Mr. and Mrs. Francis G. Sanburn
Young Mary Hannah
Mary Hannah McCracken was born to James McCracken and Sarah Jane Baldwin in 1852 in Worthington OH. She had three brothers and six sisters. While a child the family moved to Knoxville Illinois.
She attended St. Mary's College in Knoxville, graduating in 1871. After her graduation and until two years after her marriage, she taught painting in oil, Latin, French, and the sciences at her Alma Mater.
Francis and Mary were married on August 1st 1878 in Knox County Illinois.
Francis G. Sanburn's photo as it appears in the "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County".
Francis Granger Sanburn was born to John Gold Sanburn and Althea Owen in 1843. He had three brothers and three sisters. He was educated in the city schools of Knoxville and supplemented the same by a two-year course at Knox College. In November of 1875 he accepted the position of clerk in the First National Bank of Knoxville, and in the following December was elected Cashier. He continued to act in that capacity until the charter of the Bank expired. In January 1885, the Farmers' National Bank of Knoxville was organized, and Mr. Sanburn was elected its President.(1)
Mary's signature dated 1878, seven months before their marriage.
"If straight thy track, or if oblique, thou know'st not."
A quote from "The Two Voices" by Alfred Lord Tennyson, Line 193. (Photo posted on Ancestory.com by Paul McCracken).
Mary Hannah passed away the day after giving birth to their only daughter, Mary Louise, on February 7th 1881.
Mary Louise Sanburn (Gebby)
Soon after her death, Francis Sanburn commissioned a portrait of Mary Hannah.
This was painted from a photo in 1882 by Alfred Payne.
A watercolor sketch done by the artist.
The following are letters of correspondence between Francis Sanburn and Alfred Payne.
Possibly a photo of the Sanburn home. The picture on the wall is identical to the portrait photo of Mary Hannah.
(1)Excerpted from Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois. Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1886.
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A further history of Francis G. Sanburn
There is a good deal more in Francis' history than I felt would fit comfortably in the page above. Here is a longer version for those who might want to dig more deeply.
I've also added an interesting episode concerning Cornnelius Runkle, President of the First National Bank of Knoxville while Francis served as Cashier.
From: freepages.rootsweb.com/~gordonscottsnow/genealogy/pafg141.htm#3842
Among the prominent citizens of Knox County and businessmen of Knoxville whose interest have been identified with the growth and development of the latter place, from childhood to the present time, is the subject of this biographical sketch. He was born in Knoxville Oct. 4, 1843, for 43 years has been a resident of that place, and is at present one of its most substantial and respected citizens, holding the position of President of the Farmer's National Bank.
The father of Mr. Sanburn, John Gold Sanburn, was one of the early settlers of Knox County, and was born in Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N.Y., March 13, 1797 - His father, Nathaniel Sanburn, was a native of Connecticut, born Feb. 6, 1757; and his father, Jedidiah Sanburn, was a resident of Massachusetts.
Francis G. Sanburn was educated in the city schools of Knoxville and supplemented the same by a two years' course at Knox College. Upon his father's death he served his unexpired term as City Clerk, and was elected to the position the following election. In 1866 he resigned the position to which he had been elected, to engage in teaching in Sparta Township. He was appointed Assistant Internal Revenue Assessor, which office he filled with credit. In 1868 he went to Kansas, and spent one season as a clerk in a dry goods store at Topeka.
Returning to this State, we find him, in 1869 as Assistant Postmaster at Watseka, where he remained till the fall of 1871, when he resigned and returned home. In the spring and winter of 1872 he was industriously occupied at Topeka, Kan., and in the following fall, 1873, he again returned to this county and was employed by Phillips Bros., commission dealers and loan agents, with whom he remained until the fall of 1875. November 1 of that year he accepted the position of clerk in the First National Bank of Knoxville, and in the following December was elected Cashier.
He continued to act in that capacity until the charter of the bank expired. In January, 1885, the Farmers' National Bank of Knoxville was organized, and Mr. Sanburn was elected its President. He is a gentleman of far more than ordinary business ability, and one who takes great interest in the development of his city and country. His past has been an honorable one, and his accumulation of this worlds' goods is attributable to his own indomitable energy and perseverance. He is a liberal contributor to all measures calculated to advance the interest of the community in which he resides, and likewise to charity. Mr. Sanburn was married Aug.1, 1878, to Miss Mary H. McCracken. She was born in Franklin County, near Columbus, OH, Jan. 9, 1852. She died Feb. 7, 1881 leaving one child -- Mary L., born Feb. 6, 1881. Mr. Sanburn cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has ever since voted with that party which he so ably represented. Religiously, he is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
The Robbing of the First Nation Bank
As a banker, Mr. Cornnelius Runkle had one experience which shocked the community far and near. It happened on the night of February 6, 1880,(He was 70 years old at the time), and is told in the following language: "His private sleeping room was in his bank building. After he had retired and gone to sleep, he was awakened by three men in his room. They blind-folded and gagged him, after which they took him to the safe and ordered him to unlock it. Not having the combination, he could not do so, and says that he would not, even if he had known the combination. In order to compel to acquiesce in their demands, they hung him up by the neck, then let him down; he still refused. Then they laid him in bed, drew his feet over the footboard, and held the lamp underneath them, burning and torturing him in a most fearful manner. They left about three o'clock in the morning; but before going, they tied Mr. Runkle securely in bed, as they thought; but he succeeded after a couple of hours, in releasing himself, and when he went to breakfast, he gave the alarm. The thieves, however, secured three thousand five hundred dollars, which they found in a small, old fashioned safe, the key of which was in Mr. Runkle's pocket. It was about two months before he fully recovered from the shock to his system, and the effects of the burning. The thieves were never caught."