Jasper County Biographies
Ossan Olinious Oglesby Banks
& Oscar Orilious Otho Banks
The following was transcribed by Suzanne Forte
(suzanneforte@bellsouth.net), May 2004, from the book, "The Kellys of Jasper
County, Georgia, Descendants of the Revolutionary Soldier Jacob Kelly and wife
Susanna Allen" by Dorothy Kelly MacDowell (1984)
OSSIAN OLINIOUS OGLESBY BANKS
AND
OSCAR ORILIOUS OTHO BANKS
This story of the Banks Twins, sons of Henry Dunstan BANKS and Harriett
Elizabeth KELLY, was written about 1947 by Mrs. Herma Gay (Banks) Burns of
Macon, Ga., now deceased. She is a daughter of Ossian O. O. BANKS and Sara
Katherine BLACKWELL.
...."These twins, Lin and Rill, were born May 10, 1857, and reared on the old
Banks home place, near Newborn, Georgia, Jasper County, just before the Civil
War, experiencing the hardships of these days. This farm originally consisted of
790 acres, deeded with Negroes on March 2, 1849, to Henry Dunstan BANKS by his
father, Eaton BANKS, and named "My Old Place". It adjoined the land of Henry L.
Smith. (This deed was witnessed by Cordial D. JEFFRIES.)
"Eaton Banks, the father of Henry D. BANKS was twice married. First to Sally
SPEARS, (my records say Sally HODNESS - D K M) by whom were born: Mary, Benjamin
and Permelia. Then to Nancy Boyd, by whom were born: Sally, Pleasant, Gilly Anne
and Henry. The very fact that the father would will the old home place to the
youngest child would suggest a tenderness of feeling.
"We also find recorded that Pleasant E. BANKS was administrator of the Eaton
BANKS estate, and sold to Beverly KELLY (the husband of Sally (this should be
Gilly Anne, not Sally. D K M ) and brother-in-law) 187 acres known as the Dower
Trace for $1,852.00. This tract belonged to the widow of Eaton BANKS. Sixteen
years later, Henry Dunstan bought this tract for $1,210.00.
"Before 1820, the migration toward the oak and hickory lands of the lower
Piedmont Region of Georgia, had been started. Jasper, Jones, Baldwin, Putnam,
Newton and Morgan Counties were receiving more than 15,000 inhabitants. Many
families moved down to Jasper from Oglethorpe County, among them being Fleming
JORDAN, Sr., Reuben JORDAN., Sr., and Charles JORDAN, Sr., forbearers of the
large families still found in that section. The potash lands, the curving
furrows with acres of fleecy white cotton, attracted the pioneering businessmen
who could visualize potential wealth therein. Probably the BANKS heritage of
land and love for more land is responsible for their leaving Newton County,
marrying and intermarrying the landowners of this section, the Irish Kellys, the
BLACKWELLS, the DOZIERS, the BALLARDS. Three children were married to Kellys:
Sally (again this should be Gilly Anne - D K M ) to Beverly KELLY, Permelia to
Jarrett B. KELLY and Henry to Harriet Elizabeth Kelly.
"The BANKS were a peace-loving and kindly family, who did not like to go head
thumping and fought only when honor or principle was involved. The name was
originally written "Attebanks", and Anglo-Saxon form, implying a bench, or bank,
or hillside - - a place whereon to sit.
"Henry Dunstan, as I have been told by my father, was stout, weighting
approximately 235 pounds, of medium height, high cheek bones, protruding
nostrils with some marks of a true aristocrat, beautiful hands and feet.
Harriett Kelly was tall, slender, aggressive, unafraid of Sherman's army and
immaculately neat.
