Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
Lawrence County Pennsylvania 1897
[p. 232] is one of the successful farmers as well as law-abiding and respected citizens of Shenango township, and resides on his farm near the center of the township, on which farm his birth took place Dec. 2, 1846. His parents were James and Jane (Savors) Sankey, the latter a native of Enon Valley, this county, and a daughter of John Savors, a farmer of Lawrence County. James Sankey was born in Neshannock township in 1800, and departed this life in 1886. His father, "Aikey" Sankey, came from the east of the mountains at a very early day, settling here in the wilderness as it was then. He had served in the War of the Revolution, and he lived to be a very old man.
Our subject was reared on the farm where he was born and where he has spent his whole life; the house in which he was born stood at the foot of the hill, and this continued to be his home for many years, at length moving from it to a dwelling he had built half-way up the hill near the spring. A few years since he erected a commodious and well-appointed residence on the summit of the hill not a furlong from his birthplace. His life has thus been spent from the very beginning to the present time on the homestead, and that it has been a happy one, untroubled by oppressing cares or burdened by troubles, is shown by his youthful and robust appearance. The farm consists of fifty-eight acres, splendidly situated, with numerous springs to provide water for domestic purposes and for the use of the stock. He gives his principal attention to growing small fruits for the city markets, but also carries on general farming quite extensively.
Mr. Sankey was married in New Castle, March 13, 1867, to Miss Amanda Connors, daughter of Michael and Esther (Smith) Connors, and of this union five children have been born: John, who married Elizabeth Rosbery, and is in business in New Castle; William P., who is farming with his father; Maude Marie, the wife of Henry A. Anderson, a carpenter residing in New Castle; Essie May; and Edna Curll. Mrs. Sankey and her daughters are memhers of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Greenwood. In his politics, Mr. Sankey is a conscientious Republican, and votes to uphold the principles of that party with the convictions of a man who believes he is right, and dares to maintain his stand; he has served his native township as school director and as assessor. He is a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.
Mr. Sankey has just opened a valuable coal mine, located about one-quarter mile from his residence, and within 100 feet from the highway. The vein is about twenty-four inches thick, of as fine a quality of coal as can be found in Western Pennsylvania, and he finds ready sale for the same in New Castle, Pa.
Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens Lawrence County Pennsylvania
Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
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Updated: 14 May 2001