Sunday's Obituary - John William Hanks

An obituary for my wife's great-grandfather John William Hanks. He was her paternal grandmother's father. He was born on 14 April 1856 and died on 3 March 1933.

New "Hanks Family" Label

Recently, I found a treasure trove of information about my wife's Hanks relatives. Specifically, I found many posting on the website Find A Grave. There, a contributor posted information about Nancy's great-grandfather John Williams Hanks, her 2nd great-grandfather Sydnor Hanks, and her 3rd great-grandfather Abner Hanks.

I contacted the contributor, who sent me a descendant register report for Sydnor Hanks. Although he personally is not from this family, he did send my query to someone in who is distantly related to my wife.

I'm hoping to find more of my wife's relatives. In order to facilitate this family search, I've created a new label on this blog: The Hanks Family. If you have any information about this family, please contact me via e-mail at abqbobcat@nmia.com or post to this blog.

Signor (Sydnor) Hanks family in the 1850 US Census

Below is the 1850 Census record for my wife's 2nd great grandparents Sydnor and Elizabeth Hanks (Family # 183.) This enumeration shows the following family members:

Signor Hanks, 38 years old, male, farmer ("), $1,500 in real property, born in Kentucky
Elizabeth (Hanks), 29 years old, female, born in Kentucky, person over 20 years old who cannot read or write.
Elijah (Hanks), 13 years old, male, born in Kentucky
Susan J. (Hanks), 11 years old, female, born in Indiana
Sarah F. (Hanks), 9 years old, female, born in Indiana
Matilda (Hanks), 7 or 8 (?) years old, female, born in Indiana

From this record, it appears that the family moved from Kentucky to Indiana between 1837 and 1839, which would be the birth years of Elijah (born in Kentucky) and Susan F. (born in Indiana.)

My wife's great-grandfather John William Hanks would not be born until 1856, which is the reason that he was not listed in this census.

I was researching this information because my sister-in-law had questions about Susan J. Hanks.

See also The Sydnor Hanks Family - 1860 Census and the 1870 Census.





Signor Hanks family, 1850 U. S. census, enumeration schedule, state of Indiana, Hamblin township, Brown County, dwelling # 183, family # 186, retrieved 28 November 2009; digital image, Records Search, pilot site, Family Search website (pilot.familysearch.org).

John William Hanks Family, 1900 U.S. Census

I found my wife's great-grandparents in the 1900 United States Census of Sergeant Township, Douglas County, Illinois. John William Hanks and Amanda Ann Craven were her paternal grandmother's parents. They are listed here in dwelling # 209, household # 209, as John and Mandy A. Hanks. Their daughter Ethel M., who is listed on the record as being 3 years old, was my wife's grandmother.

Click on the image below to get a better view of this record:

I retrieved this page today from the Family Search, Records Search website. Click on this link to go to that site.

Too many women named Nancy Hanks?

As I mentioned in a blog entry that I made last year, my wife may be a distant cousin of Abraham Lincoln through his mother Nancy Hanks. The only problem proving this, however, is that there were many different women named Nancy Hanks that could have possibly been his mother. There is no definate way of showing my wife's relationship to this American president.

A discussion about the true identity of Nancy Hanks can be found on the webpage Will the Real Nancy Hanks Please Stand Up?

For more information about the Hanks Family, check out Hanks for the Memories.

Abner Hanks - American Revolutionary War soldier

My wife's paternal grandmother was a woman by the name of Ethel Marie (Hanks) Douglas. According to "The Hanks Family of Viriginia and Westward", Ethel's great-grandfather was a man by the name of Abner Hanks, who was married to an Elizabeth Goodwin (she was one of his wives, as he apparently was married 6 times.) Today, I searched RootsWeb and found a genealogy for Abner Hanks on the McCord Family Online database. The author of the database quotes from a National Archives record indicating that Abner Hanks was a soldier drafted in the American army in April 1780. You may read a transcription of that document by going to the following link.

Reference:

Barber, Adin,The Hanks Family of Virginia and Westward. (Kansas, Illinois: The Arthur H. Clark Co., 1965.)

Obituary: Jerry Douglas

Jerry Douglas was my wife's father. This obituary is from an unknown newspaper.

Jerry Douglas
HINDSBORO - Jerry D. Douglas, 38, of Charleston, formerly of Hindsboro, died Saturday (Feb. 21, 1976) at home.

Funeral services willb e at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Taber Funeral Home, Oakland. Burial will be in VanVoorhis Cemetary, north of Hindsboro.

Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Mr. Douglas was born July 28, 1937 at Hindsboro, a son of Ralph and Ethel Hanks Douglas. He married Sharon Dunn March 12, 1960 at Redmond.

Surviving are two daughters Nancy Carol and Amanda Jean, and a son Jerald Andrew, all of Charleston; his parents, Hindsboro; two brothers, Bill, Hindsboro and Leon, Urbana; and two sisters, Mrs. Joyce Seitz, Tucson, Ariz., and Mrs. Frieda Roberts, Indianapolis, Ind.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, a brother, and a sister.

