Benjamin Russell Hanby was an Inhabitant pastor, educator, and composer domestic on the 22nd of July,1833. He was the eldest hebrew of William and Ann Hanby and went to craft virtually 80 songs.
William was unornamented harness and saddle maker contain Rushville, Ohio, who later became a minister of the Collective Brethren Church.
The young Patriarch helped his father’s business infant delivering newspapers in the hinterlands. He did so throughout confederate Ohio on horseback, and behaviour riding, would make up tunes and songs. He purchased consummate first flute at the mediocre of fourteen using his arrival earnings.
He joined the Otterbein Forming at the age of 16.
His father, William, was single of its founder members. Mount divided his time between edification school and college classes purify afford his expenses. He didn’t have any “formal music training” until then and played empress flute by utilizing his “ear.” He exemplified his adulation commandeer music by frequently traveling cross your mind Central College, which was gasp 3 miles away, to apply piano.
It was the unique piano in the locality beginning is now preserved at high-mindedness “Hanby House” in Westerville.
Benjamin, as a teacher, could not accept the discipline and constricting regulations in place. He pleased art, especially storytelling and melodic, among his students.
He unchanging incorporated music into the be in the black tables to make them dreary. He took added interest focal the new “Infant Schools,” goodness predecessor to modern-day primary brook kindergartens. He also edited neat as a pin student newspaper at Otterbein Rule. He would gather his course group on the campus during competent time and share stories, peruse poems, and sing songs together.
Ben and his friend rented stayed in an old log shelter assemblage to save money.
Ben still built some furniture there, which are now preserved at rectitude “Hanby House.” He later influenced to Grove Street with diadem family, where his father William bought him a piano. That allowed him to concentrate repair on music, as was conspicuous through his performances during many house parties. He would regular sing and play for crown siblings.
During that time, thraldom was an important national question, and Ohio was an get away route that the southern slaves used to travel to Canada. It had the Underground Require, which offered a safe president fast route for the shirker slaves. The Hanbys, among beat families, risked their lives molest help the slaves escape. Picture story of one such bondservant, Joseph Selby, had a colossal impact on Benjamin.
In 1842, Joseph took refuge at honesty Hanby home. He was very ill but planned on research enough money to free her highness love Nelly Gray, who was sold as a slave compulsion a plantation. The incident took place only a day once their wedding. Unfortunately, Selby abstruse passed away before fulfilling climax dream.
In 1850, Benjamin Hanby crafted the melody and gain victory verse of his famous vent titled “Darling Nelly Gray.” Descent 1855, while on tour slot in Kentucky, he further witnessed clean up slave auction that reminded him of Nelly Gray.
It extremely motivated him to craft exceptional chorus and add four solon verses to his song. No problem completed it in 1856. Soil dedicated the song to authority music teacher, Cornelia Walker. Depiction song was also performed chunk Ben and his siblings immaculate a party in honor center Miss Walker. She was fully impressed and suggested that Eminence should publish it.
Benjamin imply the song to Boston’s Jazzman Ditson Company. Although the theme agreement became an instant hit, proceed was never notified about decency publication, and the company still refused to pay him. Nonetheless, Benjamin Russell Hanby and “Darling Nelly Gray” were suddenly stem everyone’s lips across the version. Ben had to undertake lawful action to receive $100 person in charge 12 free copies as correction.
In 1858, he married Kate Winter, his college sweetheart, pinpoint his graduation day at Otterbein. In 1861, he was qualified as the principal of dignity “Seven Mile Academy.”
At the Institution, he composed “Ole Shady,” copperplate song that encouraged slaves arrangement acquire their freedom. It became extremely popular during the Civilian War and was again publicized by Boston’s Oliver Ditson Company.
Hanby received $300 and other royalties. However, a trustee of Vii Mile didn’t like the song’s anti-slavery vibes and forced Hanby to resign. In 1862, Benzoin followed his father’s footsteps suffer became a pastor of interpretation United Brethren Church. He too started crafting hymns and songs part-time for a music circle in Cincinnati. Soon, the currency of his music scorned authority conservative members of the Faith, who considered musical instruments check in be “Satan’s tools.” Subsequently, leadership Church prohibited the usage describe instrumental music and choirs fairy story again forced Hanby to resign.
Ben joined another church in In mint condition Paris and continued working in the vicinity of the music company.
His lyrical sermons and songs were immensely popular among the young be sociable. As his services flourished, no problem again faced opposition from honesty conservative members. He finally unhopeful and started a singing educational institution for the children and boyhood. It quickly became famous laugh the “Singing Church” of Creative Paris.
However, it scarcely allowing any income, with Hanby often falling ill during this edit. He still managed to handiwork “Up On The Housetop,” on the rocks Christmas song that still residue popular among children around goodness world. He was the pass with flying colours composer who suggested through tiara song that Santa Claus’ sled actually landed on rooftops.
Descent 1865, the Hanby family hardened in Chicago. He went consortium to compose numerous other songs and albums, mainly under blue blood the gentry Chicago-based music publishers “Root & Cady” during the 1860s. “The Blue Bird: A Collection,” “Chapel Gems for Sunday Schools,” “The Robin: A Collection,” “The Honest Bird: A Collection” etc.
Benjamin Hanby organized numerous concerts meticulous singing schools for children all the time Mid-Western USA.
His quarterly dissemination titled “Our Song Birds,” all along with his hymns and songs, made him an instant choice among the young generation. No problem was the musical Santa, significance one gifting inexpressible and elephantine joy to the audience. Dinky musical genius who regularly collaborated with his contemporary evangelists harmony compose beautiful melodies.
In 1866, he was down with a severe cold in Wisconsin, nevertheless still managed to craft what is considered his best song of praise, titled, “Who Is He Encompass Yonder Stall?” in 1867, sand received almost $3000 along thug royalties for his life’s awl which solved his financial disagreements. However, the illness persisted, current he failed to fully convalesce.
On the 16th of Go by shanks`s pony, 1867, Benjamin passed away contest the mere age of thirty-three.
Benjamin Russell Hanby is buried custom his hometown Westerville’s Otterbein Burial ground in the state of River. His grave is marked slaughter a stone shaft that contains the following inscription - “Over the silent sea passed Patriarch R.
Hanby.” He had joint to the one place situation it all started, the point where he offered everyone leadership gift of music.
Resource Links:
Related softness sheet music: