James W. Hankins

James W. Hankins was born on 25 July 1860 in Hopkins County, Kentucky.¹“Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852–1965,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1222 : accessed 4 Sep 2013), death certificate no. 8056 (1930), James Hankins; from microfilm 7016130–7041803, KY Dept. for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort; birthdate. FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/0007736850 : accessed 4 Nov 2021), digital film 007736850, image 317, Caldwell Co., KY, Marriage Book 38, Hankins-Byrum, 25 Apr 1929; birth location Hopkins Co., KY. He was the third child born to Albert Elvie Hankins and Isabella Jane Goodloe.²1870 U.S. census, Hopkins Co., KY, population schedule, Precinct #2, p. 20A, dwelling 19, family 19, Jane Hankins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163 : accessed 14 Feb 2010); from NARA microfilm M593, roll 471. Albert died when Jim and his siblings were children.³Family story, passed down through the family from Albert’s granddaughter, Aggie Ann Hankins (daughter of James W. Hankins).

In 1880, Jim lived in Hopkins County with his uncle Thomas H. Goodloe. He worked as a farm laborer.⁴1880 U.S. census, Hopkins Co., KY, population schedule, Fisherspring, enumeration district (ED) 196, p. 11, dwelling 93, family 93, Thomas Goodloe; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742 : accessed 20 Oct 2021); from NARA microfilm T9, roll 420.

Jim worked as a miner when he married Mary J. Combs on 6 April 1883. His stepfather, T. K. Devault, served as surety on their marriage bond. They were married at the home of bride’s father, who is unnamed in the record. Mary was fifteen years old and was born in Kentucky. Both of her parents were born in Tennessee.⁵FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/0007720814 : accessed 1 Nov 2021), digital film 007720814, images 187, Hopkins Co., KY, Marriage Bonds 1882-1884, Hankins-Combs, 6 Apr 1883. Nothing further has been found about Mary or her family, and her fate is unknown. 

On 1 August 1889, Jim married Almeda Smith in Hopkins County.⁶FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/0007720817 : accessed 1 Nov 2021), digital film 007720817, images 490, Hopkins Co., KY, Marriage Book 12-1880-4-1890, Hankins-Smith, 1 Aug 1889. Medie was the daughter of Henry Clay Smith and Martha Howton. She was born on 6 January 1861 in Kentucky, probably Hopkins County.⁷“Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852–1965,” digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1222 : accessed 2 Nov 2021), death certificate no. 27927 (1927), Meda Hankins, Hopkins Co.; from microfilm 7016130–7041803, KY Dept. for Libraries and Archives, Frankfort.

Medie previously married L. E. Egbert on 15 August 1883 in Hopkins County.⁸FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/search/film/0007720814 : accessed 1 Nov 2021), digital film 007720814, images 233, Hopkins Co., KY, Marriage Bonds 1882-1884, Egbert-Smith, 15 Aug 1883. They had a son named Edgar H., who was born on 15 June 1887.⁹Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com : viewed 12 Nov 2021), memorial 144558944, for Edward H. “Edgar” Hankins, (Fairview Cemetery, Bowling Green, KY), digital image, 3 Apr 2015, by Silbert Hartis. After his mother’s marriage to Jim, Edgar went by Hankins for the rest of his life, but it is unclear if Jim formally adopted him.¹⁰1900 U.S. census, Hopkins Co., KY, population schedule, Earlington, enumeration district (ED) 64, sheet 25A, dwelling 466, family 510, James W.. Hankins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602 : accessed 15 Feb 2010); from NARA microfilm T623, roll 528. “Brother of Former Hopkins Sheriff, Dies in Providence,” Daily Messenger (Madisonville, KY), 17 Mar 1930, p. 5, col. 3; digital image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 1 Feb 2021); Ed Hankins listed as step-son in Jim’s obituary.

Jim and Medie’s only child, Aggie A., was born on 9 July 1892 in Earlington in Hopkins County.¹¹“U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007,” database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901 : accessed 19 Nov 2021), Aggie Haley, SSN 402-90-8327; from Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936–2007; parents James Hankins and Medie Smith. 1900 U.S. census, Hopkins Co., KY, pop. sch., Earlington, ED 64, sheet 25A, dwell. 466, fam. 510, James W.. Hankins; middle initial A. The family lived on Robinson Street in Earlington in 1900 near his mother and stepfather, Janie and Thomas Devault. Jim worked as a coal miner.¹²1900 U.S. census, Hopkins Co., KY, pop. sch., Earlington, ED 64, sheet 25A, dwell. 466, fam. 510, James W.. Hankins; Janie & Thomas on the same page. Jim and Medie lived on Robinson Street in 1910 and 1920 and Jim continued working as a coal miner.¹³1910 U.S. census, Hopkins Co., KY, population schedule, District #5, enumeration district (ED) 88, sheet 13B, dwelling 278, family 300, Jim. Hankins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884 : accessed 17 Feb 2010); from NARA microfilm T624, roll 481. 1920 U.S. census, Hopkins Co., KY, population schedule, Earlington, enumeration district (ED) 94, sheet 3B, dwelling 69, family 71, James Hankins; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061 : accessed 17 Feb 2010); from NARA microfilm T625, roll 576.

Medie died on 20 December 1927 in Earlington of chronic endocarditis. She was buried in Grapevine Cemetery in Hopkins County.¹⁴“Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852–1965,” 27927 (1927), Meda Hankins.

Jim still lived in Earlington and worked as a miner when he married Lydia M. Allen Byrum on 25 April 1929. They married in Princeton in Caldwell County, Kentucky. Lydia lived in Providence in nearby Webster County, and Jim moved there after the wedding.¹⁵FamilySearch, digital film 007736850, image 317, Caldwell Co., KY, Hankins-Byrum, 25 Apr 1929.

Lydia was born on 25 December 1873 in Webster County, Kentucky, to Robert Allen and Nancy Jane Pearson.¹⁶“U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007,” database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901 : accessed 19 Nov 2021), Lydia Byrum, SSN 316-53-3978; from Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936–200; birthdate and parents names. She was the widow of Joseph O. Byrum.¹⁷“Kentucky, U.S., Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900,”, database, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4428 : accessed 19 Nov 2021), Joseph Byrum-Lydia Allen, 27 Feb 1890, Webster Co.; Kentucky Marriages, 1851-1900, Jordan Dodd, Provo, UT. Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com : viewed 19 Nov 2021), memorial 41148019, for Joseph O. Byrum, (Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Providence,Webster County, KY), digital image, 21 Sep 2012, by Eye Rember U; Joseph died in 1918.

On 15 March 1930, Jim committed suicide at his home in Providence.¹⁸“Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852–1965,” 8056 (1930), James Hankins. He lived several hours after shooting himself in the head with a shotgun by using a toe to pull the trigger. The Messenger reported Jim had been in ill health for some time, but domestic trouble was the reason for his action.¹⁹“Brother of Former Hopkins Sheriff, Dies in Providence, Daily Messenger, 17 Mar 1930. He was buried in Grapevine Cemetery.²⁰“Kentucky, U.S., Death Records, 1852–1965,” 8056 (1930), James Hankins.

Lydia died in 1942 and was buried by her first husband in Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Providence.²¹Find A Grave (https://www.findagrave.com : viewed 19 Nov 2021), memorial 41148006, for Lydia. Byrum, (Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Providence, Webster County, KY), digital image, 21 Sep 2012, by Eye Rember U.