Hello to the descendants of Romulus Hanks,

My name is Charlie Larimer and I am the editor of “Love and Valor – Intimate Civil War Letters Between Captain Jacob and Emeline Ritner,” which was published in 2000. Jacob and Emeline were my great great grandparents. You can find out more about the book at www.sigourneypress.com The book has received many honors, including being featured by the Smithsonian. Georgia Public Television broadcast a 4 part series titled “Georgia and the Civil War” in 2002, and Jacob’s letters served as the main voice of the North for that broadcast.

Of interest to you – Jacob Ritner, who was a Captain in the 25th Iowa Infantry and who had friends in the 15th Iowa Infantry, mentions Romulus Hanks several times. Even Emeline talks about him in a letter. Jacob first met Romulus in Davenport, Iowa, but then ended up spending some time with him in Rome, Georgia, where they shared a hospital room. The town of Rome was essentially turned into a large hospital for part of the Atlanta Campaign. I’m not sure which building they were in, in Rome, although I know that records in the town exist. I’ve been to Rome a couple of times, and sometime I may try to hunt down the records, to see if I can determine where they actually stayed. (I’ve found it very entertaining that Jacob spent some time in Rome with Romulus.)

I am sure you are aware of the fictional novel “The History of Rome Hanks and Kindred Matters” based on a fictional Captain Romulus Hanks of the 117th Iowa. The fictional Romulus Hanks was definitely based on the real Romulus Hanks, in that both were from Knoxville, Iowa. There is at least one real person (William Belknap) who shows up in “The History of Rome Hanks” although his name has been changed from William Belknap to Clint Belton.

The connection to Abraham Lincoln may just be fiction – “The History of Rome Hanks” says that Romulus Hanks was related to Nancy Hanks, Abraham Lincoln’s mother.

I have a jpeg picture of the real Romulus Hanks that I can email to you if you like.

I found some other follow-up information on Rome Hanks on a web site that said he became a postmaster and ended up in Elgin, Kansas, where he is buried. I’ve had a hard time separating fact from fiction with Rome Hanks, so I’m not sure what is real or not.

Thanks,
Charlie Larimer
clarimer@prodigy.net



Letters from “Love and Valor – Intimate Civil War Letters Between Captain Jacob and Emeline Ritner.” Edited by Charles F. Larimer, Sigourney Press, Inc. 2000. Copyright © 2000, All Rights Reserved.

Rome, Georgia
July 2, 1864

My Dear Wife,


Rome is pretty considerable of a town, or has been—contains a good many fine buildings and nice residences. I should take it to be about as large as Mount Pleasant. The inhabitants are mostly here yet, and it is not destroyed like most of the towns through which our army has passed. Well, we finally got to what they call the Officer’s Hospital where we are now. We got no supper and had had neither breakfast nor dinner. This morning they brought us a little hard bread and coffee, no meat or anything else. I couldn’t eat anything. I had the good luck to meet Captain Hanks1 here of the 15th Iowa. I got acquainted with him last winter at Davenport, and like him first-rate. He is sick, but able to walk around more than I can. So gave him $20 and he went and hired boarding for us at a private house, and we are going to go it on our own hook after this.
We are in the second story of a brick building; the room is about 30 by 50 and contains about 30 sick and wounded officers. There is another room in front with I don’t know how many in it. There is no Sanitary Commission here—nothing but army rations and not much of that. But we have good cast iron cots to sleep on, and some have bed ticks and sheets. I have not got any yet, but have two nice white blankets besides my own, and a pillow, which makes a first-rate bed. But I must stop and lie down awhile. I will try to finish this after dinner.
_______
Well, dear, it is now 7 o’clock and I have had a good rest and my dinner and will try to write some more. Captain Hanks, Lieutenant Lee of the 16th Iowa and myself went out to the place I spoke of for dinner. We had corn bread and buttermilk! Pork, beans, and new potatoes, fresh butter, and blackberry pie! Wasn’t that splendid. I thought I never sat down to so good a meal, and eat lots. It won’t take long with that kind of living to make me able for another fight. I am afraid though we will not be allowed to enjoy it—the other officers say the surgeon in charge does not allow the patients to board away from the hospital. They must stay here and pay him $1.05 per day and get nothing then. The other officers have had no dinner yet.
We intend to run our own machine as long as we can, anyhow. The weather here is very hot and sultry. It seems to me as hot as it was at Vicksburg last August. I think this is a hot hole anyhow. It is situated at the junction of the Etowah and Oostanaula Rivers. The country is extremely rough and broken around here, ranging from low hills to high mountains, rocky and steep, in many places almost inaccessible, especially if surmounted with rebel cannon. Blackberries and huckleberries are very abundant and are getting ripe. There will soon be roasting ears. I had a ripe apple today. I forgot to say that the folks where we sent to dinner seem to be very nice people. They have no Negroes. There are two white woman who do their own work. They live in a nice two story brick house and keep a cow. The men are at home, and work at their trade, shoemaking. They have a looking-glass, and I got to see myself for the first time in two months. I don’t believe you would know your Jake at all, if you were to see me now. I never looked so slim and hollow-eyed, I know. But I will come out all right some day yet. I have been thinking about those gooseberries you put up for me. I am very much obliged to you, and think it very kind of you to put them up just for me. I hope I will get there to help eat them.


