HANKS, Rebecca (Etherton)-GONE TO HER REST--Rebecca Hanks, relict of the late James Hanks, died at 5 o'clock last evening. She had been in very feeble health for six months, but was feeling more than usually strong yesterday. In the afternoon her daughter, Mrs. W.A. Bridges, called in a carriage at the residence of A.J. Hanks, No. 705 North Union street, to take her out riding. She walked to the carriage and was assisted to a seat. Mrs. A.J. Hanks returned to the house for her wraps intending to accompany her but while she was gone the aged mother sank back upon the seat and her spirit passed peacefully away. The body was borne into the house and a physician was summoned. He found that death had resulted from failure of the heart. Rebecca Etherton was born at Elizabethtown, Hardin county, Kentucky, April 18, 1802. She was aged 86 years and 17 days. She became the wife of James Hanks in Hardin county in 1819. They lived there about three years and then removed to Illinois, settling in Sangamon county. After a year's residence there they came to Macon county, settling on a farm four miles east of Decatur in Long Creek township. Twelve children were born to the couple, four sons and eight daughters. The sons were Isaac, John, W.B., and Andrew J. Hanks, Isaac and John are dead. W.B. Hanks resides in Maroa township, and Andrew J. in Decatur. Five of the daughters survive. They are Mrs. Nancy Muirhead of Missouri, Mrs. Elizabeth Heckle, of Long Creek township, Mrs. Lucinda Wood, of Olena, Ill., and Mr. John W. Tyler, Jr, and Mrs. W.A. Bridges of Decatur. The daughters who are dead were Martha E. and Susan Hanks, and Mrs. Sarah Calhoun. The farm in Long Creek township was the family home until after the death of James Hanks, the husband and father, in 1856. After her death Mrs. Hanks made her home for thirty years with her son, A.J. Hanks. Since 1888 she had lived with her daughters, Mrs. W.A. Bridges and John W. Tyler, jr. She was a member of the Christian church, having united with it thirty-five years ago. She was a woman of simple tastes and habits. In all the relations of life she sought to do her duty as becomes a Christian. Her life was useful and she had earned the reward which we are told awaits the faithful unto Christ. The funeral will be held at half-past _ o'clock Monday afternoon at the Christian church.
Saturday Herald (Decatur, Illinois, May 12, 1888, pg1

Of the 12 children, one daughter is not accounted for, Lucinda Jane who married Jacob Houser in 1852 and then married Stephen Wood as her second husband. Stephen and Lucinda were living in Cedar Rapids, IA in 1918.

Donna 'Hanks' Kemp