William Cyrus Banta (1839 - 1902)

Born 31 Aug 1839 in Belleville, Hendricks, Indiana, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (May) Banta — married 25 Aug 1861 in Martinsville, Indiana

Descendants

Died 12 Jun 1902 at age 62 in Indiana, United States

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Biography

William was born in 1839.

William passed away in 1902.^[1]

Research Notes

Counties of Morgan, Monroe and Brown, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. Charles Blanchard, Editor. Chicago: F. A. Battey & Co., Publishers, 1884

MORGAN COUNTY ADAMS TOWNSHIP PAGE 295

COL. WILLIAM C. BANTA, M. D., was born in Hendricks County, Ind., August 31, 1839, and is one of ten children born to Cornelius and Rebecca(Eckles) Banta; both natives of Kentucky. The ancestors of the former were of Italian and Scotch extraction. Cornelius Banta came to Madison County, Ind., at a date prior to the organization of the State. After a few years, he removed to what was known as the Brick Tavern, near Stilesville, Hendricks Co., Ind. His place was a regular stopping place for stagecoaches over the old National pike, running between St. Louis and Cincinnati. In 1838, he removed to Belleville, where he remained until 1850, when he removed to Whitley County, Ind., where he bought a farm and resided two years; then returned to Belleville, where he again engaged in mercan- tile pursuits and resided until his death, which occurred in 1857. Mr. Banta and wife were members of the Christian Church. William C. Banta, the subject, received a good common school and academic education, and was employed in his father's store until the latter's death, after which the support of the family devolved upon him. When in his eighteenth year, he commenced teaching school and studying medicine under the instruction of Drs. Moor and Kennedy, of Belleville. In April, 1861, he resigned his school, went to Indianapolis and enrolled in Company A, Seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, the first Indiana regiment recruited for the three months' service. They participated in the battle of Philippi. At the close of the three months' service, in August, 1861, Col Banta reorganized and filled up his company, A, from seventy to one hundred men, in a day and night, for the three years'service, and was chosen Captain. After about one year, he was promoted to Major, and soon after to Lieutenant Colonel. The Colonel of the regiment,I. G. Grover, was captured in the battle of the Wilderness, after which Col. Banta commanded until the regiment was mustered out. He also, for a short time, commanded the First Brigade, of the First Division, of the First Army Corps. Col. Banta participated in all the principal battles in which the Armies of West Virginia and the Potomac were engaged to the fall of 1864. In 1862, at the battle of Port Republic he was severely wounded in the right shoulder by a shell, and was mustered out with his regiment at Indianapolis, in September, 1864. He then engaged in the drug trade at Belleville, Ind. and continued the same some five years; he also resumed his medical studies. In the spring of 1870, he graduated from "The Indiana Medical College," at Indianapolis, and in June of the same year came to Eminence, Morgan Co., Ind., where he has since practiced his profession with excellent success. He was married, August 25, 1861, to Elizabeth May, a native of Montgomery County, Ind. Eight children, three sons and five daughters, blessed their union, all of whom are yet living. The Doctor and wife are members of the Christian Church. He is a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and has been a member of the Grand Lodge of the State in both orders. In politics, Col. Banta is a stanch Republican, and is one of the leading and representative men of the county.

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial 32374396

• "United States Deceased Physician File (AMA), 1864-1968", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:WF33-CTZM : 16 September 2019), William C Banta, 1902.
• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHVX-GY8 : 4 April 2020), William C Banta in household of Cornelieus Banta, Whitley county, part of, Whitley, Indiana, United States; citing family 670, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KDPR-D38 : 13 March 2018), William C Banta, 1885.