Vandiver Banks was among the earliest of settlers of what would be called Rock Creek Township – later changed to Hire Township. His first name is sometimes written as Vandever. Banks located there in 1836 what later would be the south-west quarter of section 30 and immediately erected a house thereon, and soon afterward purchased other land. He was successful in all his undertakings and at the time of his death had acquired considerable property. An 1871 map shows the additional land purchase in section 31.

Vandiver Banks was born in Adair County, Kentucky, April 16, 1804; a son of Vandever and Elizabeth (Walford) Banks, the former a native of Maryland, the latter was a Virginian by birth. During his early life, Vandiver worked at the carpentry trade. He was a successful farmer in Hire Township.

He was married to Loraner A. Sharpe August 31, 1826 in Kentucky. Together they had eleven children: five of whom were living in 1885 – Elizabeth W., the wife of Thomas Massie of Hancock County; Sarah M., the wife of John M. Lyon; James C., Millard T. and Job V., all residents of Hire Township

Vandiver was described as well-known throughout the county, being highly respected by all with whom he formed an acquaintance with. In the 1878 History of McDonough County, it was written that he was an influential citizen of McDonough County for over forty years and always bore a prominent part in the affairs of the county. When the Morman troubles came to a fevered head in nearby Hancock County, Banks was one of the McDonough County volunteers to push the Mormans from Nauvoo. Mr. Banks was elected captain of one of the companies and as such served through the continuance of the armed disturbance.

In 1856, he was the Whig candidate for member of the legislature and although the county was democratic, so popular was Banks that he received a majority of the votes cast, but through some error regarding a judge’s signature in Prairie City’s roll books, his opponent, George Hire, was called the winner. In 1861, Banks ran for Highway Commissioner of Hire Township. He served as a director of the one-room school of District No. 9.

Although too old to enlist in the Civil War, Vandever Banks showed his devotion to the Union by donating time and money to the cause. After the war, he volunteered to raise funds in his township to erect the soldier’s monument in Macomb to commemorate the services and sacrifices of those who had fallen in defense of our country.

The death of Vandiver Banks occurred June 26, 1876, after an illness of some six months duration, and was caused by a cancerous affliction of the stomach. Vandiver Banks was 72 years 2 months 10 days at the time of his death. He is buried in the Banks Cemetery, Hire

Township, on the land he first settled. There are many of his descendants still living in McDonough County.

This Pioneers of the Past is furnished by Lori Boyer of the McDonough County Genealogical Society, facebook.com/mcdcgs. For more Pioneers of the Past, go to https://www.mcdcgs.com/pioneers-of-the-past/