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Israel Banks Israel Banks private Co. I, 26th MO Inf
When the Civil War broke out, Israel was working in the coal fields of Osage county. He left the mines and answered the call from his adopted country and joined the Union cause. He enlisted in Capt. McKnight's Company D, of the Osage county regiment of the Missouri Home Guard. This regiment was organized on May 27, 1861 to guard the Pacific Railroad. During the session of the State Convention, the regiment was sent to Jefferson City to guard against rebel interference. They were mustered out on July 21, 1861. Israel returned home to pick up his life, but events of the War would sweep him back into the service of his new homeland. On August 10, 1861, General Nathaniel Lyon and a small Union force attacked the Confederate army at a place southwest of Springfield, Missouri. The rebel forces were lead by Brigadier General Ben McCulloch, with Missouri troops lead by General Sterling Price, former governor of Missouri. Lyon's death at what would be called the battle of Wilson's Creek and the subsequent invasion of Missouri by Price's forces inspired men across the state to rally to the Union cause. Israel responded to that call and joined with many of his neighbors and friends to once again leave their homes and join the Union army. This time they were recruited by George B. Boomer, a business man, engineer, and contractor from St. Louis, who also had interests in a small logging community called Castle Rock south of Jefferson City. Israel signed his enlistment papers for a 3 year term on September 14, 1861 at Medora, Missouri. He was 22 years old when he joined and was 5' 6" tall, with light colored hair, blue eyes and a "florid" complexion. Enough men came into camp that fall to form about 4 companies. In late December, they boarded the train for transport to Pacific, Missouri to join 3 other companies of men gathering there. They were then transferred to St. Louis to join other men and on January 9, 1862, Israel and his friends were assigned to company I and mustered into Federal service as the 26th Missouri Volunteer Infantry regiment. Israel and a few of his companions were mustered into service by Lieut. William M. Wherry, who was with General Nathaniel Lyon at the battle of Wilson's Creek. Wherry would later earn an early version of the Congressional Medal of Honor for his bravery in that battle. Israel served bravely in his regiment. Toward the end of the war when the regiment was consolidated into a small battalion, Israel was transferred to company K and promoted to corporal. He was finally mustered out near Savannah, Georgia, on January 8, 1865, and returned to his Osage county home. Israel gave up the mines and started farming to support a new family. Sometime during or after the war, Israel got married. At this point, his wife is unknown, but left behind a daughter named Martha, who was enumerated with Israel in the 1870 Census of Osage county, Linn township. 2 On April 22, 1872, in Belleville, St. Clair county, Illinois, Israel married Margaret Kinghorn. Margaret was born on May 21, 1841 in Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, as the only known child of George Kinghorn and Elizabeth Watson. George was born on June 6, 1791 in Newton, Midlothian, Scotland, and died in 1856 in Belleville, Saint Clair county, Illinois. His wife Elizabeth, was born on Sept. 10, 1801, in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland and died in 1865 in Saint Louis, Missouri. No record has been found of George and Elizabeth's marriage record or when they came to America. Israel and Margaret had 2 children together. A daughter, Jennie B., was born about 1876 in Osage county, Missouri. Jennie's death and any marriage record is unknown. George Thomas was born January 6, 1879, who married Nellie Mae Zumbrunn (born abt. 1889 in Nebraska). The marriage record and death date for George are unknown. The 1880 US Federal Census for Osage county listed a child named Willie as the stepson of Israel. 3 No record of a previous marriage for Israel's wife Margaret is known. Israel was listed on the 1891 survivor's list as still living in Linn township in Osage county, but by 1900, he had moved his family to the Douglas Pct. of Nemaha county, Nebraska. 4
Footnotes: 1. Banks Families of the U. S. of European Ancestry, http://www.ancestry.com , Ray H. Banks, rayhbanks@aol.com, Jan. 5, 2001.
2. 1870 U. S. Census, Osage county, Missouri, Linn Twp. Israel Banks, 34, farmer, b. England. Living w/him: daughter Martha Banks. 3. 1880 U. S. Census, Osage county, Missouri, Linn twp., E. D. 119, p. 10, Israel Banks, 41, farmer, b. England, parents b. England. Living w/him: wife Margaret and children Willie, Jennie B., and George T. (Willie is a stepson). 4. 1900 U. S. Census, Nemaha county, Nebraska, Douglas Pct., E. D. 14, p 12. Israel Banks, 61, b. Mar 1839, m'd 27 yrs, emigrated 1844, b. England, parents b. England. Living w/him: wife Maggie. 5. 1910 U. S. Census, Nemaha county, Nebraska, Auburn P.O., E. D. 14, p 12. Isrel Banks, 72, own income, 2nd marriage, b. England, parents b. England, emigrated 1851. Living w/him: wife Margaret and son George. 6. 1920 U. S. Census, Nemaha county, Nebraska, Auburn P. O., E. D. 109, p 1, 2618 O St. Isiral Banks, 80, widower, b. England, parents b. England, living w/son George. 1890 U. S. Census, Family Quest Archives CDROM, National Archives Microfilm M-123, Roll 29. Banks, Israel
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Israel
Banks was born on March 22, 1839 in Staffordshire, a county in
England. The map on the right shows Staffordshire county in red and
its relative location within England. Additional maps of Staffordshire
may be seen at 
By 1910, Israel and Margaret were
enumerated in the census for that year with their son at his home at S.
6th St, Auburn,
Nebraska. 5 Auburn is located in southeastern
Nebraska, near the Missouri border. Auburn is indicated by a red
star on the included map. Shortly afterward, Margaret died on
November 13, 1911 in Auburn. Her burial place is unknown, but
assumed to be in a local cemetery. By 1920 6, Israel,
now a widower, was still living with his son in Auburn, but this time at
another home located at 2618 O Street. Current research to date
(1/12/02) has not revealed Israel's death date. It is assumed that
he continued to live in the Auburn, Nebraska area and is buried near his
wife in a local cemetery.