"The snowy white bed linens, the pillow shams ("Good Morning and Good night")
the towels, the most delicious hams, fried chicken, green cucumber pickles
cooked in a brass kettle, gleaming crystal goblets with luster china, were
indelibly impressed on my childhood memory - - the products and examples of
Grandma Banks culinary talent. That trunk with the bag of tea cakes, the rock
candy which was opened and shared with the PERRYS, the PERSONS and the SMITHS
grandchildren, were symbols and expressions of her love for us. Unfortunately,
grandpa Banks died before the grandchildren knew him, but Grandma Harriet's
generosity and love was showered in a double portion to supplement.
"In 1870-71, Linny and Rillious (as known to their immediate family) attended
Palmyra Institute at Newborn, Georgia, then taught by Dr. N. D. DACUS, Judge A.
S. FLORENCE, Miss Lou JONES and Mr. Herman SMITH.
"This educational building was given to Newborn by Mr. J. T. PITTS and named
Palmyra Institute for his daughter. Mr. PITTS was a Yankee and Union sympathizer
who entertained General William Tecumseh Sherman for an evening in his home on
Sherman's march through Georgia.
"When General Sherman and his ravaging army turned southward from burning
Atlanta in mid-November of 1864, they left behind a trail of ruin from
Chattanooga, which soon extended to the sea. Only two houses were left standing
in a now modernized Cartersville, Calhoun, Dalton, Rome and Marietta. They had
all suffered greatly, and Atlanta had been temporarily obliterated. Before the
invaders lay a rich path of eastern and middle Georgia country at the peak of
the harvest season. The luscious harvest would quickly vanish before the foe.
"From Atlanta, part of the Federal Army went through Jonesboro, McDonough and on
via Gordon to Sandersville, where it was joined by the Eastern wing, which had
raged through Decatur, Covington, Eatonton and Milledgeville.
An illustration of daring Irish courage and spirit is told of how my Grandmother Harriet poisoned the dogs of the Yankees when they marched through her yard. Many scenes in the lives of our forbearers during this period are comparable to Scarlett O'Hara's defense of Tara, and despite the sorrow and tragic losses the war and the Sherman experience caused, an inspired awakening came to the State, to say nothing of what must have been the determination in the hearts and minds of our loved ones. Only those whose lives directly touched these bitter experiences may appreciate and reach that only position from which one could sympathize.
Could you now imagine or visualize slender, dauntless Grandma Harriet glimpsing from her hilltop home the oncoming destructive Eastern Wing of Federal soldiers? Small wonder then that her mind would thin first to destroy the dogs, who would probably eat the bread from her table, prepared by her hands to feed her children.
Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind" is our book - the book portraying the sacrifices, the deprivations of Grandma and Grandpa Banks.
In their school days, Lin
and Rill were earnest, eager students and took advantage of all opportunities
which Palmyra Institute had to offer. j Both boys taught at the old Concord
School and had State licenses, which required no renewal and granted lifetime
eligibility. Both were genial, kind, most optomistic and agreeable with
their fellow man, devoted lovers of little children and the kind of men children
could easily approach, because they won their confidence. Often would they
gather together the unfortunate and supply the extra lemonades, candies and ice
creams. How well do I remember glimpsing my father on a cold, windy day,
with some little lad in a sunny chimney corner telling stores of "Br'er
Rabbit" and other nature stories.
"Lin was the first to marry. Sara Kate BLACKWELL, the daughter of Judge John
Hunt BLACKWELL of shady dale, Georgia, was the bride. On the afternoon of
December 24, 1891, at 3:00 p.m. at the home of the bride's father, they were
married by Reverend PHELPS. The bride wore a cadet blue silk poplin trimmed with
white satin (a most becoming costume for a blond with red hair and gray/blue
eyes) tailored by Miss Leila KING of Monticello, Georgia. Her only ornament was
a gold sword brooch.
"The groom was driven by a Negro behind a large white horse, accompanied by
Rill, driving a large black horse named "Joe". A most discriminating taste did
they show in the selection of the white horse for the bridge and groom; in
having the driver along to take care of those anxious and nervous moments for
the groom.
