Biography - GREEN P. HANKS
By Edna McMahan Secrest
Green P. Hanks was born 8 June 1837 at Boonsboro, Cane Hill Township,
Washington County, Arkansas, one of eight children born to Nathan D. and
Martha B. (Baker) Hanks. Nathan and Martha Hanks were among the first
settlers of the State of Arkansas. G. P. grew to manhood in Northwest
Arkansas and received his education at Cane Hill College. In the fall of
1856 he moved to Illinois and was engaged in teaching until the outbreak of
the Civil War.
Cynthia Catherine Carriger, fifth child of Leonard and Sylvania (Marsh)
Carriger, was born 9 August 1835 at Patterson, Greene County, Illinois.
The 22nd of January 1854 she was married to William Henry Hanks, in Greene
County, Illinois. He was a son of Greene County pioneers, Thomas and
Elizabeth Funderbrink Hanks and was born ca 5 October 1828. William died 26
June 1855, 26 years, 8 months and 26 days old, and is buried at the
Patterson Cemetery, Patterson, Greene County, Illinois. His infant daughter,
Lucretia, and wife, Cynthia, survived him.
After the death of William, Cynthia married Green P. Hanks in Greene County,
Illinois, 5 November 1856. To this union was born, 28 August 1858, one son,
Thomas W. Hanks. Two years later, on 2 December 1850, Cynthia Catherine
(Carriger) Hanks died and was buried beside her first husband, William Henry
Hanks, in Patterson Cemetery, Patterson, Greene County, Illinois.
After the death of Cynthia, Green P. married Nancy A. Breeding, 23 January
1861, in Greene County, Illinois. They were the parents of five children:
Marvin H., born January 1862, Wilbur G., born 28 June 1867 (68), Melvin H.,
born 5 February 1869 (70), Virgil Nathan or Nathan Virgil born 14 October
1871 (72), and Annie born 10 March 1875. Marvin H., Melvin H., and Annie
were deceased prior to April 1915.
Green P. enlisted 28 December 1861 at Carrollton, Greene County, Illinois as
a Private in Co. A, 61st Regt. Illinois Infantry Volunteers for three years.
He again enlisted 5 January 1864 as a veteran volunteer and was discharged 9
August 1865 at Frank, Tennessee as 1st Sgt to accept promotion to Captain.
Green stated he was a patient in the Regiment Hospital and the Good
Samaritan Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri from June to August 1862 due to an
injury to his left hip and leg which he sustained at the Battle of Shiloh,
Mississippi about 6 April 1862. Hospital records do not confirm this
statement although it was acknowledged the hospital records were not
complete. Discharge from service took place 8 September 1865 at Nashville,
Tennessee. At the time of his death Green was receiving a pension of $90.00
a month based on his military experiences.
In October 1866 Green P. and his family were living in Upper Alton, Illinois
where he was again teaching school. A short time had been spent in Bethalto,
Illinois teaching at a smaller school before the move to Alton, Madison
County, Illinois. At the finish of the Civil War Green began the study of
theology and became an ordained minister in 1869.
Lucretia Hanks apparently was not raised by her stepfather although she was
still living in 1873 when she signed receipts for her share of her
grandfather’s, Leonard Carriger, estate.
Nancy A. Breeding Hanks died in March of 1875 at Litchfield, Illinois and in
July of 1875 Green P. Hanks married Elizabeth A. Buston. The 23rd of
December 1886, Green P. and Elizabeth were divorced at Hillsboro, Montgomery
County, Illinois. They had no children. G. P. returned to Washington County,
Arkansas around 1886 where he remained the rest of his life.
In Johnson, Washington County, Arkansas he married 26 February 1888, Francis
M. Gault. Frances was born in Bedford County, Tennessee and later lived in
Arkansas. She married Josiah Fears, 24 April 1862. Josiah died 26 January
1885 at Cedarville, Crawford County, Arkansas. He had served as a Corporal
in Co. A, First Arkansas Cavalry, during the Civil War. Green and Fannie did
not have any children.
The 7th of June 1929, Green P. Hanks died at Johnson, Washington County,
Arkansas. He is buried at Shady Grove Cemetery in Springdale, Washington
County, Arkansas.
Source of Information:
Leonard and Sylvania Marsh Carriger Bible
Thomas and Elizabeth Hanks Bible record
Greene County, Illinois Marriage Records
National Archives File SC 815-066-Green P. Hanks
Will of Leonard Carriger and Probate File of Wm. H. Hanks
Goodspeed’s 1889 History of Washington County, Arkansas
Transcribed 15 Nov 2002 by Carol S. VanValkenburgh
