MOTHER: Mary Voorhies
FATHER: Peter A. Banta
HON. ELIJAH BANTA, of Lamoni, one of the leading citizens of Decatur County, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, January 5, 1823, a son of PETER A. and MARY (VOORHIES) BANTA, natives of Ohio. The mother died in 1828, and November 29, 1829, the father settled in Johnson County, Indiana, where he followed farming till his death, in 1851, at the age of sixty-nine years. He reared a family of six sons and four daughters to maturity, of whom our subject was the ninth child. Only one brother is now alive, WILLIAM, who resides in Kansas.
ELIJAH BANTA, our subject was married in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1846, to Miss EMELINE [Hodges] and a year or two after that marriage Mr. BANTA again returned to Johnson County, Indiana, where he remained till 1865. In 1869 he was elected auditor of Johnson County on the Republican ticket, he being the first Republican candidate for office ever elected in the county. In 1864 he was elected to the General Indiana on the same ticket, being the first Republican elected from his district.
In the spring of 1865 he removed to Sandwich, Illinois, leaving Johnson County one year before his legislative term expired. He resided in Sandwich until he came to Decatur County, his wife dying there May 14, 1876, aged forty-nine years.
He was again married November 29, 1877, to Miss HATTIE E. CROSBY, near Chatfield, Minnesota, a native of the State of New York and to this union have been born four children - WILLIAM ELIJAH died aged nine months; MARY CROSBY, ETHEL MAY and ALBERT JEFFERDS.
Mr. BANTA was the first president and manager of the Colonization Society, incorporated in fall of that year ELIJAH BANTA, DAVID DANCER, and I. J. ROGERS, as agents for the “First United Order of Enoch,” visited Decatur County, where they purchased about 3,300 acres of land, the object of which was the founding a colony of Latter-Day Saints, and in 1872 these lands began to be occupied.
On coming to this county Mr. BANTA first occupied himself in erecting several houses on the company’s lands, remaining in charge of the company’s interests as president until 1876, when he was succeeded by DAVID DANCER.
Mr. BANTA first made his home in Fayette Township, on section 12, where he improved a farm of 240 acres. In 1882 he built a very fine residence in Lamoni, which he at present occupies, and in connection with his city residence he owns twenty acres. He also owns a fine stock farm of 800 acres in New Buda.
In 1872 Mr. BANTA took part in the political campaign as a Republican, and supported HORACE GREELEY as a candidate for President. In 1876 he avowed himself a Democrat, and supported TILDEN and HENDRICKS. Without his consent or knowledge he was nominated by the Greenback party on the county ticket for supervisor; this nomination was endorsed by the Democrats, and by the votes of the Greenback and Democratic parties, he was elected by a fair majority, running ahead of the State ticket.
In 1883, though not being in full accord with the Democratic party on the liquor ticket, which had not then adopted the “Local Option” principle, Mr. BANTA was nominated for and elected to the Iowa State Legislature, leading in his own county the State ticket of this party by 189 votes. He has now retired from political life, but against his will was nearly elected mayor of Lamoni in March, 1886.
In the Reorganized Church of the Latter-Day Saints Mr. BANTA is one of the most prominent and influential members, and is bishop’s counselor. He is treasurer of the Board of Publications of the Saint’s Herald. Mr. BANTA is of Holland-Dutch extraction.
Transcribed by Christy Jay for IAGenWeb/Decatur County website
Sources: 1. "Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 509
2. http://iagenweb.org/decatur/bioDocs/
1887Bios/BantaElijah1887.html
FATHER: Peter A. Banta
HON. ELIJAH BANTA, of Lamoni, one of the leading citizens of Decatur County, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, January 5, 1823, a son of PETER A. and MARY (VOORHIES) BANTA, natives of Ohio. The mother died in 1828, and November 29, 1829, the father settled in Johnson County, Indiana, where he followed farming till his death, in 1851, at the age of sixty-nine years. He reared a family of six sons and four daughters to maturity, of whom our subject was the ninth child. Only one brother is now alive, WILLIAM, who resides in Kansas.
ELIJAH BANTA, our subject was married in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1846, to Miss EMELINE [Hodges] and a year or two after that marriage Mr. BANTA again returned to Johnson County, Indiana, where he remained till 1865. In 1869 he was elected auditor of Johnson County on the Republican ticket, he being the first Republican candidate for office ever elected in the county. In 1864 he was elected to the General Indiana on the same ticket, being the first Republican elected from his district.
In the spring of 1865 he removed to Sandwich, Illinois, leaving Johnson County one year before his legislative term expired. He resided in Sandwich until he came to Decatur County, his wife dying there May 14, 1876, aged forty-nine years.