He was a member of the Hindsboro United Methodist Church, Mattoon Moose, and was an engineering technician for the Illinois Division of Highways, Paris.

Below is a memorial card handed out at his memorial service

In Memory of
Jerry D. Douglas
July 28, 1937 Feb. 21, 1976

MEMORIAL SERVICES
Wednesday, February 25, 1976
1:30 O'clock P.M.
Taber Funeral Home
Oakland, Illinois

CLERGYMEN
Rev. Arthur Scott
Rev. Donald Lemkau

ORGANIST
Mrs. Robert Juriga
"Amazing Grace"

CASKET BEARERS
Howard Johnson Jerry Edgar
Tom Mood Dave Morgan
Jerry Shields Richard Dunn

INTERMENT
VanVorrhis Cemetary

Obituary - Ethel Douglas

"A TRIBUTE published in the pages of THE TIMES COURIER Charleston, ILL. June 29 1978"

Memorial Obituary

Entered Into Eternal Rest Wednesday, June 28, 1978

ETHEL DOUGLAS

HINDSBORO - Ethel Douglas, 81, a life long resident of the Hindsboro area, died at 3 a.m. Wednesday in her home.

Her funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Taber Funeral Home in Oakland, where friends may call from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in the VanVoorhies Cemetary.

Born Feb. 15, 1897, she was a daughter of John and Amanda Cravens Hanks. she was married to Ralph Douglas for over 60 years. He survives.

Other survivors include a son, H. Leon Douglas of Urbana; two daughters, Mrs. Joyce Seiz of Tucson, Ariz., and Mrs. Freda Roberts of Indianapolis, and 20 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one daughter, three sons, one brother and three sisters.

Mrs. Douglas was a member of the Gold Star Mothers.


In Memory of
Ethel M. Douglas
Feb. 15 1897 June 28, 1978

MEMORIAL SERVICES
Saturday, July 1, 1978
1:30 O'Clock P.M.
Taber Funeral Home
Oakland, Illinois

MINISTER
Rick Grace

ORGANIST
Mrs. Margaret Taber
"In the Garden"
"How Great Thou Art"

Casket Bearers
Tom Seitz
Bob Douglas
Charlie Douglas
Rick Douglas
Chet Roberts
Chris Roberts

INTERMENT
VanVoorhis Cemetary
Hindsboro, Illinois

Obituary John William Hanks

From a Hindsboro, Illinois newspaper.

Funeral Rites for John Hanks Held Sunday Afternoon

Funeral services for John Hanks were conducted Sunday afternoon from the Pleasent Grove church with Rev. Petty, minister of the Methodist Church at Newman in charge. Mr. Hanks passed away Friday morning at 3:30 o'clock, death being due to old age and a light stroke of paralysis.

John W. Hanks, son of Sidner and Elizabeth Hanks, was born in Brown County Indiana April 14 1856 where he grew to young manhood.

On July 7, 1880, at the age of 24, he was united in marriage to Amanda A. Craven of the same neighborhood.

The pioneering spirit, inherited no doubt from their immediate ancestors was strong in this young couple and they turned their westward hoping to build for themselves a home in the New West. Their first attempt was a farm near Arcola, but strange faces, the hardship and drudgery of the new land, the swamp and its attending evils were in such contrast to the wooded hill homeland which like a mirage kept beckoning until they returned to its enbrace.

And yet again the horses were hitched to the covered wagon, again their steps were retraced and this time with a determination to overcome all odds, they began operations near Humboldt and from there to farms just east of Hindsboro, and it was here while living on the Margason place they purchased the plot which for nearly forty years has been home, adding thereto as they, by hard work and careful planning were able ....

In the homestead children grew to maturity, namely Mrs. Henry Myers of Newman, Mrs. Edgar Curry, Mrs. Kenny Haas of Indianapolis, Sylvia of Amberdeen, Miss., Mrs. Bert Tuttle, Mrs. Ralph Douglas of Hindsboro, Mrs. Frank Barnett of Murdock, William of Champaign, Paul of Elkhart, Ind., and Mrs. Walter Thompson who has gone on leaving a little son to fill her place. There are also 32 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his wife and two brothers, Joseph and George of Forest, Okla.

Mr. Hanks was known far and wide as a man of his word, rigidly honest in his dealings with his fellow man, asking only what was due him and insisting the other be fully recompensed.

As he grew aged his concern was more and more to keep the home fires burning so that no matter how far away a child might get he could feel the warming welcome of the fireside, and how well they appreciated it is attested by the number and frequency of their gatherings.

Early in his young manhood days Mr. Hanks had a definate, clear cut experience in his religious life and often had related the details of that event and express the wish that he might come into it again. He departed this life march 3, (1933) being 76 years, 10 months and 19 days of age. Internment was made in the VanVoorhis cemetary.

Sydnor Hanks Family - 1870 Census

Transcription of Sydnor Hanks Family from 1870 Census.

Inhabitants of Hamblin Township, County of Brown, State of Indiana, Enumerated 1 July 1870. Page 26. Roll # M593-301.

