Henry B. Banning

As printed in 1902

HENRY B. BANNING.

Knox county has produced many men who in various important walks of life have honored their native county and prominent among these was General Henry B. Banning. An enumeration of the men of the present generation who have attained to eminent positions and at the same time have reflected credit upon the state to which they belong would be incomplete were there failure to make reference of him whose name initiated this paragraph. He held distinctive precedence as a member of the bar and also in Democratic circles in the state. He won distinction and glory upon the field of battle and throughout his useful public career he so conducted himself as to win the encomiums of even those who were opposed to him politically.

General Banning was the sixth child of James S. and Eliza (Blackstone) Banning, and was born in Mount Vernon November 10, 1836. He pursued his education in the Clinton school, in Hull Rigsby's private school and in Sloan's Academy, in Mount Vernon. At the age of seventeen he took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of Hosmer Curtis and Joseph Devin and after his admission to the bar became a partner of William Dunbar, but his connection with the legal fraternity had continued only a few years when the Civil war was inaugurated. He had watched with interest the progress of events in the south and had determined that if an attempt was made to overthrow the Union he would aid in its preservation. Accordingly he enlisted in 1 86 1 as a member of the Fourth Ohio Infantry, which was one of the most gallant regiments upon the field of action throughout the war. He was elected captain of Company B and later he was recommended by General Shields for the position of major of the Fifty-second Ohio, but he never joined that regiment, being placed in command of the Eighty-seventh, a regiment enlisted for three months' service. On the expiration of that period he became lieutenant-colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio and served as such until the spring of 1863, when he became colonel of the One Hundred and Twenty-first Ohio Volunteers. This regiment was at Chickamauga and was led by Colonel Banning in a charge which resulted in the capture of the colors of the Twenty-second Alabama — the only. Rebel colors captured in that sanguinary engagement. At Kenesaw Mountain Colonel Banning and his brave men also won other laurels, but the victory cost them dear, over thirty-three per cent, being killed or wounded. The Colonel gave the order for his men to lie down and not retire a single inch until he commanded them to do so. They obeyed and for four hours they lay there, unsupported and exposed to a calling fire of artillery and small arms, upon both flanks and in front. In 1865 Colonel Banning was promoted brevet brigadier general for gallant and meritorious conduct during the Atlanta campaign. His regiment was with Thomas at Nashville and participated in many of the important engagements of the great war which at length brought salvation to the imperilled Union. He was ever brave and loyal in the discharge of his duty and his own courage inspired his men to deeds of valor. In the spring of 1865 he was given command of the One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Ohio Regiment and served in the valley of Virginia. He was commander of the post at Alexandria and in December, 1865, he was mustered out as brevet major general.

General Banning put aside military honor merely to receive those of civil life, for in 1865 he was elected by Knox county to the state legislature. In 1868 he removed to Cincinnati, where he opened an office and engaged in the practice of law, his comprehensive knowledge of jurisprudence, his ability in the court room and his careful preparation of cases gaining for him a large and important clientage. In 1872 he was again called to public life being elected to congress on the Democratic ticket over Rutherford B. Hayes, and later for the same office he defeated Job Stevenson and Stanley Mathews. He was twice re-elected and his work in the council chambers of his nation was of an important character. His loyalty was above question and with unfaltering purpose he supported the measures which he believed would advance the country's welfare. His death occurred December 10, 1 88 1, and Ohio lost a citizen whose career (reflected credit upon her military, legal and political history. On the political stage such was his personal popularity and such his personal magnetism that his appearance to address the people was the signal for tumultuous enthusiasm. His was a sturdy American character and a stalwart patriotism, and he had the strongest attachment for our free institutions and was ever willing to make any personal sacrifice for their preservation.

In 1868 Mr. Banning married Julia Kirby, a daughter of Timothy Kirby, of Cincinnati. They had four children: Kirby, deceased; Harry B.; Ella K.; and Clinton K.

As printed in The Biographical record of Knox County, Ohio : to which is added an elaborate compendium of national biography (1902). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.