Background

Benjamin Hanby was born on July 22, 1833, in Rushville, Ohio, United States, the eldest son of William Hanby, bishop of the United Brethren of Christ, and Ann (Miller) Hanby.

Education

Benjamin graduated from Otterbein University in 1858.

Career

After graduation Benjamin Hanby traveled extensively as agent for the college. From 1859 to 1860 he was principal of the academy at Seven mile, Butler County, Ohio, and in 1861 became pastor of the United Brethren Church, Lewisburg, Ohio. At this time he had already achieved a reputation as a popular song-writer. His first production, and the one which gives him distinction, “Darling Nelly Gray, ” was written while he was still in college. The author’s sole compensation is said to have been ten complimentary copies.

“Little Tillie’s Grave” appeared in 1860. It was a rather weak imitation of the earlier song, but was also popular and enjoyed a large sale. Much better is “Ole Shady, the Song of the Contraband, ” published in 1861, and much sung and enjoyed by the men of the Northern armies. Here Hanby leaves the sentimental side of the negro character and attempts to express its exuberance and jollity. General Sherman in the North American Reznew for October 1888, under title of “Old Shady, with a Moral” pays high tribute to its genuineness and its vivid portrayal of the faithfulness and loyalty of the negro. The last of Hanby’s songs of this type was “Now den, now den. ”

It is quite probable that Bishop Hanby’s firm stand as an anti-slavery man, and the fact that his home was used as a station of the “underground railroad” in those troublous and exciting times may have given this bent to his son’s songs. Feeling that he had become too liberal in his theological views to be in full sympathy with the United Brethren, in 1863 Hanby resigned his pastorate and withdrew from the Conference to which he belonged, though he never severed his connection with the Church.

In 1864 Hanby entered the employ of the John Church Music Company of Cincinnati, from which the following year he transferred to the music house of Root & Cady, Chicago. Here he took up the congenial task of writing Sunday-school and day-school songs and together with George F. Root issued a juvenile musical periodical, Our Song Birds (2 vols. , 1866-1867), to which Hanby contributed some sixty tunes and the words for about half that number. He was still engaged in this work at the time of his death.

Achievements

• Benjamin Hanby is best known as a composer, who wrote approximately 80 songs. His the most famous song is "Darling Nelly Gray. " It is worthy of comparison with the Foster songs of like character in the sincerity of its expression and its genuine appeal. It had a phenomenal sale and was sung everywhere, not alone in America, but on the other side of the Atlantic as well.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Up on the Housetop

    (An illustrated version of the well-known Christmas song a...)

  • The Twelve Days of Christmas

    (Whimsical illustrations highlight this version of the tra...)

  • Hallmark Stories of Santa: Up on the Housetop / Jolly Old St. Nicholas (A Storybook of Two Beloved Santa Songs)

    (The book contains the songs Up on the Housetop and Jolly ...)

  • Shawnee Press 'Tis the Lord! SATB composed by Jeffrey A. Smith

    ('Tis the Lord! SATB composed by Jeffrey A. Smith Uses: Ch...)

Religion

Hanby was a minister of the United Brethren Church, leaving his post in 1863, but not his faith.

Connections

In 1858, Hanby married Mary Kate Winter.

Father:

William Hanby

Mother:

Ann (Miller) Hanby

Spouse:

Mary Kate (Winter) Hanby

Son:

Brainerd Oaks Hanby

References

• Music in Ohio