Mary E. Shanks (1857 - 1926)

Ancestors

Biography

This biography is a rough draft. It was auto-generated by a GEDCOM import and needs to be edited.

Birth

Birth:

Date: 26 FEB 1857^[1]

Death

Death:

Date: 31 MAR 1926^[2]

User ID

User ID: 9F1C30792D084AACA7F6313D7897014CF6F9

Data Changed

Data Changed:

Date: 30 MAR 2011

Prior to import, this record was last changed 30 MAR 2011.

Sources

• WikiTree profile Shanks-177 created through the import of Reinhardt20Sep11.ged on Sep 21, 2011 by Deborah Reinhardt. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Deborah and others.

• Source: S340 Abbreviation: Descendants of Jacob Miller Generation 4 Title: Stephan Kent Miller, Family Tree Maker, Descendants of Jospeh Miller (http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/i/l/Stephen-Kent-Miller/GENE7-0005.html : accessed ), . Subsequent Source Citation Format: Miller, Descendants of Jospeh Miller, . BIBL Miller, Stephan Kent. Family Tree Maker. Descendants of Jospeh Miller. http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/i/l/Stephen-Kent-Miller/GENE7-0005.html : . Text: Descendants of Jacob Miller CONT CONT Generation No. 4 CONT CONT      35. Absolem4 Shanks (Mary Martha3 Miller, Absalom2, Jacob1) was born 1831 in Kentucky, and died October 18, 1915 in No. 7 Cemetery, Carrier Mills, Illinois. He married Martha Fry. She was born June 19, 1836 in Tennessee, and died June 25, 1900 in Carrier Mills, Illinois. CONT CONT More About Martha Fry: CONT Burial: No. 7 Cemetery CONT       CONT Children of Absolem Shanks and Martha Fry are: CONT   105 i.   Mary E.5 Shanks, born February 26, 1857; died March 31, 19264. CONT   106 ii.   Jacob A. Shanks, born January 09, 1859; died June 20, 1879 in No. 7 Cemetery, Carrier Mills, Illinois. CONT CONT CONT      36. Sarah4 Shanks (Mary Martha3 Miller, Absalom2, Jacob1) was born 1834 in Illinois. She married William Tolbert October 14, 1854 in Saline Co, Illinois. He was born 1835 in Illinois. CONT CONT Notes for William Tolbert: CONT Have two dates for the birth of William Tolbert 1883 and 1835 CONT       CONT Children of Sarah Shanks and William Tolbert are: CONT   107 i.   Lucinda J5 Tolbert, born 1855. CONT   108 ii.   Martha Ann Tolbert, born August 21, 1858. CONT   109 iii.   James Tolbert, born 1862. CONT   110 iv.   Elizabeth Tolbert, born 1866. CONT + 111 v.   Mary R Tolbert, born October 28, 1869 in Saline County, Illinois; died April 12, 1946 in Marion, Illinois. CONT CONT CONT      55. Apcelia4 Miller (John3, Absalom2, Jacob1) was born 1850. She married (1) Marion Parks, son of John Parks and Jerusha Tanner. He was born 1843, and died November 13, 1912 in Illinois. She married (2) Thomas B. Fielding November 27, 1870 in Illinois. CONT CONT More About Marion Parks: CONT Fact 1: This was Marions 3rd marriage CONT Fact 2: Buried at Providence Cemetery CONT       CONT Children of Apcelia Miller and Thomas Fielding are: CONT   112 i.   Infant Son5 Fielding. CONT  More About Infant Son Fielding: CONT Fact 1: Buried at #7 (South America Cemetary CONT CONT CONT   113 ii.   Martha Ella Fielding, born 1883. CONT CONT CONT      61. Briant4 Miller (James3, Absalom2, Jacob1) was born December 18, 1831, and died February 22, 1866 in Illinois. He married Martha Russell October 05, 1854, daughter of David Russell and Mary Harris. She was born December 31, 1841, and died December 18, 1888 in Illinois. CONT CONT Notes for Briant Miller: CONT Briant is buried at New Salem Cemetery. CONT CONT Notes for Martha Russell: CONT Martha is buried a Salem Cemetery CONT       CONT Children of Briant Miller and Martha Russell are: CONT   114 i.   James Bailey5 Miller, born May 13, 1856. CONT + 115 ii.   John Marshall Miller, born May 31, 1861; died January 17, 1931 in No. 7 Cemetery, Carrier Mills, Illinois. CONT   116 iii.   Elizabeth Miller, born 1862. CONT   117 iv.   