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Author: KHoover1393
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Classification: queries
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The following was from page 225 of an unknown document containing Blackford County history
information published about 1986 and written by Mary Townsend.
Charles A. Lanning Family
Charles A. Lanning was a decendent of Robert H. Lanning. Robert came to America from
England and Wales in the early 1800's and settled in Indiana. After buying four
sections of land from the U.S. Government, he sold three of these, one to his brother
Ezekiel, one to William Cortwright, who came from Essex Co. Canada, and one to James
Ransom. Keeping one for himself, he helped build cabins which was the start of the
settlement called Priam. This was later changed to Trenton, Indiana. Robert then opened
a store in which he supplied the people with dry goods, foods and grains for planting.
Charles A. Lanning's father was Joseph Lanning who was born January 12, 1832. He
married Helen Fagg who was born around 1834. To this couple were born ten children.
Lafayette was born in 1856, Mary Elizabeth was born in 1860 (married George Nuckols and
died three months later), Edward was born in 1861 and died of consumption at age 21,
William was born in 1862, Charles A. was born in 1864, Caroline was born in 1868, Robert
was born in 1869, Joseph was born in 1871, Isabella was born in 1873 and George was born
in 1874. During the Civil War, the father, Joseph was called to fight. He was a private
in Company F, 53rd Regiment Indiana. After the war, he moved the family to Kansas. They
went by wagon which was a long, hard journey. The mother, Helen, took sick and died in
Hutchinson, Kansas. The father then returned the family to Indiana, near Trenton. He
later married Rhoda Hughes.
Charles A. Lanning married Edna Elizabeth Mann, daughter of William Mann of Fairmount,
Indiana on April 12, 1892 in Blackford County. Edna's mother was Rhoda Kitsmiller who
died soon after Edna's birth. Edna was given to two aunts to raise, Aunt Mary and
Aunt Eliza Kitsmiller, who later married Zopher Evans and lived in Dunkirk, Indiana.
William later married Cynthia Norton who was widowed and had a son, Benjamin Norton. Edna
was brought back to live with them until she married. William and Cynthia had three sons,
Charles, Leroy and Verle Mann.
Charles A. and Edna Elizabeth Lanning had eight children. William was born in 1894 and
died at age 21 after being injured from a fall. Esther Ann, born August 1895, married
Charles Smith and had Palmer Leroy, Mary Catherine, Charles Jr., Donald Lee and Betty Jo
Smith. Leroy, born in 1898, died from a throat infection. Wilda Cynthia, born June 1903,
married Vernon Wood and had Mary Esther Wood. Ivan, born in 1906, died at eight years of
age after being kicked by a horse. Charles Frederick, born March 1909 married Mary Jane
Romey and had Edna Jean and Charles Jr. Lanning. Harry Rollin, born August 1911, married
Virigina May Jones and they had Constance June and Sheila Kathleen Lanning. Mary
Aggeliece, born April 1914, married Carl A. Townsend and they had Carol Ann and Carl
Dennis Townsend.
Written by Mary A. Townsend (about 1986).
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