Henry & Martha Bankston

This is a copy of a page from the family bible of Henry b 1827 and Martha McDonald b 1836 Bankston. (Click to enlarge) It is scanned from a xerox copy of an old photograph, which has left it difficult to read. I have not gone further back in my Bankston research than Henry. However, I have it in a note from a contributor his father was unknown, but had brothers; William, Joe and Riley. She said they were from Atlanta, GA. This is undocumented, but given for the researcher's advantage.

I'm not yet sure exactly when Henry and Martha first arrived in AR from GA. It is suspect they went to TX before settling in Bright Star AR. and that crossing over into Texas was a continual happening. Although they would appear settled by seeing census records, the letter below, written Christmas Day, 1863 would indicate differently. We do know, from land records, that Henry and Martha were in AR by 1859. They were listed on the 1860, 1870 and 1880 Census for Miller County, AR. (listings found on Bankston and Site Index pages)

Martha Jane McDonald was born to James and Sarie Hightower McDonald of Georgia. Sarie (Sarah) must have died while Martha and siblings were relatively young. John married again, and had at least one more child. You'll find more on them on the McDonald Page.

Hard Winter in Coryell County Texas 1863

By far, the document which lends the most to the personalization of this family is the following letter, transcribed and given to me by John McClure. It is interesting to note Lula Bankston was born Oct. 23, 1863, and in Texas. She was probably born in the conditions related here in this letter. Also December 15th 1862 had brought the loss of a child, Ida Lithonia, in Bright Star, AR. I would imagine this is the "little grave" she makes reference to at the end of the letter.

See John McClure's review of the names in the "old letter" (below) linked HERE

Coryell County Texas Dec. 25, 1863

Dear Sister Amanda,
As I have heard from you all one more time I will write again. We received two letters a few days ago, one from you and one from Turk. They were gladly received. You don't know how proud it makes us feel to hear from you all. The last word ma spoke to me was not to forget her. I have not nor I don't expect two. but I am afraid she will forget me. I know ma can't write but she could have letters wrote to me in her name. tell ma she feels near to me whether I do to her or not. she first took the place of our mother and now she is in the place of father and mother and now unless she casts me plum away I will stick to her. she is to near I think. Lese has intirely forgotten me. she wont write to me no not even one word. I reckon the flu is over with her by this time. I would like to know. my Sister dont take trouble to heart so if you can help it. this world is nothing but a world of trouble no how at it's best but it is worse now than common for it is tore all to smash and I am afraid it never will be mended. trouble is upon us and no way to get out of it but I hope it will prove good for us. it grieves me to think that slink will have the raising of my brothers child. I think she has at last showed what she is by marrying one of the lowest of God creation and just to think that Jim Salems has got to be over Alonzo. it hurts to the bottom. Henry thinks she will get tired of Alonzo by the time we get there and she will give him to us. I hope so anyhow. Henry has been trying two or three weeks to buy some oxens but has faild so far but he is going to keep trying. if he had plenty of money he could buy but he has not the money. he has been trying to trade bull for oxens. if we keep well we will start home as soon as we get a team. it makes my heart leap to think about going home again but if I am disapointed this time I will be left here by myself for the citizens of the frontier have got to organize into companies and go into the frontier service. the soldiers that are on the frontier have got to go into the confederate service. I am weaving me a tent cloth. I want to get it out next week. then I want to begin to fix up to start home but oh I am afraid to flatter myself with them thoughts to much for fear they will all be throwed. if I knowed would get off and when I would write for ma to have us something good to eat. we are living on nothing but cornbread and barley coffee. you might think I am telling a story but it is the truth. we are not able to buy meal the beeves are to poor to eat and pork is one dollar per pound. about two thirds of the stock will die out this winter. there is the poorest cows here that I ever saw in my life with any exception. it has never rained since here since we have been here. there has been a few sprinkles and plenty of snow and sleat. we had a snow here about two weeks ago at night. morning every thing in the house was covered over an inch beds and any and Henry gone from home which is common. I stay by myself day and night but I cant get use to it. but if we can all get home alive and well I will try to forget the past. my pen is plum wore out. I will have to quit. if we have to stay here I am afraid we will have to perish and go naked besides. we are very near to the thing now. I like to forgot to tell you that we lived on snow for five days. we never had one bit of water only the snow. we had to melt it and use it. we are hauling water 1 112. it is a hard matter to get it that close. we have to make one barrel do us a week. you know that is a scanty allowance but it is so scarce that we are oblige to make it do. I wrote to ma a few weeks back and allowed to send it hand but I got disapointed and I will put this letter in the same envelope. I will close by saying I want to see you all.

so good by
M L Bankston

(in the margin of the letter) - don T forget that little grave. (to see the "little grave" - click HERE)

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Explanation about Jim Salems (Sams) mentioned in the above letter.

I heard from the g granddaughter of James K Polk Sams and Sarah Yates and was fascinated with her findings about the remarks and opinions made by Martha to her sister, Amanda. She wrote:

"I have read the letter you mentioned. I do not know anything for sure, but maybe I can shed a little light on her comment about Jim "Salems". James K was a member of Chenault's Cavalary. He joined in January of 1863 at Bardstown KY. The first of July of 1863, during Morgan's raids, there were heavy losses and several officers including Chenault were killed. Morgan pulled back to recoup before going into Ohio and Indiana. Sometime around the 7th of July they were camped by Bardstown. On the 17th or 18th of July most of the rest of the regiment was captured or killed. They were reformed in 1864. There is no record of James K as a deserter, nor is there a record of a discharge. Evidently the writer of the letter thought he had sold out (Sale em) the confederacy, by not continuing to fight. Perhaps the worst crime that he committed was to be alive when her brother had died. Her pain was apparent in the way she wrote the letter. What do you think? Karen "

Karen sent me the following link for documentation

Morgan's Indiana-Ohio Raid, account by Maj. James B. McCreary

Henry and Martha McDonald Bankston had twelve children.
(listings and links below)

Anna Laura (aka Laura Ann) m Newton Cothern

Photo taken from an old tintype at a young age.
Transcription of old letter informing of her death.
Stories of her family, and what happened to them.

Julia Belle,

(Lizzie) Ella, - If you look at the family bible page, the handwritten"Lizzie" looks just like "Tirsie".

Photo taken from an old Pioneer Cookbook
Remedies and soap recipe from same book..

Theophalus Perrie

Ida Lithonia - Martha makes reference to this infants grave in the letter of 1963. She died less than a year old in Macedonian Cemetery, Bright Star, AR 1862

Lula Virginia -

A photo of Lula at a young age.
Several photos of Lula's children as adults.

William Henry

Carrie Jane -

Old family photo of Carrie's family, and another of Carrie at an older age.

Walter Prentice

Pearly Evadner -Pearlie never married.

Jimmie Bentley- died less than two years old, and is buried in the Macedonian Cemetery, Bright Star, AR 1878.

Minnie Ola