Elijah Banks b about 1847 KY d about 1907; buried Banks Cemetery, Letcher Co KY; enlisted 18 Oct 1862 Co H, 13th Kentucky Cavalry CSA; s/o Spencer Adams and Cassie Banks. Elijah Banks m. 25 Feb 1868 to Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Burton Lucas b about 1853 KY; buried Banks Cemetery, Letcher Co KY; d/o Aaron Lucas and Eliza Vanover. Children of Elijah Banks and Elizabeth Betty Ann Burton Lucas;

1. Ira Banks b about 1870 Carrs Fork, Knott Co KY; m. 1 Oct 1896 Letcher Co KY to Nancy Margaret Fields b about 1878 KY d 23 Oct 1964 Perry Co KY.

2. Harrison Banks b 6 Dec 1874 Letcher Co KY; m. 26 Apr 1894 Letcher Co KY to Hettie Stamper b Mar 1875; d/o Hiram W Stamper and Susannah Hogg.

3. Spencer Banks b about 1877 Letcher Co KY d Saturday, 13 Feb 1909 killed by his brother, Harrison who crushed his head with a rock while trying to stop a fight between Harrison and his wife, Hettie; buried Banks Cemetery, Letcher Co KY; m. 14 Sept 1895 to Elizabeth Branson b 21 Jan 1879 d 13 Jan 1918; d/o Hezekiah Branson and Sarah Unknown.

Elizabeth Branson Banks was accidentally killed by a train when she thought she was avoiding an oncoming train and stepped into the tracks of a train that hit her from the back. The William "Bill" Banks Family Story, by William Banks; buried Asher and Branson Cemetery, Letcher Co KY (on the hill at home of Ted Asher).

4. John Banks b Jan 12 1879 Letcher Co KY d 28 Feb 1959 Old Masons Home, Veacchland, Shelby Co KY; of heart disease; age 80; buried Hindman Cemetery, Hindman, KY; occupation, farmer and teacher; m. 26 Feb 1903 Letcher Co KY to Peggy McIntyre. John Banks m. about 1909 to Betty Jane Smith b about 1875 KY. Children of John Banks and Betty Jane Smith;

i. Alta P Banks b 17 Aug 1912 KY d 5 Aug 1993 Fayette Co Ky

ii. Oliver Banks

iii. Ila Banks

iv. Hiram Banks (last three may have surname Stamper).

v. (4 more children).

5. Arminta Banks b Apr 1888 Letcher Co KY; m. Fernando Curtis Roark. Child of Fernando Curtis Roark and Arminta Banks;

i. Coy Banks (aka McCoy) b about 1907 d 18 Sept 1962 Perry Co KY

6. Martha Banks b Aug 1889 Letcher Co KY d between 1914 and 1920 in a buggy accident; m. Mark Collins b about 1865 d between 1914 and 1920 in a buggy accident. Child of Mark Collins and Martha Banks;

i. Lawrence Collins b 18 Jan 1907 d Sept 1974 Wayne Co MI.

For want of the fact being confirmed the Eagle last week failed to publish the details as it had them of the terrible fratricidal trouble which had just taken place on the head of Montgomery creek in this county.

Now it turns out to be more horrible than at first reported or believed. It seems that Harrison Banks and his brother, Spencer, lived near each other and within hailing distance. Spencer heard shooting and a woman screaming over at his brother's house and rushed over to see what was the matter. When he entered the house Mrs. Banks, with blood streaming from her face, clinging to her husband while he was flourishing a pistol in one hand.

Spencer wrenched the pistol from his infuriated brother and rushed from the house pursued by his brother and a big bulldog. When near the yard gate a rock thrown by Harrison brought Spencer flat upon the ground, his skull crushed in on one side of his head. The man flounced and rolled in agony while the vicious bulldog chewed and lascerated him. When at last the dog left his victim he was taken to his home where he suffered untold agony till early last Saturday morning (13 Feb 1909) when he died.

A warrant was obtained for Harrison Banks and Deputy Sheriff Ben Mclntire arrested him but owing to a wound received from an axe a few days after the trouble Banks could not be brought to town, so a guard was placed over him to await recovery sufficient so that he can travel.

Great regret is expressed in the county over the unfortunate affair. The brothers belong to an excellent family and married, each having a moderate sized family of children. Their father was the late Elijah Banks, who died something over a year ago. Harrison Banks married Lettie Stamper, a daughter of Aunt Susan Stamper, of Kings creek, whom many of our readers know.

Spencer Banks married a daughter of Hezekiah Branson, a good citizen of the Lower Rockhouse section. At the time of the trouble Harrison Banks was very much under the influence of whiskey which no doubt was the cause of the whole trouble.

No one seems to have been present except the brothers and Harrison Banks' wife and it is said that she was so badly hurt and excited that she knows but little about the affair. She is said to have been badly hurt about the head.

It is stated that Spencer Banks before his death refused to make a statement as to just how the affair came about.

Mt Eagle, Whitesburg,
KY, Sept. 15, 1910
Notice of Application for Pardon