"After the ceremony, they returned to Mother BANKS and were met by Mother DAVIS,
Ammie and George LEWIS (colored, who 93 years old, died recently on September
1946) and other Negroes on the place. They then visited Cousin Judson LOYD, and
Uncle Pink PERSONS, who married Grandma Harriet's sister, Mary KELLY, living
then near Monticello.
"Soon thereafter, Lin and Kate started housekeeping, but at no time was Lin
without Rill; no relationship separated the twins. Brother Rill was not without
care and respect in Lin's home, for to Rill was the honor of naming the first
born, Herma. Edith Elizabeth and Mary Virginia died in infancy; then were two
boys, Orilious Hunt and Wallace Landrum born to this union.
"During the intervening months, Carrie Estell GAITHER was attending G.N.I.
College in Milledgeville, Georgia. Fate had decreed that she be Mrs. Rill Banks.
On November 1, 1893, they were married at her home in Newton County. In 1894
they moved to Monticello, 1897 to Shady Dale, living in the old BONNER home on
the Madison Highway. To this union were born seven children: Lorinne Banks
Watkins (Mrs. A.W. Watkins), Kate Banks Herndon (Mrs. O.E. Herndon), Henry
Gather Banks, Olinious Orillious Banks, Mary Joyce Banks Ireland (Mrs. W.E.
Ireland), Dorothy Margaret Thigpen (Mrs. Leon Thigpen), Harriet Ruth Banks Marsh
(Mrs. Tom MARSH).
"Three of these children were born in Jasper County, when Rill was beginning to
feel the need to better educational advantages for his increasing family than
Jasper County could afford, because their education, both literary and as a
vocation for life, was a primary and most important aspiration of both men.
"With the Woman's G.N.I.C. and the Boys G.M.C. in Milledgeville as a deciding
factor, Rill made one of the greatest moves of their lives - - separation. But
only in distance was this separation, and only for advantages and opportunities
for his children's sake, because business would be operating in the name of O.O.
Banks, Bros.
"On West McIntosh Street in Milledgeville, Rill originated and operated a
furniture store, "Purchase and Sales Company", supplementing the buying cost and
other expenses with a veterinarian practice, which he pursued and completed
after the fourth child was born. An enterprising pair were they, allowing no
grass to grow under their feet.
"No joy was greater than the joy of origination. Bill's love and study of
medicine developed a new business, "The Pine Balm" a liniment, both a sedative
and stimulant. With the growing public demand for a small trial bottle, small
Pine Balm cottages went up for the specific reasons of pursuing sales. One
bottle brought another until the Pine Balm business was a lucrative one. The
honor of naming this business goes to Lorinne Banks WATKINS.
"Lin was losing no opportunities in Jasper County in real estate, farming and
stock trading. The "Bar Place", "The Old Home Place", "The Chamberlain Place" as
well as the 21 acres around the present home site, required his attention.
Frequent visits were exchanged between the two for weekends, for one's very
presence fortified the other on ventures. Very often, the children would
accompany each on a weekend to visit the home of the other. Uncle Rill never
failed to meet us at the train in a surrey, and when their family visited us, we
eagerly met the train in Machen. My father bought the first car, a five
passenger Buick, but no sooner than the order was made, did he mail to Brother
Rill a check for $1,500.00.
"Lin and Rill were great horse traders - - true lovers of horses and akin to
English ancestry, indulged in some horse racing and training, as an avocation.
They had many beautiful trotters and pacers, such as: "Dennis", "Bactrid",
"Fleet" and "High Henry". These horses received the best of care in a large barn
on Lin's place, in which lived a Swedish caretaker, Dr. BERGENS. The barn, as
well as their homes, shared the spirit of its master - - the plans, the trades,
the jokes, fun, and even the sorrows contributed to make it their retreat.......