Mira Miller, born 1863. CONT CONT CONT      62. Mary Ann4 Miller (James3, Absalom2, Jacob1) was born February 12, 1832 in Gallatin County, Illinois, and died May 07, 1884 in Saline County, Illinois. She married Richard Thompson. CONT CONT Notes for Mary Ann Miller: CONT Note Saline County later broke off from Gallatin in the 1840's. Mary is Buried at South America Cemetery next to her daughter Julia A. Thorton. CONT CONT Notes for Richard Thompson: CONT Company G 31st Illinois Infantry CONT Name CONT            Rank            Residence     Date of Muster          Comment CONT CONT THOMPSON, Richard      Private          Saline Co.     18 Sept 1861 Killed at Fort Donelson 15 Feb 1862 CONT CONT CONT CONT CONT                 31st Illinois Infantry CONT                 Regiment History CONT CONT CONT CONT CONT CONT CONT                 Adjutant General's Report CONT CONT The 31st Regiment of the Illinois Infantry, except Companies I and K, was mainly composed of men from the southern part of the state, the CONT counties of Williamson, Perry, Franklin, Jackson, Johnson, Saline and Union furnishing the larger number. Its rendezvous was Camp Dunlap, Jacksonville, Illinois; but it was organized at Cairo by John A. Logan, and was there mustered into the service by Captain Pitcher, U.S.A., on the 18th of September 1861, and went into camp of instruction in the brigade of General McClernand. CONT CONT With less than two months' drill, the regiment took part in the battle of Belmont, Missouri on November 7, 1861, cutting its way into the CONT enemy's camp, and with equal valor, but less hazard, cutting its way out again. On the 7th of February 1862, the regiment was at Fort Henry, Tennessee; and after emerging from the muddy environments of that stronghold, it traversed the hills of, and there amid winter snows, on the 15th of the same month, it lost 260 men killed and wounded -- the regiment having performed in this engagement the difficult evolution of a change of front to rear on tenth company, in the heat of battle, among tangled brush and on uneven ground. From Donelson the regiment was transported by steamer to Shiloh, Tennessee, and thence it moved towards Corinth, Mississippi, with the main body of the army, and reached that place only to find it evacuated by the enemy. From Corinth the 31st marched to Jackson, Tennessee, and the summer of 1862 was spent in guarding railroads, skirmishing in the country of the Forked Deer River, and scouting in the direction of Memphis, to Brownsville CONT and beyond. Ordered to the support of General Rosecrans at Corinth, the regiment reached that place in time to follow the retreating foe to CONT Ripley, Mississippi, where the men fed on fresh pork, without salt or crackers or coffee. On this expedition it was engaged in the skirmishes of Chewalla and Tuscumbia, ending the 6th of October, 1862. The regiment was with Grant in the first campaign against Vicksburg, sometimes called the Yokona expedition, and passed through Holly Springs to Coldwater, at which place the men, destitute of rations in consequence of the capture and destruction of supplies at Holly Springs by the enemy, showed their characteristic adaptability by carrying out at once the suggestion of Logan to convert the timber into ashes, and by means of the ashes, the corn of the surrounding country into hominy. CONT CONT Upon the termination of this campaign, the regiment, with the army under Grant, was transferred to a new field, that of the operations which CONT finally resulted in the downfall of Vicksburg. On the 15th of January 1863, it set out for Lagrange, Tennessee, and thence went to Memphis by way of Colliersville. Leaving Memphis March 10, 1863, it embarked for Lake Providence, Louisiana; and after assisting in the attempts to open a route by water to a point below Vicksburg, it moved upon abandonment of these attempts to Miliken's Bend and thence to Wanesborough. Having crossed the Mississippi below Grand Gulf, April 30, 1863, the next day the regiment, without waiting for rations, though hungry and weary enough, hurried forward to the support of the comrades then engaged in battle at Thompson's Hill, near Port Gibson, and quickly forming on McClernand's left, under the eyes of Generals Grant and Logan, it moved upon the right wing of the enemy at the charge step, and routing him completely, and helping to secure a speedy victory. Governor Yates, in civilian garb of swallow-tail coat and high-shirt collar, and overflowing with enthusiasm and patriotism, witnessed this charge. After crossing the Bayou Pierre, the men of the 31st again met and dispersed their foes at Infram heights, May 3, 1863, and pushed on to Raymond, where on the 12th the regiment hurled from its front the fragments of a brigade which the enemy had thrown against the advance of Grant. Moving onward, in almost ceaseless march, it took part in the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, May 