Amos Warren Hanks was born on his grandfathers farm (Rufus Fisk Hanks) on the Lake Creek Road, Pa,(note Lake Creek is is near Sugarcreek, Venango Pa)but spent most of his boyhood days during the rough and tumble days of the oil and lumber era in Sugar Lake, Venango Co., PA. and then returned with his parents to Lake Creek, PA., when he was about 21 yrs. old. On Nov. 26, 1874, he married Sara Elizabeth Brink of near Meadville. They lived on the Doan Farm in Randolph Township, then on the farm above the Sugar Lake Church known later as the Brigham Beers farm, next in Cooperstown and finally in the early 80's came back to the old farm where he took charge during the last years his parents lived, succeeded his father as owner and spent the remaining years there. He suffered a stroke that paralyzed one side, when he was about 48 yrs. old, but completely recovered. In his 83rd year, after being bedfast about 2 weeks, he was taken to Franklin Hospital and died 2 weeks later. Amos Warren Hanks was about 5'8", but had a rather heavy body and probably weighed about 165 lbs.. He had gray eyes and dark hair that was turned white in late life. Like his mother, he was the dominant member of his family. As long as I can remember, he was subject to attacks of grippe and rheumatic pains in his shoulders and back, but up to his last sickness could not be kept in bed. He always retired early and slept in his small bedroom with no ventilation in cold weather. In the morning, he was out at daybreak. He worked hard, but never late at night, built good fences, kept roofs, doors, etc. in good repair, cutting tools sharp, harness in good order, and always hung in a certain manner. He was very punctual about feeding and watering his stock. Also oiling and greasing his machinery and was strict disciplinarian of his horses and his family. Though he never inflicted corporal punishment on me, I always was afraid he would and feared him more than mother who did the whipping. The most effective punishment I ever had was when he lectured me quietly on the evils of telling lies. Father was about 35, when he joined the church and both he and mother were very strict in religious observances. They attended church and Sunday School regularly (as he was a member of the Sugar Creek United Brethren church for 44 yrs), taking all who could ride in the "cracky wagon" and the rest walked. Grace was said at meals and family worship observed twice a day. He served as Superintendent of the Sunday School and as a trustee of the church and at times taught a class. No work was done the Sabbath except to feed and care for man and beast. There was a mortgage on the farm and it was always a struggle to make ends meet. It was always a poor place for farming. Rufus Hanks had his shop and lived partly on produce. Eli depended partly on his carpenter trade, but at fathers time on the farm, the lumber, and until 1898, oil was found on Lake Creek and a Little extra money could made with a team but the oil rights were still held by S. Q. Brown and it was not until 1912 that father got back oil rights and able to pay off the mortgage. Oil production was very low at that time. During my early days as a farm boy, there was enough plain food except that meat was very scarce during the summer. In the winter we had pork and buckwheat cakes were a big part of the menu. I still like the pork grease, but have had enough buckwheat cakes. We always had warm clothing, but mostly homemade and not very elegant. One time, I remember, fathers' buying heavy material and making suits for himself, Andrew and me. We boys never wore knee trousers as other boys did, because the were considered too cold on the legs. Footwear, in the winter, were leather boots and were sometimes paid for by picking and selling chestnuts. Our school was 1.5 miles from home with plenty of snow to wade in during winter. There was a short term summer in the early days. We furnished such books as we could afford to buy. but later they were furnished by taxes. At home there was a Bible, Pilgrims Progress and " The Comfort" and the "Toledo Blade" furnished other reading matters and sometimes we visited our more affluent relatives in Randolph Twp. and brought back "Christian Advocates" and other publications. It was 2 miles to our post office at Black Ash, PA, where mail was received 3 times a week. Our house was papered with newspaper and Edith spent so much time reading, that mother put them on up-side down.. The walls of the house were 2 thickness' of chestnut boards and some of the floors were oak. There were window blinds, but not no curtains until later years. Father always opposed such innovations, but would finally accept them. Floors were bare or covered with rag rugs. There was a carpenter shop and a blacksmith's shop on the farm for taking care of our needs in such lines and shoe makers outfit for repairing shoes. The nearest railroad station was at Cochranton, 9 miles away which meant a days journey over the dusty, muddy, or frozen roads. Meadville, Titusville, and Franklin (all in western Pennsylvania) were 12 to 15 miles away. It was a great treat for us children to make these trips and still greater, when, at rare intervals, we visited our relatives at Grand Valley or other places, after the heavy farm work was done. Father chewed a great deal of tobacco. So far as I know of my ancestors, only my mother and her mother did not use tobacco.
Written by Charles Rufus Hanks (1935) Research Paper on his family. Charles Rufus Hanks is the Grandson of Eli Fisk Hanks and son of Amos Warren Hanks.

OBITUARY - Warren Hanks, 82, of Sugar Lake, died Saturday afternoon (4/29/1933) at 4:45 in the Franklin hospital where he had been a patient for 2 weeks. Surviving him are his widow, Sarah Brink Hanks and the following children: Mrs. Lucy Gibbens, of Niagara Falls; Mrs. Edith Foster of Chapmanville; Andrew Hanks at home; Mrs. Mary Khein of Reno, NV; Charles Hanks of Pittsburgh, Pa; Simeon of Cochranton, Pa; Bertha Karns of Wardens Corners. One brother, Alvin Hanks of Grand Valley, and 2 sisters, Mrs. Anna Bailey of Girard and Mrs. Mary DeWolf of Franklin, PA., also survive him. Mr. Hanks was a member of the United Brethren Church for a period of 40 years. Funeral Services in his memory will be conducted in the United Brethren Church of Sugar Lake, PA., monday afternoon at 2 o'clock by the Rev. Harvey Reigle, pastor of the church, and interment will follow in the Sugar Lake Cemetery.

Sources Burial: Oil City Derrick, Charles Rufus Hanks' Research Paper (1935)
Charles Rufus Hanks was the Son of Amos Warren Hanks.
Notes: Told to Dorothy Barnes by her mother Sara Elizabeth Gibbens Barnes (daughter of Lucy Amanda Hanks), on 8/1994 and newspaper clipping of Amos W. Hanks Obituary.

WILL of A. Warren HANKS
I, Warren Hanks, of Wayne Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania, being in sound mind, memory, and understanding do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.
First. I direct that my funeral be conducted in a manner corresponding with my estate and situation in life, and that all my just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease. As to such estate as it hath pleased God to intrust me with, I dispose of the same as follows Vis
First. I want my personal property to be sold by public sale soon after my death.
Second. I want my real estate to be sold within one year from time of my death, and the money to be divided equal between my children.
Third. I want my wife, Sarah E. Hanks, to have $300 from my estate
Fourth. I want my funeral expenses and doctor bills to be paid out of the above estate and all other expenses.
Fifth. I want Lucy A. Gibbens, Edith L. Foster, Laura A. Barrett, Andrew J. Hanks, Mary E. Khein, Charles R. Hanks, Simeon G. Hanks, and Bertha V. Karns share and share alike. And I hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint Simeon G. Hanks and Floyd Karns, executors of this my last will and testament In witness, I, Warren Hanks, the testator, have to this, my will written on one sheet of paper set my hand and seal,---------May 16, 1925. Warren Hanks Witness Mrs. Hugh Brown Hugh Brown