My Genealogy Hound

HENRY P. BANNING is a native of Ohio, and was born at Chillicothe September 28, 1835. His father was a native of Ohio, while his mother was born in Pennsylvania. The former died in 1889, and the latter in 1846. Mr. Banning was seventeen years of age when he went from Ohio to Indiana, where he engaged in farming for about five years. He then emigrated to Des Moines, Iowa, and was married in Polk county, October 27, 1855, removing immediately to Story county.

In the fall of 1879 Mr. Banning came to Nebraska, settling in Phelps county. He took a homestead and built a sod house, but about the time he got moved into his new house a terrible prairie fire swept over the county and destroyed everything he had. Being thus entirely burnt out he was obliged to spend the winter in Harlan county.

Twelve children have been born to Mr. Banning, viz. — Sarah J. (deceased), John H. (deceased), Vince, George and Lizzie (twins), Emma, Charles, Thomas, Alfred, Ada, Nettie and Mattie. Mr. Banning has moved to Loomis, where he has just erected a neat frame dwelling, but he still owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land south of the town. He has a splendid war record, having enlisted, July 28, 1862, in the Twenty-third Iowa infantry, Company A. The first engagement he participated in was at Magnolia church, near Vicksburg. He was also present at the terrible siege of Vicksburg, at the storming of the old Spanish fort, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River bridge and Milliken’s Bend. At the battle of Vicksburg he was placed on picket guard, but got over the lines; the rebs opened fire and the pickets were ordered to fall back; they lodged in a ditch, but a comrade jumped on him, seriously injuring him. He was discharged July 26, 1865.