14,1863 and thence at midnight on the 15th, through drenching rain, it marched toward Vicksburg to meet the enemy anew. About ten o'clock in the morning of the 16th the men spread their cartridges to dry in the sun, in an old field about five miles from Champion Hills, from which latter point was soon heard the sound of battle. The men hastily gathered up their ammunition and seized their muskets, and the regiment followed the head of the column at double-quick, effecting a formation with its brigade on the right of our embattledline, where it rested for a moment, the men lying on their faces while the hostile shells whistled and shrieked and exploded above them. At the command "attention" the line stood erect, with bayonets fixed; the Brigade commander, General John E. Smith, gave the word; McPherson said with a smile, "give'em Jesse!" and Logan shouted "remember the blood of your mammies! give'em hell!" and then the brigade sprang forward,broke and routed the two column formation over which waved the Confederate flag, captured the opposing battery, turned its guns upon the retreating enemy, and took as many prisoners as there were men in the charging brigade. In this encounter there was crossing of bayonets andfighting hand to hand. Sergeant Wick, of Company B, used his bayonet upon his foe, and Sergeant Hendrickson, of Company C, clubbed his musket in a duel with one of the men in gray. CONT CONT From this point the regiment, with the main army, followed the retreating enemy to his entrenched lines at Vicksburg, where it took part in the bloody assaults of the 19th and 22nd of May; its gallant Lt. Colonel Reece meeting death by the explosion of a grenade while planting theregimental colors upon the ramparts. Here the flag received 153 bullets, and the staff was shot asunder in four places. CONT CONT During the siege the regiment took a prominent part in the operations against Fort Hill; and when the Fort was blown up on the 25th of June bythe explosion of a mine beneath it, there came a time that tested the stuff the men were made of. Here in the night in that crater remembered as the "slaughter pen," the soldiers fighting by reliefs, and within an armslength of the enemy -- some had their muskets snatched from their hands --under a shower of grenades and of shells lighted by port-fires, while the voices of Pearson, Goddard, Mooningham and others, rising at times above the terrific din of combat, cheered on their men -- were deeds of valor performed which would adorn the heroic page. CONT CONT On the morning of July 4, 1863, the place of honor having been assigned to the brigade, the 31st marched proudly across the rents and chasms of Fort Hill into Vicksburg. CONT CONT Having made the expedition to Monroe, Louisiana under General Stephenson, the regiment went into camp at Black River, Mississippi, the scene of Lawler's splendid victory, and here on the 5th of January 1864, three-fourths of the men again enlisted in the service. That night the men, formed in line, with lighted candles held in the shanks of their bayonets, marched to the quarters of General Force, commanding the brigade, who appeared before his tent, and catching the splendor from the candles full in his face, cried out with enthusiasm, "Three cheers for the 31st!" But the boys were not going to cheer for themselves and there were no others present to do it, so they stood in their ranks, silent with a military air, and cheered not nor stirred; whereupon the General shouted, "Cheer yourselves, boys! Hip, hip!" and then the cheers were given with a will, followed by a "tiger" for the Union, and three groans for the Confederacy. CONT CONT The regiment was with General Sherman in the campaign against Meridian, Mississippi, after which the re-enlisted men -- the "veterans" -- tooktheir furloughs, starting for home the 19th of March, 1864. Having returned to the front, by way of Cairo, the regiment camped from the 6th tothe 15th of May at Clinton on the Tennessee River, and thence marching by way of Rome, Georgia, sometimes collecting, herding and driving beef cattle, and sometimes skirmishing with the enemy, it joined Sherman's army at Ackworth Station. It was in the skirmish at Big Shanty, and at Brush Mountain -- the assault upon Kenesaw on June 27, 1864; also in the battles around Atlanta, on the 21st, 22nd and 28th of July, of which that on the 22nd