His parents, Jason R. and Margaret Hanna died when he was a small boy, leaving him to be raised by his aunts.Without any lapse between positions, he became the eleventh Governor of North Dakota in 1913 beating Frank O. Hellstrom in the race.The four years in Bismarck as Governor of North Dakota were largely spent attacking the $300,000 debt inherited by Hanna upon assuming office.At the end of four years, the entire amount was paid off; in addition, the bonded debt of nearly one million dollars was reduced to $462,000.The statue, by North Dakota sculptor Paul Fjelde, is located in Frogner Park in Oslo.