On Sept. 24, 1837, Marcus Alonzo Hanna - who would become an industrialist, a U.S. senator and one of the most influential members of the Republican Party - was born in Lisbon in Columbiana County.

Hanna directed the 1896 presidential campaign of fellow Ohioan William McKinley. That year, Hanna became chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Educated in the common schools of Cleveland, where he moved with his parents in 1852, Hanna attended Western Reserve College in Hudson, Ohio, until he had to drop out to help his father with the family's grocery business.

Hanna went on to build a fortune in the coal and iron business in Cleveland. He expanded his interests to include banking and newspaper publishing before turning his attention to politics.

As manager of McKinley's campaign, Hanna raised an unprecedented $3.5 million to defeat William Jennings Bryan, a Democrat.

In 1897, Hanna was appointed to fill the seat of Sen. John Sherman, who resigned. Hanna was elected the following year and served until his death at the height of his power in 1904, age 66.

Rebecca Goodman

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com or call (513) 768-8361.