JAMES H. BANTA, a prosperous farmer of Clark Township, was born
January 8, 1835. He is a son of Abraham and Emma (Ramsdall) Banta,
the father was a son of Peter A. and Margaret (Voris) Banta, and
was born about 1807, and died about 1872; the latter was born in
1813, and died in 1857. Our subject was reared on the farm which
was entered by his father, about 1830. He received a common school
education. At the age of twenty-one years, he began life for
himself, his vocation being that of a farmer. In 1861, when our
Union was threatened with dissolution, and in answer to his
country's call for 300,000 troops, he shouldered his musket and
marched to the front. He enlisted on the 14th day of July, 1861, at
Indianapolis, under Capt. Wood's Company F, Eighteenth Indiana
Infantry, and served until the 12th day of May, 1864, when he
received an honorable discharge at Baton Rouge. March 4, 1868, he
was united in marriage to Mary A. Brooks, daughter of Henry and
Lydia (Barnes) Brooks. This union was blessed with the following
children: Carl E., born December 14, 1870; Minnie M., born January
26, 1873, deceased. The mother of these children was born May 30,
1849, departed this life, August 26, 1873. He was married October
19, 1875, to Mary M. Mangun, a daughter of Benedict W. and Jane
(Wiley) Mangun; the former was born April 29, 1818, the latter was
born June 11, 1820, died January 16, 1873. To this union the
following children were born: Arthur M., born December 31, 1877;
Emma J., deceased, born January 2, 1880; William A., born April 16,
1882; Mary C., deceased, born August 30, 1884; Edith, born October
30, 1885. The mother of these children was born October 25, 1841.
She is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Banta is a member
of the James Wagner G. A. R. Post, at Greenwood, Ind. He is a
republican, and served as trustee of his township, two years, and
it is a democratic township. He now owns 160 acres of well-improved
land in Clark Township.
Transcribed by Cheryl Zufall Parker
Banta, D.D. History of Johnson County, Indiana. Chicago, IL: Brant & Fuller, 1888.