was the most terrible, the men fighting sometimes on one side of the earthworks, sometimes on the other. The regiment was also engaged in the battles of Lovejoy Station and Jonesborough, and was with Sherman in the mock pursuit of Hood upon his invasion of Tennessee. Retracing its steps, the regiment reached Atlanta on the 13th of November, and on the 15th it there began with Sherman the triumphant march to the sea, and on it marched, with that magnificent army, cutting roads through tangled forests, bridging streams for the passage of the troops, tearing up railroad tracks, twisting the rails as "crooked as rams' horns," discovering and devouring sweet potatoes and other provender, surging over the country "from Atlanta to the sea, shouting the battle cry of freedom," and proceeding by way of Millen, it arrived the 10th of December 1864 at Savannah. Here the regiment went into camp on the rice plantation of Dr. Owen, where the rice was consumed for food, the husks being first beaten off by means of wooden mortars and pestles appropriated from the slave quarters nearby. One of the incidents of the day was the encountering of a battery mounted on a flat car, pushed along the railroad by a locomotive. CONT CONT On the 4th of January 1865, the 31st bade farewell to Savannah, and shipped on the steamer Harvest Moon, and after the novel experience and sights of a sea voyage, disembarked at Beaufort, South Carolina, where it remained, enjoying the luxury of fresh oysters at low prices, until the 13th. To this succeeded some skirmishing at Fort Pocotaligo -- "Poke'em-till-they-go," as the men called it -- which was evacuated by the enemy. On the 30th of January, the march began through the Carolinas, by way of Salkahatchie, Orangeburg, -- which was captured after some fighting by the regiment's skirmishers -- Columbia -- scourged by destroying flames -- Winsborough, Cheraw, Fayetteville -- captured by the foragers -- and Bentonville -- scenes of the last great struggle of Johnson's army, and the regiment came out of the swamps, out of the pine forests, "out of the wilderness," the men ragged, dirty, many of them barefooted, to Goldsborough, North Carolina, where it arrived the 24th of March 1865, and where letters from home and news from the world were received. These and the prospects of nearing the end were cheering and refreshing to the men who for 54 days had been without communication with home or the world, and were weary with long marching and fighting. CONT CONT On the 14th of April 1865, the regiment was with the army at Raleigh, North Carolina. Signs of the ruin of the Confederacy and the dispersion of its armed forces were apparent on every hand. Soon came the surrender of Johnson's army -- the only force which could oppose the onward march of the Union troops to Richmond, and the regiment formed part of the host to which that army surrendered. CONT CONT On the 9th of May, the regiment was a t Richmond; on the 19th at Alexandria; and on the 24th of May, with faded and tattered uniforms, but CONT with martial step and bearing, in column of company, eyes front, it marched through the principle avenues of the Capital, in that grand review of the returning armies in presence of the great leaders, civil and military, of the Republic -- the most magnificent and imposing spectacle ever witnessed by the city of Washington. The end had been attained! CONT CONT Soon afterwards the regiment was moved to Louisville, Kentucky, arriving at that place on the 11th of June, where it was assigned to CONT provost-guard duty. On the 19th of July 1865, it was mustered out of the service, by Lt. Aug. P. Noyes, A.C.M., Third Division, 17th Corps. CONT It was then moved to Springfield, Illinois, where it arrived on the 23rd of July; and there on the 31st of the same month, the men received their final discharge, and separated for their homes -- those who were left of them. CONT CONT At the time of discharge there were present 25 officers and 677 enlisted men. When first organized, the regiment numbered 1, 130 men. It had recruited 700. The casualties, including men discharged before final muster-out, amounted to 1, 128. In the course of its existence, the regiment CONT had been commanded by four Colonels, and had had five Lt. Colonels and six Majors. Of the 25 officers discharged at final muster-out, all CONT save the chaplain, had risen from the