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Author: acmgenealogy
Surnames: Banta, May
Classification: obituary
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This obituary appeared in the Martinsville Republican on June 19, 1902 on page 6. The
newspaper was published in Martinsville, Indiana.
OBITUARY.
Dr. W. C. Banta, who has been very sick for several months past, died at his home in this
city last evening about six o'clock, of Bright's disease. He had been confined to
his bed for many weeks and his sickness had been such of a serious nature that his death
had been expected at any time for several days past. A wife and nine children survive.
Dr. Banta was one of the best known citizens of this section of the state and when his
health permitted always took an active interest in public matters. He was born in
Belleville, Hendricks county [sic], in August, 1839, and was almost sixty-three years of
age. He taught school in Hendricks county [sic] after he became a young man, and was
engaged at this profession when the civil war [sic] broke out. He told his pupils, when
the call came for volunteers, that they could put away their books, that he was going to
war, and enlisted in Company A, Seventh Indiana. He was made sergeant-major in this
company, which served for thre!
e months, the time for which troops were first called. After their time expired, the men
came home, but Dr. Banta at once began to reorganize the company to enlist for the three
years service. When the reorganization was effected he was made captain of company B,
Seventh regiment, and was with the regiment during all of its hard fighting, and was
afterwards promoted to major, and before the war ended had by gallant service and hard
fighting attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh regiment. He was severely
wounded seven times in battle.
After the close of the war he was chosen as one of the commission to mark the places
occupied by the Federal and Confederate troops on the field of Gettysburg. The Seventh
Indiana took a prominent part in that battle, and for that reason Dr. Banta was familiar
with the battle field and knew the locations occupied by the different regiments. While
engaged with the commission he was entertained by an ex-Confederate officer who had taken
part in the battle, and the meeting was one of great pleasure to both.
Dr. Banta was married in August, 1861, to Miss Elizabeth May, at Rossville, Ill. The
children, who are all living, are Mrs. Effie McKelvey, Little Rock, Ark. ; Mrs. J. A.
Turner, Nashville, Brown county [sic]; Arthur Banta, Spokane, Wash. ; Mrs. A. N. Gurley,
Misses Fannie, Mamie, and Kathryn Banta, and Messrs. T. S. Banta and Will A. Banta. His
son, T. S. Banta, is deputy postmaster at this place. Dr. Banta, with his family, moved
to Eminence, this county, in 1870, and came to Martinsville in 1885. He was elected
auditor of Morgan county [sic] on the Republican ticket and served one term of four years.
He took a great interest in this city, and when artesian water was discovered here built
the Highland, one of the best sanitariums in this city, in 1896. He was the attending
physician at the Highland Sanitarium of a number of years. He was an ardent Republican
and took a prominent part in politics until failing health caused him to retire. After
retiring from the s!
anitarium, he opened an office in the Rose block, where he conducted his practice until,
early last fall, his health failed so rapidly that he was compelled to leave his office,
and shortly afterward was confined to his bed, which he was seldom able to leave for any
length of time until his death. He was taken to Indianapolis for treatment, but to no
avail, as the relief was only temporary, and he was brought back home. Dr. Banta was of a
cheerful disposition was devoted to his family, and had many friends throughout this
county.
He was a member of the Christian church and the G. A. R. of this city.
The funeral services were held Sunday morning at 10:00 o'clock at the Christian
church. Interment at South Park cemetery [sic].
Elder Treat came from Irvington to officiate and by request the old choir had charge of
the music for the main part of the service. The G. A. R. post attended in a body and a
quartet of old soldiers, Messrs. John Hardwick, W. J. Knox, S. G. Seiders, and Comrade
Whitlow, sang, " Dropping from the Ranks One by One", with so much pathos that
the congregation was deeply moved.
At South Park cemetery [sic], where the interment was made, the G. A. R. took a prominent
part in the last sad rites. Judge Hadley, of Indianapolis, a close friend of the
deceased, was invited to take the part usually given by the post commander and in a
fifteen minute talk gave a touching discourse on "the value of a well spent
life," a tribute of love and affection to his departed friend.
Captain Braden, Indianapolis, Lieutenant Thompson, Greensburg, and Capt. W. H. Miller,
city, were given the honor of strewing the flowers in the open grave and Major Welch, also
of Greensburg, was accorded the privilege of presenting the flag. The beautiful custom of
placing the flag upon the coffin in the grave is yet done by the local post, although it
is no longer required by the ritual. Captain Braden is the son-in-law of Col. Dumont,
deceased, who was in command of Dr. Banta's regiment, the Seventh Indiana Volunteers.
Lieutenant Thompson and Major Welch were officers in the same regiment, and it was deemed
by them a sacred duty to assist in the burial of their friend and comrade.
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