He was again married November 29, 1877, to Miss HATTIE E. CROSBY, near Chatfield, Minnesota, a native of the State of New York and to this union have been born four children - WILLIAM ELIJAH died aged nine months; MARY CROSBY, ETHEL MAY and ALBERT JEFFERDS.
Mr. BANTA was the first president and manager of the Colonization Society, incorporated in fall of that year ELIJAH BANTA, DAVID DANCER, and I. J. ROGERS, as agents for the “First United Order of Enoch,” visited Decatur County, where they purchased about 3,300 acres of land, the object of which was the founding a colony of Latter-Day Saints, and in 1872 these lands began to be occupied.
On coming to this county Mr. BANTA first occupied himself in erecting several houses on the company’s lands, remaining in charge of the company’s interests as president until 1876, when he was succeeded by DAVID DANCER.
Mr. BANTA first made his home in Fayette Township, on section 12, where he improved a farm of 240 acres. In 1882 he built a very fine residence in Lamoni, which he at present occupies, and in connection with his city residence he owns twenty acres. He also owns a fine stock farm of 800 acres in New Buda.
In 1872 Mr. BANTA took part in the political campaign as a Republican, and supported HORACE GREELEY as a candidate for President. In 1876 he avowed himself a Democrat, and supported TILDEN and HENDRICKS. Without his consent or knowledge he was nominated by the Greenback party on the county ticket for supervisor; this nomination was endorsed by the Democrats, and by the votes of the Greenback and Democratic parties, he was elected by a fair majority, running ahead of the State ticket.
In 1883, though not being in full accord with the Democratic party on the liquor ticket, which had not then adopted the “Local Option” principle, Mr. BANTA was nominated for and elected to the Iowa State Legislature, leading in his own county the State ticket of this party by 189 votes. He has now retired from political life, but against his will was nearly elected mayor of Lamoni in March, 1886.
In the Reorganized Church of the Latter-Day Saints Mr. BANTA is one of the most prominent and influential members, and is bishop’s counselor. He is treasurer of the Board of Publications of the Saint’s Herald. Mr. BANTA is of Holland-Dutch extraction.
Transcribed by Christy Jay for IAGenWeb/Decatur County website
Sources: 1. "Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 509
2. http://iagenweb.org/decatur/bioDocs/
1887Bios/BantaElijah1887.html
MOTHER: Mary Voorhies
FATHER: Peter A. Banta
HON. ELIJAH BANTA, of Lamoni, one of the leading citizens of Decatur County, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, January 5, 1823, a son of PETER A. and MARY (VOORHIES) BANTA, natives of Ohio. The mother died in 1828, and November 29, 1829, the father settled in Johnson County, Indiana, where he followed farming till his death, in 1851, at the age of sixty-nine years. He reared a family of six sons and four daughters to maturity, of whom our subject was the ninth child. Only one brother is now alive, WILLIAM, who resides in Kansas.
ELIJAH BANTA, our subject was married in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1846, to Miss EMELINE [Hodges] and a year or two after that marriage Mr. BANTA again returned to Johnson County, Indiana, where he remained till 1865. In 1869 he was elected auditor of Johnson County on the Republican ticket, he being the first Republican candidate for office ever elected in the county. In 1864 he was elected to the General Indiana on the same ticket, being the first Republican elected from his district.
In the spring of 1865 he removed to Sandwich, Illinois, leaving Johnson County one year before his legislative term expired. He resided in Sandwich until he came to Decatur County, his wife dying there May 14, 1876, aged forty-nine years.
He was again married November 29, 1877, to Miss HATTIE E. CROSBY, near Chatfield, Minnesota, a native of the State of New York and to this union have been born four children - WILLIAM ELIJAH died aged nine months; MARY CROSBY, ETHEL MAY and ALBERT JEFFERDS.
Mr. BANTA was the first president and manager of the Colonization Society, incorporated in fall of that year ELIJAH BANTA, DAVID DANCER, and I. J. ROGERS, as agents for the “First United Order of Enoch,” visited Decatur County, where they purchased about 3,300 acres of land, the object of which was the founding a colony of Latter-Day Saints, and in 1872 these lands began to be occupied.
On coming to this county Mr. BANTA first occupied himself in erecting several houses on the company’s lands, remaining in charge of the company’s interests as president until 1876, when he was succeeded by DAVID DANCER.
Mr. BANTA first made his home in Fayette Township, on section 12, where he improved a farm of 240 acres. In 1882 he built a very fine residence in Lamoni, which he at present occupies, and in connection with his city residence he owns twenty acres. He also owns a fine stock farm of 800 acres in New Buda.
