The Dave Banks Family - Family Histories

     Dave Banks Sr., and wife Sarah (Sallie) and their five children arrived in Coleman County, in 1920 from Big Springs, Tennessee (Murfeesboro area). He was one of five orphan children of Clementine and Caldonia Banks. Clementine was born in Virginia, 1843, died 1905, in Big Springs, Tennessee. His wife, Caldonia, was born in 1859 in Tennessee, date of death unknown. Sarah's (Sallie Harrell) parents were Albert J. and Louise Harrell. Dave Banks, Sr., was reared by Riley Robinson, who was a State Representative of Tennessee. Other brothers and sisters were reared by other families.

     After hearing about the large cotton farms in Coleman County from brothers Bill and Lee Banks, it seemed like a paradise where a large family could make a fortune and live better, compared to working small plots of worn out land in Tennessee. Dave and Sallie sold their homestead in Tennessee and bought train tickets for Santa Anna, after having an arrangement to share crop farm for R. E. Mobley on his large acreage about five miles north of Santa Anna Mountains. They lived on a number of farms, familiar names were Mobleys, Wheelers, Evans, Teagles, Lowes. Later on, we rented a house in the Liberty Community near the Brown County line. Also, our parents lived in Santa Anna a number of years. Finally, Dave and Sallie moved to the Miller Ranch close to their daughter, Sealy Miller, in the Leaday Community. Dave, Sallie and five children lived in Mobley's Garage while he was having a new West Texas style bungalow built for them. The children of Dave and Sarah:

     (1) Vera, born July 4, 1904. Vera married Drew Vinson, a farmer. She was a Registered Nurse and worked at the Sealy Hospital in Santa Anna and nursed many special cases in their homes. Vera died March 16, 1947.

     (2) Albert, born October 29, 1906, spent most of his life working in oil fields. He married Ruth Short in Brady in 1936. They had two daughters, Sandra Jean and Candice Ann. Albert died August 5, 1972.

     (3) Mary, born September 8, 1910, worked many years at the W. R. Kelly Stores in Santa Anna, after attending Draughon's Business College in Abilene. Mary married Bill (Wm.) Myers in Corpus Christi in 1938; they had one daughter, Helen Jeanette.

     (4) Lucille, born June 26, 1913, was married to Ward Vinson of Rockwood, they had one daughter, Beverly.

     (5) Alberta, born April 12, 1916, married Edward Johnson of Corpus Christi, they had one son, Charles David. Alberta graduated from Brady High and later lived with her parents in Buffalo Community and attended Eureka Church for many years, where she was a pianist; she was entered in many beauty contests. Her nickname was "Jane."

     (6) Dave, Jr. born Feb. 26, 1921, with a "bunch of nicknames like Junior - June - Peter - Pete. He attended Mayo School, Santa Anna Elementary, Buffalo High, where he graduated in 1939. He attended San Antonio College for an Associate of Arts Degree. Dave married Victorine Martha Ebert (Babe), 1941, Corpus Christi, and had one daughter Diana Lee. Dave served in WW II, and achieved the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

     (7) Sealy was born May 23, 1923, deceased September 8, 1955; named by Dr. T.R. Sealy, who was attending physician at birth. She attended Santa Anna Elementary School and Buffalo High School. She married John Byrd during her high school days, they had one girl, Delores Ann. Sealy divorced John Byrd, and worked as an L.V.N. at the Sealy Hospital. She married Jozach Miller V of Leaday. His parents and family owned the "Day Ranch Lands." Jozach was manager of the estate. They had one daughter, Sarah Jo. The children were extra close, which was a blessing after the death of their parents. Sarah Jo doesn't have any children.

     (8) Harrell Love, June 25, 1925, grew up in the Buffalo Community and excelled in sports and academics. After his graduation from Buffalo, he went into the U. S. Navy for 3 years, then went to John Tarleton College, North Texas State and earned his degree at St. Mary's University in San Antonio. Having experience in radio during the war, he returned to this vocation, climbed the ladder to the top, and is now Vice President of Turner Broadcasting. General Manager of 8 radio stations in Texas. Harrell married Doris Jean Gipson of Three Rivers.
She was a nurse at Baptist Memorial Hospital, they met and were married in San Antonio. They have one son, Harrell, Jr.

     Dave Banks passed away April 18, 1948, and Sallie lived with her daughter, Alberta Johnson, until she passed away July 9, 1963.