Posted on: Lee Co. Ia Obituaries Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ia/LeeObits/171 Surname: Bank, Risser, Hennies, Wanner ------------------------- This obituary was taken from the "Keokuk Daily Gate City", Keokuk, IA on Tuesday, July 24, 1906. ---------------------------------------- HENRY BANK, SR., HAS PASSED AWAY Death Early Sunday Morning of Venerable Father of the Judge of the District Court of Lee County, Iowa. AGE WAS NINETY-THREE Came to the County Fifty-Five Years ago and the End came Without Pain--Funeral to be Held This Afternoon. ---- Another one of the pioneers of Lee County has gone to his reward in the person of Henry Bank, Sr., who at the age of ninety-three years passed away at an early hour Sunday morning on his farm in Lee county, three miles from Farmington. At the bedside when the summons came were most of his children and grandchildren. The funeral will be held at Farmington this afternoon, the funeral cortege to leave the home at one o'clock p.m. A number of members of the Keokuk bar will go to Farmington this morning to attend the services, the deceased being the father of Judge Henry Bank of the Lee county district court. Came Here in 1849 Heny Bank, Sr. came to America in 1849 direct from Breman, Germany by way of New Orleans to Keokuk; coming on the great steamer Grand Turk. There being no canal at that time, this steamer could not cross the rapids, so Mr. Bank and his family were compelled to remain in Keokuk over night, which was at that time a small city. On the next day by wagon, he took his family to Fort Madison, his destination, arriving in that city on October 29, 1849, where he lived for several years near the place where our friend, Herman Schroeder, now lives. He brought with him from Germany Mrs. Julia Bank, who died some twenty-seven years ago, and also five children, namely William Bank, who is now abut 65 years of age, residing at Wichita, Kan; Dorothy Hennies, near Primrose, this county; Henry Bank, judge of our district court; August Bank, Warren, Iowa; Louisa, wife of H.A. Risser of Alexandria, Mo. Two younger daughters were born in this county, Henrietta, wife of P.W. Risser of Lee county, and Julia, wife of William Wanner of Farmington. All of his children are still living. He also leaves at his demise thirty-four grandchildren, most of whom reside in Lee county, and all of whom are well and favorably known, and enjoy the confidence and respect of all who know them. Life Ebbed Gently Away The deceased resided on a farm in Lee county some three miles east of Farmington, making his home with son-in-law, P.W. Risser and wife. He retained his mentality to the very last. His last days were peaceful. There was no sickness, no suffering. His life ebbed gently away. He faced the end without fear and welcomed the reaper of Death. He was born in Hanover, Germany January 8, 1813 and was at the time of his death 93 years, 6 months, and 14 days of age. He was a consistent member of the German Evangelical church and was one of the charter mambers and founders of the church of that denomination at Fort Madison. --------------------------------- NOTE: Both Henry and Julia Bank are buried in the Farmington Cemetery, Farmington, Iowa. Henry and Julia Bank were my great-great grandparents. I would like to hear from anyone with any connection to this family.