Banker's Corners/Bankers, Hillsdale Co., MI
My great grandmother, Georgia Anna Banker (1852-1942), was born in Monroe, Monroe Co., MI, the daughter of George O. Banker and Mary Oman KELLY. My dad told me that the family came to Michigan from New York and finally came to roost in the settlement of Banker's Corners (now known simply as Bankers), which is located southwest of Hillsdale, Hillsdale Co. MI.
Several years ago, a descendant of this family contacted me with the information that Georgie had been married before she married my great grandfather, James A. HOLLINGSHEAD! Well, I was utterly gobsmacked, because what I THOUGHT was her eldest son, Charles Winn Hollingshead (1886-1967, married Minnie Hannah WALLING) was my only grandpa and we were very close. Although he lived until I was 21 years old and married, he never said a word to me about having any half brothers...and neither did my father! You can only imagine what a shock it was to learn about this and from a stranger to boot!
I am conspicuously short of data on Georgie's parents and on her first marriage. So far, all I know is that she married 1. Jepthah LAMB circa 1870, probably in Michigan and had two sons. They were George E. Lamb (1871-1925, married Ella STANDFIELD) and Leon C. Lamb (c1875-nfi).
1880 US Census for Hillsdale Twp., Hillsdale Co., MI
Family History Library Film: 1254580
NA Film Number: T9-0580
Page Number: 134C
George O BANKER Self MMaleW50NY Farmer NY MA
Mary BANKER Wife MFemaleW49NY Keeping House NY NY
Georgia A LAMB Dau MFemaleW28MI No Occu NY NY
George LAMB GSonSMaleW6MI OH MI
Leon C LAMB GSonSMaleW5MI OH MI
James FARREL OtherSMaleW16MI Farm Laborer --- ---
I have no clue as to whatever might have happened to Jepthah Lamb. I cannot locate him anywhere on the 1880 census and about the only thing I know for sure is that he was a schoolteacher. Did he die...or were he and Georgie divorced? As you can see, the 1880 census records Georgie as having been married...yet she was wed for the second time by the end of that year!
Georgie and James A. Hollingshead were married 25 November, 1880 at Camden, Hillsdale Co., MI. My grandpa was her eldest son by this marriage and my father (Lynn Roy Hollingshead, 1912-1987, married Margaret Martha MOHR) was his only child. Georgie's other children by Jim Hollingshead were Mary B. "Mae" Hollingshead (1889-1985, married Charles E. FRYE, no surviving issue), Frank James Hollingshead (1892-1944, married 1. Bernice LOWTHER, 2. Helen?, one child by each wife), Roland Hollingshead (1894-1898) and Glen Hollingshead (1896-1984, married Ruby KINTER, no issue).
According to the 1870 US Census, Georgie had a brother, Ebenezer Banker.
1870 Federal Census
Census Place: Hillsdale Twp., Hillsdale Co., Michigan
Source: Michigan Census Online
Page 307
George Banker 40 M W Farmer 8000 2000 New York
Mary Banker 40 F W Keeping house New York
Georgiana Banker 18 F W At home Michigan
Ebenezer Banker 14 M W At home Michigan
Most of the Hollingshead family lies buried in the Sherwood Village Cemetery.
Needless to say, I would appreciate any and all information anyone might have on this family.