A native of Carlinville, Dr. Robert Ayers Hankins has been known by
the people of this community ever since his boyhood and it speaks in no
uncertain terms as to his credit when it is stated that today he is one
of the most respected men in the city. The son of a physician, he
assisted his father efficiently in practice before securing a diploma,
and an experience of thirty years has made him a recognized leader in
the profession in this section. He was born June 20, 1848, his parents
being John and Elizabeth (McKee) Hankins. The father was a native of New
Jersey and the mother of Pennsylvania. In their family were seven
children, Robert, John, Charles, William, Leon, Virginia and Mary.
The father of our subject engaged in farming in his younger days and
later was apprenticed to learn shoemaking. He began reading medicine in
New Jersey and in the spring of 1844 came to Illinois and located at
Carlinville. Here he continued the study of medicine and subsequently
matriculated at Rush Medical College, Chicago. He employed his knowledge
to good advantage at the time of the cholera epidemic, in 1851, and in
1855 was graduated from the Eclectic Medical College of Philadelphia. He
practiced in Carlinville until his death, and was known as one of the
most successful physicians in Macoupin county. He served as mayor of
Carlinville in 1885 and also as a member of the Constitutional
Convention of Illinois. He was an ardent lover of peace and occupied a
chair as a member of the Peace Convention at Philadelphia. In his early
manhood he paid considerable attention to military tactics and was a
member of the State Militia of New Jersey. After the outbreak of the
Civil war he drilled a number of companies in Illinois, proving very
efficient in this capacity. He was not a member of any religious
denomination but attended the Methodist church in which his wife held
membership.
The grandfather of our subject on the paternal side
was born in England and married Johanna Ayers. He emigrated to America
and engaged in school teaching. In his family were three children:
Davidson, Robert and John. The great-grandfather on the paternal side
was a soldier in the British army. The maternal grandfather was James
McKee, a native of Pennsylvania of Scotch ancestry. He gained a good
reputation as a horticulturist. In his family were several children
among whom were Elizabeth, James, William and Margaret.
Robert
A. Hankins received his preliminary education in the public schools of
Carlinville and later was graduated at the high school. He then pursued
a course of four years at Blackburn University. He began the study of
medicine under his father and after having prepared himself thoroughly,
entered college at Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1872
with the degree of M. D. Ever since leaving college he has practiced at
Carlinville and among his patrons are the leading families of the city.
He has kept thoroughly informed as to the great improvements and
discoveries in medicine and surgery and is fully abreast of the times in
a profession that calls for the clearest judgment of the most carefully
trained minds.
On the 3d of June, 1875, Dr. Hankins was married
to Miss Jennie Bell, a daughter of Edwin Bell, and they have three
children: John, of Carlinville, who is married and is the father of one
daughter, Zella; Robert, who is a graduate of the Carlinville high
school and is now studying medicine; and Clara, who married Claude
Speer, foreman of the Springfield Record, and is the mother of three
children. Mrs. Hankins was born in Alabama. Her father was a native of
Virginia and her mother of Tennessee. The family came to Illinois and
first settled at Duquoin where the father died, the mother passing her
closing years at Carlinville. Mrs. Hankins has lived in this city since
1866. Of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Bell seven grew to maturity: Edwin
G., who served in the Union army at the time of the Civil war; Mary
Tennessee; Annie; Sarah; Jennie, the wife of our subject; Emma; and
Archie, who was killed in the Confederate army.
Dr. Hankins is
an active and valued member of the Illinois State Eclectic Medical
Society. He is not connected with any religious denominaton but his wife
is a member of the Baptist church. Fraternally he belongs to Mount Nebo
Lodge No. 76, A. F. & A. M., and the Carlinville Lodge of Odd Fellows.
In politics he is an earnest adherent of the democratic party. He has
not sought public office but served as mayor of Carlinville for one term
and has also been a member of the city council and of the school board.
Guided by wise teachings and worthy examples, he has gained a reputation
for fidelity to his profession and the honorable discharge of his
responsibilities. His upright character has never been questioned and he
has attained what all might well aspire to possess — an unblemished
reputation.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 677-679.
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