Son of Ephraim Knowlton Hanks and Jane Maria Capener

Married Mary Elizabeth Baum, 6 Dec 1893, Heber, Wasatch, Utah

Children - Harvard David Hanks, George Augustus Hanks, Ephraim Earl Hanks, Ida Mae Hanks, Theodore Verrinder Hanks

Married Emma Wright Hulet, 2 Oct 1915, Provo, Utah, Utah

Children - Nancy Davida Hanks, Wright Capener Hanks, Lincoln Marlo Hanks, Clair Sylvanus Hanks, David Lawayne Hanks, Betty Jane Hanks, Emma Louise Hanks, John Phillip Hanks

History - David Capener Hanks - written by his wife Emma Wright Hulet Hanks

David C. Hanks was born to Ephraim Knowlton and Jane Maria Capener Hanks, early pioneers, in Park City, Utah, on March 5, 1870.

He lived here and in Salt Lake City, Utah during his early life. There being no schools in Park City, his mother was most anxious that she take her children where they could enjoy these advantages, so when David was about 12 years of age, she took her family to Heber City, Utah and there they had that privilege as well as other advantages. They continued to live here until they were grown.

There were seven children in this family as follows: William C., Alice Maria, Sarah Elizabeth, Ephraim Knowlton, George Agustus, David Capener, and Louise Rebecca.

David never had the privilege of knowing his father very well as he lived with his wife Thisbe, in Southern Utah, but the occasions that he did see him, these stood out in his memory. His mother separated from his father while he was quite young so it was up to him and his brothers to help provide for the family. Some time later his mother married Joseph E. Taylor of Salt Lake City, she going into polygamy again. To this union, two daughters were born. This marriage was not successful, so they finally separated. Throughout all of the years, although separated from Ephraim, Jane's love for him never died.

David grew up in this vicinity, where he received his education and he also went to the Brigham Young Academy at Provo, Utah.

On December 6, 1893 when he was near 24 years old, he was married to Mary Elizabeth Baum. To this union five children were born. They were Harvard David, George Agustus, who passed away at the age of 22, Ephraim Earl, Ida Mae, and Theodore Verender.

After his marriage he went into several business ventures, such as the Heber Mercantile Co., Consolidated Wagon & Machine Co., etc. He was a good provider and they owned a nice brick home. When the family began to grow up, David felt that they should move some place where there would be more opportunities for them so he and his brother Ephraim moved their families to Shelley, Idaho, where they bought some farms.

Eph and his family continued to live here but David was not quite satisfied with the set-up he had so after two years he with his family moved to the Teton Basin in Idaho. Here he bought some land near a small place called Haden and later he bought a farm in Chapin, a few miles south of Driggs. During this time his wife Mary became dissatisfied with the country up here and desired to go back to their home in Heber City. Being tied up here, David was unable to leave then, so she left with the children and went back.

David expanded in his farm operations here in Haden and Harvard, his son, took care of the Chapin farm. Later he his mother sold this farm and they moved to Nampa, Idaho. In the meantime, David and Mary were divorced.

David went into business at Tetonia, a new town which sprung up near Haden, after the Railroad came in. In fact the business and public buildings were moved from Haden to Tetonia. He bought a Mercantile Store which was known as the Peoples Cash Store. He also had quite a business of buying and selling hay and grain. While in business he leased the farm.

On October 2, 1915, David was married to Emma Hulet Cook, a young widow, who was living at Driggs at that time. She had a small son, Adrian. To this union eight children were born, as follows: Nancy Davida, Wright Capener, Lincoln Marlo, Clair Sylvanus, David Lawayne, Betty Jane, Emma Louise and John Phillip.

We continued to run the store for a few years but as the family began to grow we decided to sell the store and move to the farm. We expanded our operations and went into the sheep business too. There was plenty of work for all so every one was kept busy.

David was very civic minded and was interested in the growth of our town and county and especially interested in the schools and in education. He was on the school board for several years. For many years he worked for the consolidation of schools in our county, which was eventually culminated after his death.

He was Superintendent of the Tetonia Ward Y.M.M.I.A. for several years and President of the Genealogical Society, which he was very much interested in. He also enjoyed singing in the choirs and he with a quartette were often called to sing at funeral services in this vicinity.

He was very ambitious and provided well for his family. During the Christmas season of 1931 he contacted pneumonia and passed away at the L.D.S. Hospital in Idaho Falls, Jan. 4, 1932, six months before the last baby was born, leaving his wife and eight children. The older boys carried on with the farm and sheep and were very successful and his children grew up to be honorable men and women, some of them going on missions and all had good educations. They married well and all have lovely families. They are an honor to his name.