Elias Logan O'Banion

Elias was the son of John Preston O'Banion and Ruth 'Lucy' Turner. He married Fannie Leavitt on 13 MAR 1873. They were the parents of Arthur Guy, Clarence Wilbur, Josephine Gertrude, Walter J, Archie Lawrence, Florence Lillian, Allen Chester, and Carl Leslie.

March 15, 1928 - Storm Lake Register - E.L. O'Banion, former business man and city official and a leading citizen of Storm Lake for many years, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs B.H. Coonradt at Cherokee, Monday of this week following an illness of some time.

Mr O'Banion came to Buena Vista county in 1878, settling in Maple Valley township. He later purchased land in Washington township where he carried on general farming until 1891. He then came to Storm Lake and for 5 years successfully conducted a meat market. His fellow men, recognizing his worth and ability elected him sheriff in 1897. On his retirement he turned his attentions to the real estate business and also engaged in the sale of farm machinery and supplies.

He filled the office of sheriff for one term and was a member of the city council for 15 years and in spring of 1907 was elected mayor of the city.

Elias L. O'Banion, son of John P and Ruth (Turner) O'Banion, was born in Kentucky, Jan 20th 1848 and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs B.H. Coonradt at Cherokee, Iowa March 12th, 1928, having reached the age of 80 years, 1 month, and 22 days.

He moved with his parents to Illinois in 1857 where he was educated in the public school of that state. March 13th, 1873 he was married to Fannie A Leavitt and celebrated with her the 50th anniversary of their marriage five years ago.

They became the parents of 8 children. The eldest child Guy, died at the age of 9 years. Clarence W of Baltimore, MD; Josie G or Mrs B.H. Coonradt of Cherokee, Iowa; Walter J. of Canton, SD; Archie L of Santa Barbara, CA; Florence of Mrs T.F. Waite, Storm Lake; Prof Allan C of Park Rapids, MN; and Earl E of Ventura, CA are all living.

The wife and mother departed this life Aug 7th, 1927. A few days following Mr O'Banion submitted to an emergency operation since which time he had been confined to his bed most of the time gradually declining in health until the end came.

Rev. B.H. Coonradt, his son-in-law offers this as a tribute to Mr O'Banion "I was related to Elias L O'Banion by marriage. I am glad to speak a word of tribute to his memory. Few men have I met that could grow old so gracefully as did this man. He was in our home for 6 months. His affliction could have given him reason for complaint but he did not complain but submitted with patience to the inevitable as it gradually dawned upon him. It was a delight for us to have him in our home and perform this ministry to him in his last suffering."

Funeral services were held at the Coonradt home 452 E Sumner street, Cherokee, Wednesday afternoon and from the Fiscus Funeral Home on West 4th and Ontario street, Storm Lake. Burial was in the local cemetery.

Past and Present of Buena Vista County, Iowa 1909, page 242-243 - Elias L. O'Banion, with a creditable official and business record, may well be classed with the representative citizens of Storm Lake. He was born in Kentucky in 1848, a son of John P. and Ruth (Turner) O'Banion, who were likewise natives of the Blue Grass state. The father is of English lineage and in early life was a lumberman and miller but in later years turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits and won substantial success in his farming operations. His political allegiance has long been given to the democratic party and he is a devoted member of the Christian church. He now lives near Decatur, Illinois, at the age of eighty-two years, but his wife passed away in 1895 when sixty-three years of age. She, too, was a member of the Christian church and was of English descent. The ancestors of our subject in both paternal and maternal lines came from England and settled in Virginia during an early period in its colonization, while later they went to Kentucky. They were in sympathy with the attempt of the colonies to throw off the yoke of British oppression in 1776 and representatives of both families served in the Continental army.

Elias L. O'Banion is the eldest of a family of nine children, eight of whom reached adult age. He was a pupil in the public schools of Illinois after the removal of the family from Kentucky to that state in the year 1857. He was reared upon the home farm in Menard county and followed general agricultural pursuits continuously until 1891, manifesting a spirit of enterprise and diligence in all of his farm work. He came to Iowa in 1878 and settled in Maple Valley township upon a farm which he rented. As soon as his industry and economy brought him sufficient capital he purchased land in Washington township and there carried on general farming until 1891, when he came to Storm Lake and for five years successfully conducted a meat market.

His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to office in 1897, when he was elected sheriff. On his retirement from that position he turned his attention to the real-estate business, in which he is still engaged, and since 1905 he has also engaged in the sale of threshing machines and other farm machinery and supplies. As a business man he has been very successful, his perseverance and utilization of opportunity winning him a place among the prosperous residents of the county.

In 1873 Mr. O'Banion was married to Miss Fannie A. Leavitt, who was born in New Hampshire in 1848 and was of English ancestry. They became the parents of eight children: Clarence W., who is in a packing house at Baltimore, Maryland; Josie G., a teacher by profession, who lives at home; Walter J., who is engaged in the butchering business at Cherokee; Archie L., of California, who is meat and stock inspector for the United States government; Florence, the wife of T.F. Wait, a physician of Keota, Iowa; Allen, a teacher by profession, who is now a student at Ames Agricultural College; Earl, who is employed as a clerk and resides at home; and Guy, who passed away when nine years of age.

Mrs. O'Banion is a member of the Christian church. Mr. O'Banion belongs to the Odd Fellows society and gives his political allegiance to the democracy. He filled the office of sheriff for one term, was a member of the city council for fifteen years and in the spring of 1907 was elected mayor of the city, in which position he gave a public spirited, progressive and business like administration. His official record has always been characterized by the utmost devotion to duty and he is in thorough sympathy with every movement that tends to benefit the community along substantial lines of progress.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Apr 7 2022, 16:47:46 UTC