Bannon - Frank Andrew - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: Parke Co IN Families & History p. 152 (Paducah, Ky: Everton Publishing co),

1989

Frank Andrew Bannon was b. Oct 18, 1857 in Darke Co OH to John C. and Sarah

Bell Bannon. He had one sister, Belle Anmn. Sarah Bannon d. Dec 27, 1861

in 1863 John C. enlisted in the 120pth Reg of the uS army at Crawfordsville to serve

in the Civil War. The 120th Regt did battle at Chattanooga with Gen.

Sherman. John C. died of an illness at jO Hall Hosp in Jeffersonville in. The

orphaned children, Frank and Belle were raised by John's bro, Rev. Lewis

Bannon and his wife, Angeline. Rev. Lewis Bannon was a circuit rier minister

in Mont and Parke Co. A sa young man, Frank moved to Ks and homesteaded 120

acres. He lived ther elong enough to prove the homestead. He raised corn and

burned it as fuel. He became homesick and missed his girl friend and left

the homestead to ret. to Parke CO. He and Fanne Lee Alward were marr. April

11, 1885. They wre the parents of 4 ch: Walter Andrew; Sarah Helen; Mary

Luella and John Leslie. Mary & John d. as inf. On Aug 8, 1987, (sic probably

1897) Fanny d. ON March 31, 1899, Frank Marr. Rosetta Emiline Barker. She

had a dau, in a Icle. Frank & Ettie were the parents of: Marvin Paul;

Cliston Wayne; Merril Lex; Thelma Vance, Doria Onedia, Carrie Mildred and

Mary Lucille. For many years Frank & his sons operated a Huber steam

threshing machine. They would drive the machine form farm to farm and

thresht he grain. Ther farmer's wives would provide a dinner for the workers

and the men often spent ht enight in the farmers' barns. The machine was

very heavy and it was dangerous to cross the bridges. When they did cross a

bridge, Frank would make everyone get off and he would drive alone. The

machine has a whistle that could be heard for a long distance. THe family at

home was concerned when they knew Frank would be traveling over bridges so

he would blow the whistle twice just before he crossed and three times as

soon as he was safe. There was also a hill about a mi. from their home.

Frankw ould blow his whistle once and the ch. would run to meet him and ride

the rest of the way home on the machine. For many years the family lived ona

a farm bordering TR State Park. The ch. often were guides to the people who

becamse lost on the primitve trails. In later years, even though the house

was gone, members of the fmaily returned to pickk persimmons form the large

tree that remained. Frank travel to Little Rock, Ar to visit his sister and

her family and also to Calif to visit his son Walter & his family after they

settled there. Frank was a Mason for the most of his adult life. He d. Jan

20, 1937. His funeral was held in the Lusk Chapel and he is bur. in Poplar

Grove Cem. north of Marshall. Ettie d. May 7, 1959 and is also buried at

Poplar Grove.

In 1880 Parke Co Census Sugar Creek Twp he lives with William & Susannah Barker and dau. Lotta age 23