John Love Hankins

Death Claims John L. Hankins

Taught School in Barry County Fifty Years. Prominent Mason.

JOHN L. HANKINS, widely known Barry county teacher and farmer, passed away at a early hour Monday morning, Sept. 16, in the Hospital in Stella, where he had been for two weeks suffering from a crushed and broken hip resulting from being thrown from a horse at his old home place near the House school house northwest of Cassville three miles.

Funeral services were held at the Antioch Baptist church, near the Hankins home, Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 18, and burial was in the Antioch cemetery with the Horine-Culver undertakers in charge and with Masonic honors.

John L. Hankins was the oldest son of the late Samuel Love and Celia Vineyard Hankins, pioneer citizens of the community northwest of Cassville.

When he grew to manhood he attended the Cassville High school and the Barry County Normal Institute organized and headed by Pro. N. L. Malden, and then engaged in the teaching profession, and farming. He had the record of having taught school for 50 years, quitting only when his advancing years made it the expedient thing for him to do. Accuracy and thoroughness n work were two things in which he drilled his students. He believed that an education should be practical, hence he trained his students in the fundamentals. The county had few teachers more in love with their work and few who could equal him advancing children in their studies.

For nearly 45 years, Mr. Hankins had been a leading member of Pythagoras Lodge No. 383, A. F. & A. M. In Masonry as in his life work, he encouraged proficiency in the mysteries and basic teachings of the fraternity, in order that its members might more fully appreciate its Principles in practical life and living.

He had filled practically every office in the Blue Lodge, having twice served as Master.

John Love Hankins was born Nov. 9, 1864, on the old Hankins farm near Cassville. His entire life was spent in Barry County.

At the age of twenty he obtained his first certificate and taught his first school.

He was married to Jennie Shaffer in 1885. To them 6 children were born. His wife and one son, Warren, and two daughters, Mary and Ethel, preceded him in death.

Surviving are two sons, Clarence and Dewey, and daughter, Mrs. Blanche Catron, wife of Bert Catron of Purdy; grand-daughter, Marjorie, living with him; one brother, Judge W. E. Hankins; and four sisters; Mrs. W. L. Vineyard of Roswell, New Mexico, Mrs. W. H. Ferguson of Butterfield; Mrs. J. A. Griffin of Monett; and Mrs. W. F. Gray of Butterfield; also 14 grand-children.

For Forty-five years, Mr. Hankins had been a member of Pythagoras Lodge, A. F. & A. M. at Cassville. He had served twice as Master of the Lodge and was one of that fraternity's most highly esteemed members.

Published in the Cassville Republican (Cassville, Missouri) - Thursday, September 19, 1940.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: May 25 2022, 20:05:50 UTC