ranks. CONT CONT In the campaigns of Sherman, this regiment marched 2, 076 miles. This part of its history is included in that of the brigade to which it belonged -- the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Corps, Army of Tennessee. The regiment marched 2000 miles under Grant, and on expeditions othe rthan those of Sherman. It served in the hostile states of Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Before January 1, 1863, the history of the regiment is comprised in that of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, Reserve Army of Tennessee. CONT CONT Always efficiently commanded, and evincing soldierly qualities in its first battle, the regiment became in the days of its "veteran" existence one of the best-drilled in the service. It was, while encamped at Black River, Mississippi after the Vicksburg campaigns, that the regiment under the skillful management of Lt. Colonel Pearson, attained that high degree of discipline and proficiency in drill for which it became known, and towards which it had been directed under Logan and White, in the earlier days of the war. The latter fell at Donelson and deserved the title "the bravest of the brave." CONT CONT Colonel Pearson had seen service under General Prentiss before the organization of this regiment, and early showed an aptitude for tactics and drill which made him a favorite with the field and staff, while his soldierly qualities displayed at Henry and Donelson endeared him to the rank and file. Hence he rose rapidly from the ranks, being promoted to Commissary Sgt. March 1, 1862; to Adjutant May 16, 1862; to Major, February 4, 1863, by the unanimous vote of the officers; to Lt. Colonel July 1, 1863; and to Colonel September 26, 1864. On the 13th of March 1865, he was breveted Brigadier General of the Volunteers, for gallantry during the war. CONT CONT Many of the officers and soldiers of the regiment deserve special mention and lasting remembrance, but the space allotted forbids a more CONT extended account. To some of the men were awarded medals for gallantry; among them Sgt. George W. White of Company C who, severely wounded in the battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, resolutely and persistently refused to be carried to the rear. CONT CONT The fighting qualities of this regiment were displayed in 14 battles and 25 skirmishes of various degrees of importance. It witnessed the CONT surrender of Buckner and the garrison at Donelson, the capitulation of Pemberton and his army at Vicksburg, the humiliation of Johnson and his force at Bentonville, and their final surrender near Raleigh. And a brilliant gem in its crown of glory is the fact of its organization as a "veteran" regiment, at a time when the Union cause stood so much in need of trained and tried soldiers to complete the overthrow of armed rebellion, and to establish upon the ruins of anarchy and slavery "a government of the people, by the people and for the people." CONT CONT Typed by Angela Place CONT       CONT Children of Mary Miller and Richard Thompson are: CONT   118 i.   Bryant5 Thompson, born November 13, 1851. CONT   119 ii.   Margaret Thompson, born March 14, 1853. CONT   120 iii.   John W. Thompson, born March 16, 1855. CONT + 121 iv.   Julia Thompson, born November 12, 1856; died 1952 in South America, Saline County Illinois. CONT   122 v.   Mary A. Thompson, born May 10, 1858. CONT   123 vi.   James Thompson, born November 25, 1860. TMPLT TID 197 FIELD Name: Author VALUE Stephan Kent Miller FIELD Name: CreatorOwner VALUE Family Tree Maker FIELD Name: WebsiteTitle VALUE Descendants of Jospeh Miller FIELD Name: URL VALUE http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/m/i/l/Stephen-Kent-Miller/GENE7-0005.html Page: accessed; 30 March 2011; Descendants of Jacob Miller TMPLT FIELD Name: AccessType VALUE accessed FIELD Name: AccessDate VALUE 30 March 2011 FIELD Name: ItemOfInterest VALUE Descendants of Jacob Miller

1. ↑ Source: #S340 Page: accessed; 30 March 2011; Descendants of Jacob Miller TMPLT FIELD Name: AccessType VALUE accessed FIELD Name: AccessDate VALUE 30 March 2011 FIELD Name: ItemOfInterest VALUE Descendants of Jacob Miller
2. ↑ Source: #S340 Page: accessed; 30 March 2011; Descendants of Jacob Miller TMPLT FIELD Name: AccessType VALUE accessed FIELD Name: AccessDate VALUE 30 March 2011 FIELD Name: ItemOfInterest VALUE Descendants of Jacob Miller