Hanna, Garretson & Co.: Cleveland, Ohio

Founders: Mark Hanna, Garretson family members

Location: Cleveland, Ohio

Era of Operation: Mid to late 19th century

Specialty: Shipping and freight transportation, investments in shipbuilding and Great Lakes trade

Hanna, Garretson & Co. was a prominent shipping and freight company based in Cleveland, Ohio, during the 19th century. The firm operated during a period of rapid growth in Great Lakes commerce and was instrumental in expanding Cleveland’s role as a shipping and industrial hub. Founded by members of the influential Hanna and Garretson families, the company was particularly involved in transporting iron ore, coal, grain, and other bulk goods across the Great Lakes, connecting the Midwest’s resources with markets further east.

Mark Hanna, who would later gain fame as a powerful industrialist and political figure, was one of the key figures associated with Hanna, Garretson & Co. Hanna’s involvement in shipping stemmed from his broader business interests in steel production, mining, and transportation. His investments in the shipping industry helped develop efficient logistics networks on the Great Lakes, supporting industries that were essential to Cleveland’s and Ohio’s economies. Hanna, Garretson & Co. owned a fleet of vessels, including the City of Superior, a propeller-driven vessel that tragically sank on Lake Superior in 1857.

The company’s role extended beyond ownership and operation of vessels; it also provided financing for new ship construction. Hanna, Garretson & Co. collaborated with several regional shipbuilders, contributing to Cleveland’s reputation as a Great Lakes shipbuilding center. Over time, as railroads and new steel ships came to dominate transportation, Hanna, Garretson & Co. adapted, with some assets eventually merging into other enterprises that expanded on Hanna’s interests in coal and steel.