OBIT: Thaddeus BANKS, 1880, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, PA

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DEATH OF HON. THADDEUS BANKS.
Sketch of His Life - His Funeral - Meeting of the Bar.

  Hon. Thaddeus Banks died at his residence on Allegheny street, 
Hollidaysburg, Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  He was born in 
Mifflintown, Juniata (then Mifflin) county, on the 2d day of November, 
1815.  He was the eldest son of Hon. Ephraim Banks, who was the first 
Auditor General chosen in the State by popular vote, at the election in 
October, 1850.  His parents removed to Lewistown when he was but a 
child, where he pursued his classical studies under the care of the 
late Rev. Dr. James S. Woods, completing the same at the academy of 
Benjamin Hallowell, at Alexandria, Virginia.  He studied law under his 
father, and in 1836 was admitted to the bar of Mifflin county.  In 1840 
Mr. Banks settled in Hollidaysburg, and was admitted to practice at the 
several courts of the district on the first day of court ever held in 
the county, July 27, 1846.  He was one of the oldest and ablest of the 
members of the Blair county bar.  In 1840 he married Miss Della 
Cromwell Reynolds, of Cecil county, Maryland, and they were the parents 
of seven children, five of whom are living, as follows: Kathleen, 
intermarried with C. Howard Porter, of Hollidaysburg; Juniata, 
intermarried with Hon. Ambrose Ewing, of Baltimore; May H., 
intermarried with Colonel M. H. Stacey, of the United States army; C. 
R. Banks, Esq., of Hollidaysburg, and Delia, intermarried with Mr. 
George Sadtler, of Baltimore.  In 1862 Mr. Banks was elected by the 
Democrats to the Legislature where he served his constituents honorably 
and faithfully.  In 1871 he was the Democratic candidate from [sic] 
President Judge in this district, his competition being Hon. John Dean 
and the late Judge George Taylor.  He was a member of the State Board 
of Agriculture since 1870, and always maintained a lively interest in 
everything pertaining to agriculture.  He was a life-long Democrat, and 
on last election day case his last vote for Hancock.  Election day was 
his last birth-day, he being 65 years old at that time.  He was a 
Christian gentleman and a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.  
He was always to be found in his place in the house of God on Sunday 
until his health failed him.  He also took great interest in the 
temperance cause and did all in his power to advance it.  He inherited 
the sterling qualities of his father - honesty, industry and 
uprightness of character.  Mr. Banks was honored and respected by 
everybody, and his death will be deplored by a large circle of friends 
and acquaintances.  His immediate family have the sympathies of all in 
their bereavement.  For more than a year past Mr. Banks was, at times, 
seriously ill of dropsy of the chest, the disease which caused his 
death.  Several times his condition was considered very precarious, and 
his death was considered imminent at any moment.  His funeral will take 
place to-morrow morning from his late residence on Allegheny street, 
Hollidaysburg, at 11 o'clock.  Interment in the Presbyterian cemetery.  
Here will be a meeting of the members of the Blair county bar, at the 
Court House in Hollidaysburg, Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock, to take 
suitable action in regard to his death.

Morning Tribune, Altoona, Pa., Tuesday, November 30, 1880