"A very old saying in England was: "As knowing as Banks' horse". This Banks was
a popular wine merchant in Cheapside during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. His
famous horse, "Morrocca" was quite remarkable for his sagacity. Their love for
the horse and also for the derby hat made them as truly British as the umbrella
has the Scotch. They never wore any other style hat but the derby.
"They were men of few words, who did not give a lie to their lips by saying one
thing and living another, who did not stand in Churches to say long prayers and
then step out to maltreat their fellow man, but lived and practiced the Golden
Rule, the practical working principle of Christianity, the Divine mark of a
noble soul.
"Their sympathy and aid for the poor, the unfortunate, the widows, were the
ruling passion of their lives - - given not though charities or Churches, or
organizations or clubs, but placed in their very hands with that warmth, fervor,
and spiritual uplift that left the receiver happy and the giver beaming. These
were their great moments. The colored man and the plodding poor throughout
Jasper and Baldwin Counties rise up to call them blessed. To their families,
words are inadequate to describe their tenderness and liberality. There was no
limit.
"While there is no way for their children to ever repay our parents for their
love, sacrifices, and opportunities, or to ever scale to heights of their
ideals, there is surely a measure of attaining some degree of those aspirations
- - namely, an education. An education for their children was a vital, living
force, the chief objective of a life's goal. Each girl completed college work
with diplomas: Lorinee Watkins and C.B. Kate have degrees from G.S.C.W.; Mary
Joyce and A.M. from Peabody of Nashville, Tenn.; Dorothy an A.B. from G.S.C.W.;
Ruth Marsh an A.B. from MG.S.C.W.; Herma and A.B. from Cox College and
conservatory, College Park, Georgia (The Old Southern Female College of
LaGrange, Georgia). The boys, Olin, Gather, O.H. and Wallace attended G.M.C.,
Olin and Gather graduating and O.H. completing his Junior College course when
World War I demanded his R.O.T.C. registration at Georgia University; and
Wallace moved on to Riverside Academy at Gainesville, Georgia.
"Rill and Lin could laugh and laugh, if one was serious, the other was
hilarious. Rill's moods and feelings were a perfect compliment to Lin's, while
Lin's were a steadying force to Rill's. Neither was subordinated to the other,
always rejoicing, never zealous for the success of each other - - vitally alive
and intoxicated on the other's presence.
"In good luck or in bad, in riches or in poverty, in joy and in sorrow, what one
had was for the other. Their's was a glorious brotherhood -- two souls in a
conquering love, a divine relationship.
"Only death could ever dissolve this partnership of O.O. Banks Brothers.
Families, money, petty jealousies or selfishness was never a wedge between them;
no little foxes could spoil their vineyard, no little sparks could consume the
heat of devotion. Rill's family was Lin's and Lin's was Rill's.
"So knit together were they that in their last years, when distance separated
them, with Rill living in Milledgeville, on the morning of October 30, 1928 a
Lear Voice spoke to Lin, peculiarly urging him to see Rill. He arose early,
expressing a definite clear call to see rill. After hurriedly dressing to drive
immediately to Milledgeville, he arrived at Rill's bedside -- in time to see
Lin's other light burning out for Rill had had a cerebral hemorrhage.
"Life, then until July 2, 1929, held little hope and inspiration for Lin. Little
wonder that his aching heart and loneliness was relieved when God did not keep
Rill long without Lin, for Rill did call him. One day Lin fell asleep in
apparently perfect health, in his old office (a little cabin, originally the old
kitchen to our home, including his desk, papers, etc.), and was awakened by the
Lear Voice again and a hand that touched him - - a strange and unusual
experience, which he told to my mother. Could one have been keeping rendezvous
with the other? Was this the moment when the spiritual nature is so keenly
sensitized, as to enable one to see or hear what the physical cannot grasp?
"God made of Rill and Lin, one soul, one life, one man, and it was he who would
not spare Lin too long the acute pain of Rill's separation"
Compilation Copyright © 2004 by Suzanne Forte
All Rights Reserved