James L. Hannett, born March 28, 1855, in Washington County, New York, was a notable lawyer in Mitchell, South Dakota, and a member of the law firm Preston & Hannett. Son of Edward and Elizabeth (Bailey) Hannett, he was educated at Masson College in Montreal and the University of Michigan’s law department, graduating in 1876. Hannett began his legal career in New York before relocating to Mitchell in 1882. He served as district attorney (1888-1890) and county judge (1891-1893). Married to Martha Ryan in 1877, they had eight surviving children. He was active in local politics and several fraternal organizations.
James L. Hannett, junior member of the prominent law firm of Preston & Hannett, of Mitchell, was born in Washington County, New York, on the 28th of March, 1855, being a son of Edward and Elizabeth (Bailey) Hannett, of whose seven children six are living at the present time, the subject having been the youngest in the family. Edward Hannett was born in County Down, Ireland, where he was reared and educated, there learning the trade of shoemaker. His wife was born in the same county, and there three of their children were born. In 1837 they emigrated to the United States, and for three years they remained in the eastern states, the father working at his trade in various towns and cities, and he then came to the west, locating in the city of Chicago, where he was engaged in the shoe business for a number of years, being successful in his efforts and living retired in that city for several years prior to his death, which occurred in 1884. He was a member of the Catholic church, as was also his wife, who is now dead, and in politics he gave his support to the Democracy.
The subject of this review remained at the parental home until he had attained the age of sixteen years, his educational advantages in the meanwhile having been such as were afforded in the public schools. At the age mentioned he entered Masson College, near the city of Montreal, Canada, and during the pursuit of his studies there lived in the home of his brother, William, at Middle Granville, New York. He was graduated in the college as a member of the class of 1874, and soon afterward was matriculated in the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, having previously taken up the study of law under the preceptorship of Hon. M. C. Betts, of the firm of Betts & Grover, of Granville, New York, the junior member of said firm now being the general counsel of the Great Northern Railroad. Mr. Hannett completed the prescribed course in the law department of the university and was there graduated as a member of the class of 1876, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He then went to Amsterdam, New York, where he continued his study of the law in the office of Z. A. Westbrook about one year, after which he located in the town of Whitehall, that state, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession about four years. In 1882 Mr. Hannett came to Mitchell, South Dakota, and in July of that year here opened a law office, forming a professional partnership with T. E. Blanchard, with whom he continued to be associated in practice for seven years, after which he continued an individual practitioner until 1892, when he entered into partnership with H. C. Preston. This alliance continued for five years, at the expiration of which Mr. Preston removed to the city of Sioux Falls, the subject continuing in practice at Mitchell. In 1901 Mr. Preston returned to Mitchell, and the two attorneys again entered into partnership relations, under the firm name of Preston & Hannett, the firm having to do with much important litigation and having a representative clientele.
Mr. Hannett is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and in 1888 he was elected district attorney, in which capacity he served two years, making a most creditable record as a prosecutor. In 1891 he was elected county judge, presiding on the bench for a term of two years. He is at the present time a member of the board of aldermen of the city of Mitchell and is president of the municipal council. Fraternally, he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Home Guardians, while his religious faith is that of the Catholic church, of which he is a communicant. On the 12th of August, 1877, was solemnized the marriage of Judge Hannett to Miss Martha Ryan, of Schenectady County, New York, and of their nine children all are living except Leo, who died at the age of eleven. The others are Ray, Nellie, William, Edward, Bessie, James L., Mary and Rachel, and all remain at the parental home.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.