1. Captain Romulus L. Hanks, Company G, 15th Iowa Infantry, was 39 when he was mustered as First Lieutenant. Hanks was promoted to Captain on August 1, 1862, when Captain William Cunningham was promoted to Major, who replaced William W. Belknap, who was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 15th Iowa.


Officer’s Hospital
Lookout Mountain, Tenn.
July 11, 1864

Dear Daughter Nellie,

Now, you must be a good little girl both at home and at school and learn to write so you can write me a letter. Captain Hanks who stays in the same room with me has two little girls in Knoxville, Iowa, just about as old as you and Lulie and they both write letters to him. And I shall look for a letter from you some of these days to tell me all about Tommy and Kittie and Mandy and Maud and Edith and all the little boys and girls who go to school, about your lessons and the garden, the pigs and corn, the new fence and everything. And I will write to you both a whole sheet full of the next time. How many verses have you learned at Sunday school?
Your affectionate father, J.B. Ritner



[Mt. Pleasant, Iowa]
Tuesday morning, July 26th, 1864

Dear Jacob,

What became of Capt. Hanks? Did he go to the regiment or not? Missouri is full of guerillas1 and people are getting scared, for fear they will come up in Iowa. There is an order from General Baker to call out the state militia. I don’t feel the least bit alarmed. I believe I can face a rebel if he should come here to burn my house down and shoot him too if I had a gun.
Yours, Em
Camp 25th Iowa Infantry,
East Point, Georgia
September 11, 1864

My Dear Wife,

Captain Hanks, who was with me at the hospital came back when I did, but got sick again and has gone home. I saw Rodgers and Cady a few days ago. They are well.
Good night and pleasant dreams to you, my dear.
Your own Jake


Genealogy Comments found on Romulus Hanks.

From: Sarah Hampson < momofmsz@aol.com>
Subject: [HANKS] Hanks in Montgomery County
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 19:36:52 -0600

Posted on: Hanks Queries
Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/FamilyAssoc/Hanks/10095

Surname: Hanks
-------------------------

Hello. I read your message about Fedelia Hanks,born around 1820 in Montgomery
County. My great great grandfather on my paternal grandmother's side was
Romulus Hanks, born in Mt.Sterling, Ky, Montgomery County Feb 14, 1822.
In 1846, he married Frances Brown, (born in Chilcote Ohio in 1825) Somehow,
he made his way to Iowa, where he was a Captain in the 15th Iowa Infantry
during the Civil War. That's as far back as I have been able to trace my
Hanks ancestors. After, Romulus, it's a dead end. I was very interested
to see your posting about Fedelia, who was born around the same time and
place as Romulus. Could they be related? I didn't realize that all the
Hanks in Montgomery County were related, so perhaps there is some connection
between our two families. If you have further information on this Hanks
line, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. I wish I could give
you info on your family, but I'm really excited to find family in Montgomery
County, Ky. Thank you very much. S. Hampson, Oakland, California

From: nancy baber mcneill < nanbabe10@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [HANKS] Hanks in Montgomery County
Date: Thu, 7 Jun 2001 12:08:35 -0700 (PDT)
In-Reply-To: <200106060136.f561aqR26269@cgi.rootsweb.com>

Sarah, I am so excited to learn the name, Frances
Brown ,as the wife of Capt.Romulus Lycurgus Hanks.
He is one of my favorite people.
"Rome" Hanks was son of Samuel Hanks and Nancy Wyatt.
They married 16 Mar 1802, Mason Co., KY, she dau. of
Francis and Nancy Wyatt.

