 | Banister Colony Settlement
Pilot township | | Obituary | Source:
A few years ago, some of the former Cherokee County Historical
Society's files were donated to the Cherokee IAGenWeb.
Included, were "working files" which contained information on
G.W. Banister. It was evident the Society had intended to compile
the information so that family researchers would have the information
available to them. I wanted to make sure the Society's mission
was accomplished, so I've compiled their information and am presenting
it to you here.
Cindy Booth Maher, Cherokee IAGenWeb Coordinator |
Biographical Sketch
GEORGE W.
BANISTER, a well-known pioneer of Cherokee County, settled there June
17, 1856. He was born in Astubula County, Ohio September 12, 1834, and
is a son of Nathan and Lucretia (Lilley) Banister; the father was born
in Worcester, Massachusetts, and descended from Scotch ancestors; the
mother was a native of Vermont. They were married in the State of New
York, and resided in Genesee County until about the year 1830, when
they removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio. George W. was ten years of age
when his parents moved to McHenry County, Illinois; there they remained
until 1852, when they went to Dubuque, Iowa, and thence they removed to
Hardin County, Iowa Nathan Banister died in 1859, while making a visit
to Cherokee County; his wife had died ten years before, in 1849. Mr.
Banister was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and received his
education in the common schools.
On coming to the county in 1856 he
pre-empted 160 acres of land where he now resides, owning in all 480
acres, a very desirable farm. In those early days Cherokee County
people did their trading in Sioux City, and their milling at Fort Dodge
or Panora, Iowa, making the trip with ox teams. The only men now
residing in the county who came in 1856 are G.W. Lebourvean, C. Corbett,
S. Parkhurst, J.A. Brown and Albert Phipps. It is nearly impossible for
one who has never experienced pioneer life to realize how many and how
great were the privations and hardships endured by these early
settlers. At the call for men to defend this nation's flag, Mr.
Banister enlisted October 1, 1862, in the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, Company
E. His regiment saw active service on the Western frontier, and was
engaged in battle against hostile Indians at Whitestone Hills, Kildeer
Mountains and the Bad Lands of Dakota. He was honorably discharged in
October, 1865 and returned to his home. Mr. Banister has figured
prominently in the politics of his county; he was elected judge in
1867, and served two years; he filled the office of Sheriff very
acceptably for two terms and has also been coroner of the county. The
people of his own township have shown the confidence they repose in him
by electing him to fill many of the township offices. He has always
been a Republican and has taken an active interest in the success of
his party.
Mr. Banister was married in Hardin County, Iowa, October 7,
1856 to Miss Margaret Allison, a daughter of George and Frances
(Warner) Allison, who was born and reared in Woodford County,Illinois.
Her parents were natives of Ohio and Virginia, respectively. Mr. and
Mrs. Banister have had born to them six children: Eugene A., who works
the home farm; Triphena E., wife of W. M. Little; Nettie, a successful
teacher, who was educated at Ames, Iowa; George Dwight, Charles Allison
and Wellington.
With the exception of three years Mr. Banister has
resided upon his homestead since coming to Cherokee. During the three
years mentioned he lived in Cherokee, and was engaged in operating a
saw-mill. He hs done his share in building up the county, and well
deserves the high esteem in which he is held.
Source: History of Cherokee County
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