In 1872 Mr. BANTA took part in the political campaign as a Republican, and supported HORACE GREELEY as a candidate for President. In 1876 he avowed himself a Democrat, and supported TILDEN and HENDRICKS. Without his consent or knowledge he was nominated by the Greenback party on the county ticket for supervisor; this nomination was endorsed by the Democrats, and by the votes of the Greenback and Democratic parties, he was elected by a fair majority, running ahead of the State ticket.
In 1883, though not being in full accord with the Democratic party on the liquor ticket, which had not then adopted the “Local Option” principle, Mr. BANTA was nominated for and elected to the Iowa State Legislature, leading in his own county the State ticket of this party by 189 votes. He has now retired from political life, but against his will was nearly elected mayor of Lamoni in March, 1886.
In the Reorganized Church of the Latter-Day Saints Mr. BANTA is one of the most prominent and influential members, and is bishop’s counselor. He is treasurer of the Board of Publications of the Saint’s Herald. Mr. BANTA is of Holland-Dutch extraction.
Transcribed by Christy Jay for IAGenWeb/Decatur County website
Sources: 1. "Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 509
2. http://iagenweb.org/decatur/bioDocs/
1887Bios/BantaElijah1887.html
FATHER: Peter A. Banta
HON. ELIJAH BANTA, of Lamoni, one of the leading citizens of Decatur County, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, January 5, 1823, a son of PETER A. and MARY (VOORHIES) BANTA, natives of Ohio. The mother died in 1828, and November 29, 1829, the father settled in Johnson County, Indiana, where he followed farming till his death, in 1851, at the age of sixty-nine years. He reared a family of six sons and four daughters to maturity, of whom our subject was the ninth child. Only one brother is now alive, WILLIAM, who resides in Kansas.
ELIJAH BANTA, our subject was married in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, October 6, 1846, to Miss EMELINE [Hodges] and a year or two after that marriage Mr. BANTA again returned to Johnson County, Indiana, where he remained till 1865. In 1869 he was elected auditor of Johnson County on the Republican ticket, he being the first Republican candidate for office ever elected in the county. In 1864 he was elected to the General Indiana on the same ticket, being the first Republican elected from his district.
In the spring of 1865 he removed to Sandwich, Illinois, leaving Johnson County one year before his legislative term expired. He resided in Sandwich until he came to Decatur County, his wife dying there May 14, 1876, aged forty-nine years.
He was again married November 29, 1877, to Miss HATTIE E. CROSBY, near Chatfield, Minnesota, a native of the State of New York and to this union have been born four children - WILLIAM ELIJAH died aged nine months; MARY CROSBY, ETHEL MAY and ALBERT JEFFERDS.
Mr. BANTA was the first president and manager of the Colonization Society, incorporated in fall of that year ELIJAH BANTA, DAVID DANCER, and I. J. ROGERS, as agents for the “First United Order of Enoch,” visited Decatur County, where they purchased about 3,300 acres of land, the object of which was the founding a colony of Latter-Day Saints, and in 1872 these lands began to be occupied.
On coming to this county Mr. BANTA first occupied himself in erecting several houses on the company’s lands, remaining in charge of the company’s interests as president until 1876, when he was succeeded by DAVID DANCER.
Mr. BANTA first made his home in Fayette Township, on section 12, where he improved a farm of 240 acres. In 1882 he built a very fine residence in Lamoni, which he at present occupies, and in connection with his city residence he owns twenty acres. He also owns a fine stock farm of 800 acres in New Buda.
In 1872 Mr. BANTA took part in the political campaign as a Republican, and supported HORACE GREELEY as a candidate for President. In 1876 he avowed himself a Democrat, and supported TILDEN and HENDRICKS. Without his consent or knowledge he was nominated by the Greenback party on the county ticket for supervisor; this nomination was endorsed by the Democrats, and by the votes of the Greenback and Democratic parties, he was elected by a fair majority, running ahead of the State ticket.
In 1883, though not being in full accord with the Democratic party on the liquor ticket, which had not then adopted the “Local Option” principle, Mr. BANTA was nominated for and elected to the Iowa State Legislature, leading in his own county the State ticket of this party by 189 votes. He has now retired from political life, but against his will was nearly elected mayor of Lamoni in March, 1886.
In the Reorganized Church of the Latter-Day Saints Mr. BANTA is one of the most prominent and influential members, and is bishop’s counselor. He is treasurer of the Board of Publications of the Saint’s Herald. Mr. BANTA is of Holland-Dutch extraction.
Transcribed by Christy Jay for IAGenWeb/Decatur County website
Sources: 1. "Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), p. 509
2. http://iagenweb.org/decatur/bioDocs/
1887Bios/BantaElijah1887.html
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