ABNER BANNING is ranked with the solid financial men of Cortland, Ohio.
Of his life we present the following brief sketch:
Abner Banning was born in Hartford Township, Trumbull County, Ohio, March 11, 1819,
son of John and Lydia (Reed) Banning, both natives of Connecticut. His parents came to Trumbull County in 1819, being among the first families that located in Hartford Township. They had a family of thirteen children. His mother died when Abner was a lad of fourteen years. His father lived to be eighty.
At the age of fifteen Abner Banning made a vow to another boy, promising never to drink or swear and to be strictly honest in all his dealings, and he has lived up to this vow all his life. He attended school in the little log schoolhouse, but the principal part of his education was gained by home study and in the practical school of experience. When he was sixteen he left home and went to Vienna township, this county, to live with and work for his brother-in-law, Dr. R. Johnson. He assisted Dr. Johnson in preparing medicines, studied medicine some, and also practiced for a while. When he was twenty-two he married Miss Marie Borden, the youngest of nine daughters of Asil [Asahel] and Phoebe Borden, early settlers of Hartford, this county, where she was born. After his marriage he bought the old Borden farm, for which he paid $6,000, and settled down to farming. He subsequently sold this property for $13,000. He now owns 136 acres of excellent land, all well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
As a farmer and stock-raiser he has been eminently successful. At an early day he dealt largely in stock, frequently selling a yoke of oxen for $200, and receiving $400 to $500 for a span of horses. At present [1893] he rents his farm to Stephen Rogers. Since 1891, he has resided in Cortland, where he has one of the most commodious and attractive residences in the town. He also owns four acres of residence property on School street in this town. Mr. Banning's first wife died in Hartford township, and he subsequently married Mrs. Jerusha Honden, whose maiden name was Roberts. Mr. Banning has no children of his own, but has reared two girls: Caroline Johnson, now the wife of Seth Thompson, of Hartford; and Curence Johnson, wife of O.F. Wallahan, of Wisconsin.
Mr. Banning has been an active member of the Disciple Church ever since he was eighteen years old. He is an ardent Prohibitionist. He took an active part in the organization of the Cortland Bank, and is also a stockholder in the Sharon bank.
