Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Biographical History of Cherokee County, Iowa W. S. Dunbar & Co., Chigago - 1889 [page 382-383] GEORGE W. BANISTER, a well-known pioneer of Cherokee County, settled there June 17, 1856. He was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, September 12, 1834, and is a son of NATHAN and LUCRETIA (LILLEY) BANISTER; the father was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, and descended from Scotch ancestors; the mother was a native of Vermont. They were married in the State of New York, and resided in Genesee County until about the year 1830, when they removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio. GEORGE W. was ten years of age when his parents moved to McHenry County, Illinois; there they remained until 1852, when they went to Dubuque, Iowa, and thence they removed to Hardin County, Iowa. NATHAN BANISTER died in 1859, while making a visit to Cherokee County; his wife had died ten years before, in 1849. Mr. BANISTER was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and received his education in the common schools. On coming to the county in 1856 he pre-empted 160 acres of land where he now resides, owning in all 480 acres, a very desirable farm. In those early days Cherokee County people did their trading in Sioux City, and their milling at Fort Dodge or Panora, Iowa, making the trip with ox-teams. The only men now residing in the county who came in 1856 are: G. W. LEBOURVEAU, C. CORBETT, S. PARKHURST, J. A. BROWN and ALBERT PHIPPS. It is nearly impossible for one who has never experienced pioneer life to realize how many and how great were the privations and hardships endured by these early settlers. At the call for men to defend this nation's flag, Mr. BANISTER enlisted October 1, 1862, in the 6th Cavalry, Company E. His regiment saw active service on the Western frontier, and was engaged in battle against hostile Indians at Whitestone Hills, Kildeer Mountains, and the Bad Lands of Dakota. He was honorably discharged in October, 1865, and returned to his home. Mr. BANISTER has figured prominently in the politics of his county; he was elected judge in 1867, and served two years; he filled the office of Sheriff very acceptably for two terms, and has also been coroner of the county. The people of his own township have shown the confidence they repose in him to fill many of the township offices. He has always been a Republican, and has taken an active interest in the success of his party. Mr. BANISTER was married in Hardin County, Iowa, October 7, 1856, to Miss MARGARET ALLISON, a daughter of GEORGE and FRANCES (WARNER) ALLISON, who was born and reared in Woodford County, Illinois. Her parents were natives of Ohio and Virginia, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. BANISTER have had born to them six children: EUGENE A., who works the home farm; TRIPHENA E., wife of W. M. LITTLE; NETTIE, a successful teacher, who was educated at Ames, Iowa; GEORGE DWIGHT, CHARLES ALLISON and WELLINGTON. With the exception of three years Mr. BANISTER has resided upon his homestead since coming to Cherokee. During the three years mentioned he lived in Cherokee, and was engaged in operating a saw-mill. He has done his share in building up the county, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held. ===========================================================================