Benjamin John Hann was born in Hardy, Arkansas on 31 Jul 1906. While he was young the family moved to the home place on Indian Creek near Reily, Ohio. His father, William Henry Hann Sr, a former rancher, was now a farmer. He also was a food peddler around the area. His mother, Mary Jenny Burer, was a home maker. Ben attended #3 school in the woods on the Miller place. His teacher was his sister, Anna Margaret Hann. As he grew, he worked with his parents on the farm.

Virgie's family moved into the area around 1920 from Paris, Kentucky. Her father, Charles Jones, had worked for the Hancock racehorse farm. Now he turned to farming and odd jobs. His wife Mary was a homemaker. Virgie attended McGuffey in Oxford, Ohio. Her teacher, Nell Beckett, sewed her a new dress to sing with the class at the Farmer's Institute meeting. She loved Art class at school and hot pea soup for lunch at 5 cents. Ben met Virgie who lived nearby. She agreed to ride in his car. After a while they went to Kentucky to get married. She was only 17 1/2, but signed that she was 18. they took up housekeeping in Henry's Barns' new log cabin on Stillwell-Beckett for $15 a month.

They moved a couple of times and had seven children along the way. Ben did odd jobs and Virgie was a helpmate and homemaker. During the Korean War, Ben bought a farm in Bright, Indiana. His twin brother, William Henry Hann Jr, bought livestock and they were partners. The kids helped with all the chores (i.e. milking cows, chickens, large gardens, cutting fence posts and firewood, raising tobacco, wheat, corn, etc.). They sold cream for grocery money. Ben worked at the Foundry at night for a time. Virgie and the kids frequently sang for cheap homespun fun. She played the guitar, organ and piano by ear. In 1955 they sold everything and William moved in with his sister Agnes. Ben and Virgie moved to Ohio near Oxford. He built rooms on to a small existing house on Imhoff Road. He did carpentry, cement, fence building and odd jobs. They still raised chickens for eggs and meat. Virgie got a baker's job at Miami University. Later, she became a cook and retired with 25 years. After 42 years of marriage, Ben died. The Virgie worked part time for Chi Phi Fraternity. At age 90, she sold her place and moved to Sunrise Assisted Living Residence in Hamilton, Ohio.

Residences

1906 - Hardy, Sharp County, Arkansas 1910 - Reily, Butler, Ohio 1920 - Reily, Butler, Ohio 1930 - Oxford, Butler, Ohio 1940 - Ross, Butler, Ohio 1950 - Miller, Dearborn, Indiana 1972 - Oxford, Butler, Ohio