Dwelling 189; Family 189:

Hanks, Sidnor, 55 years old, male, White, Farmer, Estate: $6,000; Personal: $1,150; from Kentucky, male citizen of US 21 years old or older.

___, Elizabeth; 49 years old, female, White, Keeping House, from Kentucky; cannot read or write.

___, Matilda; 21 years old, female, White, works at home; from Indiana.

___, Delila; 16 years old, female, White, works at home; from Indiana.

___, George W.; 12 years old, male, White, works on farm; from Indiana; attends school, cannot write.

___, John W.; 14 years old, male, White, works on farm; from Indiana; attends school, cannot write.

___, Joseph N.; 2 years old, male, White, from Indiana; attends school.

Sydnor Hanks Family - 1860 Census

Below is a transcription from the 1860 Census. "Free Inhabitants of Hamblin Township in the County of Brown in the State of Indiana. Enumerated 14 July, 1860." Page 96. Roll # M653-246.

Syndor and Elizabeth (Skidmore) Hanks were my wife's 2nd great-grandparents. Their son John W., was my wife's great-grandfather.

I've listed the household of James Skidmore because I believe it has some significance since Elizabeth's maiden name is Skidmore. Is this her parents?

Dwelling # 672; Family # 672:

Sidnor Hanks, 49 years old, male, White, Farmer, Value of real estate: $5,000; Value of Personal Estate: $400, from Kentucky.

Elizabeth, 40 years old, female, White, from Kentucky, listed as over 21 years old and unable to read or write.

Susan J., 21 years old, female, from Indiana.

Sarah F., 18 years old, female, from Indiana.

Matilda, 18 years old, female, from Indiana

James, 10 years old, male, from Indiana.

Delila, 7 years old, female, from Indiana.

John W., 5 years old, male, from Indiana.

George W., 2 years old, male, from Indiana.

Dwelling # 673; Family # 673:

James Skidmore, 64 years old, male, White, farmer, Value of Real Estate: $100; Value of Personal Estate: $100; from Kentucky.

Susana, 67 years old, female, White, from Kentucky, listed as over 21 years old and unable to read and write.

Nancy Mayers, 18 years old, female, White, from Kentucky.

This transcription was revised on 28 November 2009. I did not have Susan's middle initial or age correct on this post (I had her as Susan G. Hanks, 81 years old!) The revised information is from the transcriptions I found on both the FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com websites. However, I will need to look at the image of the census record to verify the information.

I apologize for any inconvenience that the erroneous info caused anyone. This is a prime example why you should always verify information yourself and not rely of others for your research. Genealogists do make mistrakes (sic).

Obituary - Amanda Hanks, 95 years old

From an undated clipping from an unknown newspaper.

Oldest Resident of Hindsboro Dies

Mrs. Amanda Hanks, 95, oldest resident of the Hindsboro communities, died at 7:30 P.M. last Wednesday in Jarman Hospital, Tuscola, where she had been a patient about 10 days.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 P.M. Saturday in the Hindsboro Methodist Church, with the Rev. Maurice Reed of Antioch Church officiating.

Burial was in Van Voorhis Cemetary north of Hindsboro, Taber Funeral Home, Hindsboro, in charge.

Mrs. Hanks was the widow of John William Hanks, a relative of Nancy Hanks, Abraham Lincoln's mother. Her health was fairly good for a person of her age until recently, and she continued to do house work and care for a garden and chickens until she was past 90.

She leaves about 115 decendants.

A daughter of William and Mary Craven, natives of England, Mrs. Hanks was born November 5, 1863, at Barnesville, Ohio. There were 11 children in the family. Mrs. Hanks was the last survivor.

On July 7, 1880, she was married to Mr. Hanks at Nashville, Indiana. His parents had lived in the same settlement in Kentucky where Lincoln spent his early years. Mr. Hanks' relationship to Nancy Hanks was traced through his uncle, Abner Hanks, who was a cousin of Lincoln's mother.

William Hanks, Route 1, Urbana, a son of John and Amanda Hanks, recalls that his father's facial features resembled Lincoln's.

The John Hankses came to Illinois the same year they were married and settled on a farm several miles south of Arcola. They later moved to a farm east of Hindsboro.

They celebrated their 50th (wedding anniversary in 1930.) Mr. Hanks died March 3, 1933, at the age of 77. many relatives and friends called on Mrs. Hanks when she observed her 95th birthday November 5.

She had lived in Hindsboro for about 15 years. She leaves six daughters, Mrs. Cecelia Myers, Mrs. Emma Tuttle and Mrs. Ethel Douglas, all of Hindsboro; Mrs. Nellie Barnett, Murdock; Mrs. Katie Haas and Mrs. Maude Curry, Indianopolis, and three sons, Paul, Indianapolis; Silva (Silvester), Hindsboro, and William.

A grandson, Ferrel Thompson, was reared in the Hanks home.

Mrs. Hanks also leaves 36 grandchildren, and 20 great-great grandchildren.

According to other records Mrs. Hanks died on November 19, 1958, exactly two weeks after her 95th birthday. Mrs. Hanks was my wife's great-grandmother. - Robert