Samuel was son of Peter Hanks III, son of William
Hanks the Quaker, son of Peter Hanks I, who was
probable son of Thomas Hancks , immigrant, mid-1600s.

Sam and Nancy gave their kids the most fabulous names:
Ackland, Hannibal, Romulus Lycurgus, Castryra, Armina
Dye Meldia Toris (that's all one girl),Laura Sudlett
Zellica, Cordelia, Adella Woodville, Minerva, and
Euphrasia. No, I'm not making this up! It's all in
Adin Babers book, "The Hanks Family of Virginia and
Westward"
Try to read "The History of Rome Hanks and Kindred
Matters" by Joseph Stanley Pennell, Chas. Scribner's
Sons, New York, 1944 it is historical fiction, try to
ignore that Pennell says Rome's wife was "Armina Dye
etc. etc." It'a a great book and you will gain a lost
of respect for Rome who served under Grant at
Pittsburg Landing.
Fidelia Hanks descended from William Hanks I, also a
probable son of immigrant Thomas. Distant cousins,
but, you know, in the south , we "cousin" everybody.
Nancy
--- Sarah Hampson < momofmsz@aol.com> wrote:
> Posted on: Hanks Queries
> Reply Here:
>
http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/FamilyAssoc/Hanks/10095
>
> Surname: Hanks
> -------------------------
>
> Hello. I read your message about Fedelia Hanks,born
> around 1820 in Montgomery
> County. My great great grandfather on my paternal
> grandmother's side was
> Romulus Hanks, born in Mt.Sterling, Ky, Montgomery
> County Feb 14, 1822.
> In 1846, he married Frances Brown, (born in Chilcote
> Ohio in 1825) Somehow,
> he made his way to Iowa, where he was a Captain in
> the 15th Iowa Infantry
> during the Civil War. That's as far back as I have
> been able to trace my
> Hanks ancestors. After, Romulus, it's a dead end. I
> was very interested
> to see your posting about Fedelia, who was born
> around the same time and
> place as Romulus. Could they be related? I didn't
> realize that all the
> Hanks in Montgomery County were related, so perhaps
> there is some connection
> between our two families. If you have further
> information on this Hanks
> line, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. I
> wish I could give
> you info on your family, but I'm really excited to
> find family in Montgomery
> County, Ky. Thank you very much. S. Hampson,
> Oakland, California
>

From: Ron Hanks < b0jangle@gateway.net>
Subject: [HANKS] Hanks in Montgomery Co, KY
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 19:55:07 -0600

Posted on: Hanks Queries
Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/FamilyAssoc/Hanks/10097

Surname: Hanks
-------------------------

Romulus Hanks was the son of Samuel Hanks and Nancy Wyatt. Samuel's brother
Rev. William Hanks is my gggg grandfather. They were sons of Peter Hanks
and Elizabeth Wyatt. The other Hanks branch that is being discussed in
this thread may be distantly related, but is distinctly a different branch.
Are you aware of the book "The History of Rome Hanks" by Stanely Pennell?
E-mail me direct if you want more info.

Thanks,
Ron Hanks
b0jangle@gateway.net

From: Ron Hanks < b0jangle@gateway.net>
Subject: [HANKS] Hanks in Montgomery Co, KY
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 19:57:03 -0600

Posted on: Hanks Queries
Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/FamilyAssoc/Hanks/10098

Surname: Hanks
-------------------------

Romulus Hanks was the son of Samuel Hanks and Nancy Wyatt. Samuel's brother
Rev. William Hanks is my gggg grandfather. They were sons of Peter Hanks
and Elizabeth Wyatt. The other Hanks branch that is being discussed in
this thread may be distantly related, but is distinctly a different branch.
Are you aware of the book "The History of Rome Hanks" by Stanely Pennell?
E-mail me direct if you want more info.

Thanks,
Ron Hanks
b0jangle@gateway.net