For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 733
GEORGE W. HANKINS. Beginning his battle with the world at the age of seventeen, George W. Hankins has won the favors of fortune and is today the owner of a valuable farm in Muscatine county, also enjoying the friendship and confidence of all who know him. The fortune he has attained is the result of his own unflagging industry and perseverance. He was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, February 4, 1858, and is a son of Thomas and Almina (Hayner) Hankins, both natives of Ohio. The father was identified with farming interests all his life and died in 1875 at the age of forty-one years. The mother died six months previously at the age of thirty-nine years. There were eight children in their family, four of whom are now living, namely: George W., our subject; Louis M., of Hillsboro, Texas; William E., of Forest, Ohio; and John F., of Cedar township, Muscatine county.George W. Hankins by the death of his parents was thrown upon his own resources just as he was emerging from boyhood. He had received the advantages of good home training and of the district schools and he bravely took up the great battle which lay before him. Desiring to try his fortune in a new country, he came west and began working by the month in Muscatine county, Iowa. He persistently applied himself to his task and gradually acquired a foothold so that at twenty years of age he married and rented land, upon which he farmed for twenty years. Having accumulated sufficient capital, he purchased eighty acres, which he cultivated for three years and then sold, after which he operated rented land for several years. In the meantime he cast about for a favorable investment and accordingly purchased one hundred and fifty-six acres in Louisa county, Iowa, which he owned for five years. Believing that Muscatine county offered superior advantages, he returned and bought one hundred and twenty acres in Cedar township, which he has developed into one of the most desirable places of its size in that part of the county. He engages in both agriculture and stock-raising and each year adds to his financial resources so that he is today one of the substantial men of the county.
On the 22d of September, 1878, Mr. Hankins was united in marriage to Miss Cordelia Brown, who was born in Cedar township, November 3, 1860. She is a daughter of Hugh P. and Nancy (Lee) Brown, the former of whom was born in Indiana and the latter in Ohio. They were married in Muscatine and Mr. Brown engaged in farming in Muscatine county until the death of his wife, which occurred April 3, 1900. Since that time he and one of his sons have been connected with the lumber business at Letts, Iowa. In his family are four children, namely: Laura, now the wife of W. M. Griffin, of Letts; Eleanora, now Mrs. T. E. Norris, of Nichols; Cordelia, the wife of our subject; and Guy N., of Letts. Mrs. Hankins' great grandparents were of Irish descent, though one was a native of South Carolina and the other of Virginia. Both were reared, however, in the former state, where their marriage was celebrated and from there the family removed to Indiana. The great-grandfather, who was born in 1780, bore the name of Thomas Brown, while the grandfather of Mrs. Hankins was Mathew Brown, and her father was Hugh Brown previously mentioned. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hankins: Charles T., born April 8, 1881, was for two terms a student at the Leverich Normal School, being now a resident of Muscatine; Roe P., at home, was born August 29, 1884, and received a college education; and Harry F., born April 1, 1889, Eddie Glen, August 14, 1897, and Clell Raymond, October 4, 1902, are all at home. In his wife Mr. Hankins has found a loving companion, who has been to him a tireless assistant and a safe adviser and to her children a mother who has hesitated at no sacrifice provided it added to their comfort or happiness.
Politically Mr. Hankins adheres to the democratic party and has been entrusted with several public positions of honor and responsibility. For seven years he filled the office of township trustee and for four years has served as assessor of Cedar township, being also a member of the school board, a position he has filled for ten years past. Fraternally he is connected with Letts Lodge, No. 671, I. O. O. F., and Camp No. 4783, M. W. A., both of Letts. Thirty-five years ago Mr. Hankins began his life west of the Mississippi river and in this region he has continued, believing that the inducements here offered to ambitious young men are surpassed nowhere else in the world. He has seen no reason to regret casting his lot in Iowa, as here he has found home, friends and prosperity.
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