Dorcas Douglas (Craig) Hanks (1827 - 1895)

CRAIG, HANKS, WYATT

Posted By: DJ Scieszinski
Date: 3/30/2016 at 17:26:05

Monroe County News and Albia Democrat
January 27, 1899

Passed Away

Mrs. Dorcas Hanks, wife of Milton Hanks, died Thursday, Jan. 10th, 1899, at the family residence two and one half miles east of Albia. Two weeks before she had been stricken with paralysis while at work preparing dinner for her husband and son who were working near the barn and heard her scream as she fell and finding her unconscious they worked with her awhile trying to revive her. Failing in this the son summoned a neighboring family and sent for a doctor, then noticed the relatives who were at the residence of George Wyatt, a son-in-law of the deceased, almost ready to sit down to a family dinner, at which she elected to be present, but excused herself on account of not feeling as well as usual. The dinner was left untouched and all went to the bedside of the beloved mother; but she did not greet them with cheery ____ had ever been her want. Her left side was paralyzed, involving to some extent the brain, the vocal and digestive organs. During the two weeks which elapsed before her death she did not seem to see or know very much of what was going on about her; but she did seem to know her husband and children by feeling their faces with her right hand. Once when told that Earle had come to see her she held out her hand and said: “My grandchildren” in a most affectionate tone, at another time she said “Paralyzed”. She frequently called for water or a drink, once she called for “Sarah” who is her only living sister, and who lives in Indiana. For two or three days before her death she seemed to have improved in some respects and two of her children who had come to see her went away thinking she would recover, but Wednesday night she began to sink rapidly and her children in the neighborhood were again summoned; but before they could reach her bedside life had left the earthly form of her who they loved so well.

The deceased, Dorcas Douglas Craig, was born near Ghent, on the banks of the Ohio river, in Carroll County, Kentucky, June 6th, 1827, the youngest of the large family of Lewis Craig, a prominent and wealthy citizen of that county.

While Dorcas was growing up, her mother made the home near relatives sometimes in Kentucky and sometimes in Indiana, her father having died when she was only five days old. She was of a frank, cheerful, friendly disposition ever bringing sunshine into the home. At the age of fifteen years she gave her heart to God, was baptized in the Ohio river and united with the Baptist church. She was married September 28th, 1844, in Decatur county, Indiana, to Milton Hanks, seven years her senior, who survives her. They made their home in the county where they were married. Twelve children were born to them, eight of whom are still living to try and comfort the aged father in his declining years. Having sold their farm in Indiana and bought land near Albia Iowa father and mother Hanks arrived here with their family, March 24th 1869 and began to make a home where the remainder of her life was spent. Funeral services were conducted at the house by Rev. E. B. Linn, pastor of the First Presbyterian church where she has been in the habit of worshiping since cessation of the services at the baptist church at Albia. Several members of the Presbyterian choir furnished sweet and appropriate music, “Rock of ages” “Nearer my God to Thee" etc. A long procession of neighbors and friends followed the hearse which bore the body to Oak View Cemetery where it was tenderly laid away.

Besides the husband with whom she lived for more than fifty-four years and her eight living children, there are seven grand children to mourn the loss of one whom they dearly loved.