned the horse or the plan did not materialize.

Hannum moved to a new gallery in “Freeman’s Building” in Kennett Square according to the Daily Local News of February 9, 1874. Joined by a new partner, Professor J. H. Lucas of New York, the gallery was moved to a prime location in the borough on the corner of State & Union Streets on September 1, 1874.^[21]

This new partner, in the matter of a week seems to be operating the studio alone. The Daily Local News of September 9, 1874, reports: “Professor Lucas, of Kennett Square, is doing a good business in the way of making photographs of the many handsome faces in Kennett. Certainly his work is number one. The Professor understands his business thoroughly. We wish him success.” This report does not seem to include Hannum in the picture at all. Did he sell out to Lucas? On December 3, 1874, the Local follows up its report, “Professor Lucas, of Kennett, is still kept busy making photographs of the beauties of the Borough. We do not wonder at this, for his work will compare with any we have ever seen.”

According to the Chester County tax lists, Hannum continued to work in Kennett Square in 1875 and 1876, taxed at the rate of a tradesman. Then this advertisement appeared in The American Republican on October 26, 1875 announcing that a new photographer was taking up occupancy in Hannum’s studio:

William Hannum got caught up in the economic decline during the years following the Financial Panic of 1873 when a depression was felt on a world-wide scale. When Germany decided to place its currency on the gold standard, the silver market collapsed and other currencies were devalued around the world. Hard hit was the United States which had printed “greenbacks” to help fund the Civil War. Banks closed, the stock exchange closed for two weeks and the railroad industry was in ruin. The ripple effect was felt in Chester County, with layoffs and closures in many industries. People did not have money to spend on luxuries such as photographs.

As the money got tight and Hannum could not meet his obligations, he took out a second mortgage on December 13, 1875.^[23] This mortgage included two properties – the 20 acres with their new cottage and an adjacent 7-acre tract. But borrowing only drove him further into debt. He was served with a summons to appear in the Court of Common Pleas for the October term in 1875. William and Phebe Hannum were in default of their first mortgage and received a judgment for $1100 from the Building Association of London Grove.^[24]

William’s troubles are chronicled through his brother J. Frank Hannum’s 1876 diary. Here are some extracts that tell the story:

“Thursday 27 [April 1876] – Clear and pleasant but very dry and dusty – I am in the office til three – haul manure to the forty acres – Will goes up with me – he is in great trouble – not having anything to do these dull times – I do not know what is to be come of us through dull times – hundreds of people wanting employment and nothing for them – God Help Us

Monday 15 1876 May – Brother William goes to the city to look for a situation – he is very much out of heart about his business affairs.

Friday 19 [May 1876] …William comes back from the city but did not get a situation – seems to be more dejected than ever – for which I am sorry.

Monday 22 [May 1876] …Brother William is very sick his financial affairs – I am afraid it affected his mind – But I hope he will soon be right again –

May 1876 Friday 26 ….William is not much better.”^[25]

William and Phebe were again summoned to the Court of Common Pleas in January of 1877 for default on their second mortgage. Once again the Building Association of London Grove leveled a judgment against them for $210.^[26] The couple had little resources left to pay their debts.

The Daily Local News reported on April 3, 1877, “Marshall B. Preston removes to the house vacated by W. G. Hannum at the corner of Broad and Main Streets.”^[27]

Finally William Hannum succumbed to the stress of not being able to provide for his family on April 28, 1877.^[28] He was buried in the Union Hill Cemetery on May 2, 1877. According to the cemetery register the cause of death was insanity, he was only 45 years old.^[29]

Following his death, his widow, Phebe (1842-1897) lived with her son, Charles Beverly Hannum (1861-1934) who became the well-respected storekeeper^[30] and station master at Rosedale, near Kennett Square.

©Pamela C. Powell, 2021.