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William Walter Banks

Born: circa 1828, NY

 

Parents: unknown, William may be a son of Ira Banks of N. Hampshire and Jefferson Co., NY. He was not listed with Ira in the 1850 census

 

Marriage: to Angeline Simmons, date unknown

 

Children:  Frederick J.,  Alfred,   Mary E.,  Ira O.,  Jenny,  William Walter Jr.,  Carrie

 

Death:  28 Nov 1890, Nebraska. Buried Evergreen Cemetery, Dawson, NB

 

Military Service:

On Jan. 18th, 1864, Pvt. Wm Banks enlisted in CO. F, 35th Wisconsin Rgt. at Milwaukee, WI. Mustered out 3/15/1866 at Brownsville, TX (Wis. enrollment books)

 

Census:

1880 US Census, Nebraska, Dawson Co, Precinct 2:
Wm Banks, age 52, blacksmith, born NY, father born New Hampshire, mother born NY; Angeline E. age 46, born NY, father born NY, mother born (?) Iowa - not legible; Jenny age 12, born WI; Wm. age 8 born WI; Carrie age 7 born WI; Hattie Thornton, age 3 granddaughter, born WI

 

1870 US Census, WI, Sauk Co, Ironton:
Wm. Banks, age 43, farmer, value of real estate $4000, personal estate $1000, born NY; Angeline, age 36, born NY; Frederick J. age 18, born NY; Alfred R (?) age 17, born NY; Mary E. age 15, born WI; Wilburh age 12 born WI; Ira age 10 born WI; Jenny age 2 born WI.

 

1860 U.S Census WI, Sauk Co., Ironton: (enumerated July 12th)
Wm Banks, age 30, farmer, value of real estate $1000, value of personal estate $300, born NY; Angeline, age 26, born NY; Fredric, age 8, born NY; Alfred, age 6, born NY; Mary, age 5, born WI; Wilbert, age 3 born WI, Ira, age 1 month, born WI.

 

1850 US census, NY, Middlebury County, Wyoming township: (uncertain relationship, this is the only William Banks of the correct age born in NY)
William Banks, 21, b NY farmer
Jane Banks, age 56 (?)
Mary F. Banks, age 26
John M., 18, farmer (John lives in Jefferson Co, NY in 1860)

 

Misc. Notes:

Wm and Angeline are buried at the  “1873 Evergreen Cemetery” in Dawson Nebraska. The Banks have a very large obelisk monument; Wm’s side of the headstone states he “died in the 64th year of his age”, “Not dead but sleepeth”.

 

Research:

Because of the inconsistencies in place of birth of parents for Wm. Banks in the various censuses, trying to locate them is difficult. There is an Ira Banks in NY state, Jefferson Co, Pamelia township in the 1850 census, who is very possibly his father. Also see listing above for 1850 census.
Wm. is not listed in the is census with this family, but would have been about 21-22 years old at the time of the 1850 census, and possibly on his own. His first child was born about 1852, but cannot find William listed with an Angeline in 1850.

The family listed below are possibly Wm’s parents:

1850 NY Jefferson Co, Pamelia township:
Ira Banks, age 61 farmer, land value $3000, born NH; Betsy wife, age 49 born NY; Ira O., age 15 born NY, Harvey age 11 born NY; Elizabeth age 17 born NY
Harrison age 9 born NY.

Additionally, on the Jefferson Co, NY website the following information is found about this family: Ira (Sr) died 1/28/1856 (cemetery inscription), Betsy died 4/19/1879; Ira O Jr, was a farmer in Brownville, cemetery inscription 1835-1925, also served in Civil War, Co G, 10th NY artillery; Harrison died 4/10/1863 age 22; Frederick died 8/30/1846 age 23; Alfred died 7/11/1843 age 18; Louisa died 9/1/1838.  All of these children had parents listed as Ira and Betsy.
Birth order:
Louise 1821
Frederick 1823
Alfred 1825
Elizabeth 1833
Wm 1834
Ira 1835
Harvey 1839
Harrison 1841

Also note the coincidence of names repeated: Wm named his sons Frederick and Alfred (both died in their 20’s when Wm would have been in his teens) and Ira, possibly after his brother or father.

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