Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 1034. JAMES LOUIS HANKS who resides abut three miles north of Klamath Falls on the east bank of Klamath Lake, was born on February 14, 1820. His native place was a farm near Decatur, Macon county, Illinois. His father was John Hanks and his mother, Susan (Wilson) Hanks. She was born in Grayson county, Kentucky and came from English ancestors. Her death occurred in 1863. The father's father, William Hanks, the grandfather of our subject, came from Ireland to Virginia before the Revolution. He and two of his brothers served in that war, one of them being Colonel Benjamin Hanks under General Washington. William Hanks was a brother of Nancy Hanks, who married Thomas Lincoln. They were the parents of President Lincoln. This makes our subject a second cousin to that great man. The Lincoln farm adjoined the Hanks estate in Macon county and as John Hanks was a first cousin to Abraham Lincoln, they became very intimately acquainted. He was born on February 9, 1802 in Nelson county, Kentucky and for a while lived in Grayson county, that state. He was a few years older than Abraham Lincoln and the latter made his home with John Hanks for many years. These two young men used to split rails together and in company made several trips down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in the old time flat boats. In 1828, he moved to Decatur, Macon county, Illinois, and on the trip passed by the home of Thomas Lincoln in Indiana. Mr. Lincoln requested Mr. Hanks to inquire what kind of a country Illinois was and as the report was favorable, the Lincolns moved on out, settling near the Hanks farm. They were very hard working people and when the Black Hawk war broke out in 1832, John Hanks and Abraham Lincoln enlisted in the same company, the latter being captain of the company. Being thus together so much, they became intimately acquainted and in 1860, when Mr. Lincoln was nominated for president at Chicago, Mr. Flanks had the distinction of carrying one of the rails split by Mr. Lincoln. At the commencement of the Civil War, John Hanks enlisted in the Twenty-First Illinois as wagon master, although he was about sixty years of age, and served faithfully for two years in Missouri, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi, until he was incapacitated by an attack of rheumatism, when he was honorably discharged at Winchester, Tennessee, in 1862. He had made the trip across the plains to California in 1850 and returned to Illinois later and there made his home until his death in 1889. The brothers and sisters of our subject were eight, five of whom are now living; Mrs. Emily Loomis of Bloomington, Illinois; Grayson A., of Maysville, Missouri; Mrs. Mary E. Manon, of Humboldt county, California; and Levi, of Macon, Illinois. Our subject grew up on the farm in Illinois, was much with Abraham Lincoln in those days. and in the spring of 1850, came across the plains to California with his father and two years later, they returned via the isthmus. In the spring of 1853, Mr. Hanks started from Decatur, Illinois, and crossed the plains with ox teams the second time. He stopped at Springfield, Illinois and bid his cousin, Abraham Lincoln, good by, and this was the last he ever saw of him. After reaching California, he spent some time in mining, visiting nearly every prominent camp, and finally in 1859, came to Douglas county, where he mined. In Douglas county, on September 25, 1861, Mr. Hanks married Mary J. Perdue, who was born near St. Joseph, Missouri on February 14, 1845. Her father, John, Perdue, was a native of Virginia and came from German ancestrage. They came across the plains in 1852, settling in Douglas county, Oregon where he lived until his death, in 1901. He had married Mary F. Mills, a native of Virginia. She died in 1902. They were aged eighty-two and eighty-four, respectively, at the time of their death. Mr. Hanks did considerable freighting in the early days through southwest Oregon and was also out during the Modoc war when it was very dangerous. He endured many hardships and performed much arduous labor. In the spring of 1873, he located where he now resides, taking a homestead near the site of his present dwelling. He was among the very first to settle here and since that time has been a progressive and enterprising citizen. He now has three thousand acres of fine soil, mostly under cultivation. His crops are grain and hay and he owns a large threshing outfit besides all machinery necessary. His residence is a good eight room, two story structure, while three large barns and various outbuildings, orchard and many other things are in evidence on the place. He has made his farm one of the finest in the country and an air of thrift and taste pervades everything. In addition to general farming, Mr. Hanks handles considerable stock and has a fine herd of registered Durhams and Galloways. He also has a nice band of horses. In 1876, Mr. Hanks was elected county treasurer on the Democratic ticket. In 1878, he Was elected sheriff and was twice re-elected making six years in that office. After that, he was chosen county commissioner which completed ten years in constant service for the county, in all of which he showed unswerving integrity and uprightness so that he has won the esteem and confidence of all who know him. He brought the same wisdom and good practical judgment to bear in the discharge of his duties that he did in his own affairs and the result was of much benefit to Klamath county. Mr. Hanks is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and has been for thirty years. He is also a charter member of the Klamath lodge. To Mr. and Mrs. Hanks, ten children have been born, named as follows: John, of Red Bluffs, California; Marion, in this county; Mrs. Ella Eastwood of Mono county, California; Malinda, deceased; Emma, deceased; Jessie, at home; Mrs. Effie Hill, of this county; Louis, of California; Edward, deceased; and William, of Klamath Falls. It is interesting to note that when Mr. Hanks came to Klamath county, he had very little means but at the present time, he is one of the wealthy citizens of the county, all of which has been gained by his own labor and wisdom. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.