Carroll-Cass County IN Archives Biographies.....Shanks, Leonidas P. 1852 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/in/infiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 26, 2006, 3:03 am Author: John C. Odell (1916) LEONIDAS P. SHANKS. Success in any vocation depends largely upon individual character and knowledge. In engaging in any pursuit, one needs a certain amount of confidence, without which an investment of money in any line is the essence of folly. Mr. Shanks, whose history is here briefly related, has ever kept before him the principles of courage, confidence and industry, a foundation sufficient for the success of all who will follow his example. Leonidas P. Shanks, farmer, Camden, Carroll county, was born September 5, 1852, in Cass county, Indiana, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Blue) Shanks. He was reared in Deer Creek township, where he attended the district schools during the winter months. At the time of his marriage, Mr. Shanks went in debt for a forty-seven-acre farm, but with close attention to his business interests, he was enabled on February 20, 1888, to purchase his present splendid property, consisting of two hundred acres, located six and a half miles east of Camden, and known as the "Poplar Lawn Farm," route number 2, Camden, Indiana. Mr. Shanks has put valuable improvements in his place, including a fine modern house, which is strictly up to date in every respect. Mr. Shanks has always given his earnest support to the Democratic party, and has always taken an intelligent interest in the welfare of his township, having served in various offices, including that of trustee of Washington township, which he held for four years, and was a member of the county central committee for action in local politics. He is a stockholder in the Camden Farmers' Grain and Supply Company of Camden. He is also a director and stockholder in the telephone company of that city. The great grandfather of Leonidas P. Shanks came from Scotland to America in colonial days, and settled in what is now Pennsylvania. Their sons emigrated to western states. One, John Shanks, grandfather of our subject emigrated to Indiana, when the father of our subject was five years of age, and settled near Delphi, and was keeper of the first poor farm in Carroll county, therefore being one of the first settlers in the county. Henry Shanks, father of our subject, was born in 1829, at Troy, Ohio, and came to Carroll county in 1833, at the age of five years. His wife was Mary Blue, daughter of Uriah Blue, to whom he was married in 1859, and by whom he had eleven children, nine of whom were living in 1915: L. P. Shanks, Alice A., John U., Sarah J., William, David, Mary F., James, and Nora B. Alice A. became the wife of Jasper Fouts, and moved to Deer Creek; John U. is the president of the Farmers Bank at Camden, Indiana; Sarah was married to Charles Snider, of Carrollton township; William Shanks follows farming in Montana; David Shanks lives in Jackson township; Mary F. Shanks became Mrs. William McClusky, of Cass county, Indiana; James is a farmer in Washington township; Nora B. is the wife of John Hummell, and lives in Cass county, Indiana. Leonidas P. Shanks was united in marriage, March 13, 1875, with Mary E. Zech, daughter of Peter Zech. She was born on December 13, 1856, in Cass county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Shanks have five children living in 1915: Ursula, who graduated from the public schools, and now is a student of literature and a landscape artist; Leonard, graduated from the public schools, and was married to Blanche Hinkle, by whom he has two children; Sylvia Shanks is a graduate of the Deer Creek high school, also the Muncie Normal school, and taught school for three years; Clay Shanks graduated from the public and high schools, and is at present a student at the Muncie Normal school; Oris R. graduated from the public school and entered high school at the age of thirteen. Mr. Shanks and his wife are members of the primitive Baptist church, east of Camden, of which he is one of the deacons, and through his fraternal alliances, has identified himself with the Mt. Zion Lodge No. 211, Free and Accepted Masons, the Morse Lodge No. 477, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, past grand, and has been well known and held in high esteem for many years by his associates and friends in Washington township. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Biographical Section of HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY INDIANA ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS BY JOHN C ODELL With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families ILLUSTRATED 1916 B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/in/carroll/bios/shanks229nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/infiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb