This Week in the Family History: December 27–31

Feature

John D. Lanier (*2nd Great-uncle, McCauley)

180 Years Ago: John D. Lanier was born on 29 December 1840 in Randolph County, Alabama, to William Washington Lanier and Charlotte T. Jackson. The family hasn’t been located in the 1850 census. By 1860, John was not listed with his parents and siblings. He was certainly old enough to no longer be living with them, but he hasn’t been found elsewhere either.

Some researchers claim, without offering evidence, that John died 8 November 1853 in Hickory Flat, which is a community in Chambers County, Alabama. His date of death is not listed with his birth date in the Bible that belonged to his nephew, William Larkin Lanier. But neither is the death date for most of William and Charlotte’s other children. John may have died young, but that is only a guess.

December 28

Dennis Jay Chesnut (*1st Cousin, Hopkins)

• Born 74 Years Ago: 28 December 1946, Barbourville, Knox County, Kentucky
  • Parents: Aubrey Edgar Chesnut and Edna Ewers Hopkins

John Corum Hankins (*Great-uncle, Hankins)

• Married Gertie Tapp 110 Years Ago: 28 December 1910, Hopkins County, Kentucky
  • John’s Parents: Thomas Leander Hankins and Samantha Angeline Petty
  • Gertie’s Parents: Abner Tapp and Amanda W. Riddle

December 30

James Devon Lanier (*1st Cousin once removed, McCauley)

• Born 87 Years Ago: 30 December 1933, Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama
  • Parents: James Doffin Lanier and Alma Neely

December 31

Henry Houston Cox (*Husband of Half-1st Cousin once removed, Taylor)

• Died 21 Years Ago: 31 December 1999, Danville, Boyle County, Kentucky
  • Parents: Edward Cox and Mattie McFerron
  • Spouse: Marie Krueger

Jimmie Nell McCauley (*Aunt, McCauley)

• Married David Johnson Knight 72 Years Ago: 31 December 1948, Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky
  • Jimmie’s Parents: John William McCauley and Verda Waller Hankins
  • Dave’s Parents: Griffin E. Knight and Lena