Person:John Shankland (3)

According to Shankland Family Research by Albert Shankland, John married first Christina Adams (1831-185(?)) in 1846 and had 3 children, then Arminda R. Judd in 1864 and had 3 children, and finally Mary Levina (Constant) Rinker in 1877. "John H. was through the war -- had a long experience in Andersonville -- and is now living with his third wife in Indiana," {Copy of letter from Dr. A. B. Stoops to Dr. P. H. Stoops, 12 Apr 1890}

According to 'Descendants of William Shankland', he had 3 children with Christina: Permelia Francis, 1847-1873; Zora or Gary Vilinder, 1849-ca. 1870; and Orlando Lorane, 1852. He had 3 children with Arminda: Walter Leslie, 1867-1930; Leona Iota, 1869-1948; and Olie Elmo, 1872-1955.

There are also marriages of John H. Shankland to Polly S. Alexander in 1858 and Arminda R. Judd in 1864, both in Sangamon Co., listed in the Illinois State Records. I believe Polly and John may have divorced, as she remarried in 1865.

"John H. Shankland born in May 1826 did much toward building up the Town of Dawson. He came to Illinois in 1856. He was a veteran of the Civil War and was wounded in the Battle of Corinth and carried a bullet in his head all the rest of his life. He came to Dawson after being mustered out of service and married Mrs. Mary Constant Rinker. Mrs. Shankland had one child by her first marriage, Antoinette Metcalf who had one son Don R. Metcalf who lives North of Dawson on the old home farm. {Township History 1904 Past and Present of Springfield and Sangamon County, <http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilsangam/twp-mech.htm>}

"In the death of John H. Shankland, which occurred June 21, 1909, Sangamon County lost one of it representative citizens, a man who had done much towards building up the town of Dawson, Ill., in more than one sense. He was a veteran of the Civil War, in which he received wounds, scars from which he carried to the time of his death. John H. Shankland was educated in Kentucky and during his boyhood days worked for his father on the home farm, but in 1856 came to Illinois and settled in Springfield, where he started to work as a carpenter and builder, a trade he had learned in his native State. In 1861, when the call came for 100-day volunteers, Mr. Shankland was one of the first to offer his services to the Union cause, enlisting in Company I, Seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Babcock and Gen. John C. Cook, and after his time had expired he veteranized in the same company and regiment, enlisting for three years. He was First Sergeant of his company and took part in many battles, among them being Fort Donelson, Belmont, Shiloh and Corinth, at which latter battle he was wounded in the shoulder and jaw, and carried a bullet in his head all the rest of his life. He was taken prisoner by the Confederates May 7, 1864, and served eight months in the prisons at Andersonville, Cahaba and Florence. After being paroled July 7, 1865, Mr. Shankland was mustered out of the service at Washington, D.C., the 25th of the same month. After completing his services to his country, Mr. Shankland returned to Sangamon County and located in Dawson, where he followed the trade of carpenter until 1874, then went to Riverton, but two years later went back to Dawson, his home until his death. He also spent a little time engaged in farming. He served as Police Magistrate for sixteen years, was a Notary Public, and was School Director for twelve years consecutively at one time and for sixteen years consecutively at another...On December 29, 1877, Mr. Shankland was married in Dawson, Ill., to Mrs. Mary Constant Rinker, who was born September 25, 1839, the daughter of Jacob and Amelia (Crocker) Constant, {Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Sangamon County, Biographical, 1912, <http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilsangam/1912/shankland.htm>}

In the 1850 census for Boone Co., Indiana, John H. Shanklin is 24, a farmer from Kentucky, with wife Christina, 20, born Kentucky and children Permerla F., 2, and Zona N., 1 -- both born Kentucky. {p.112a, district 7} These are probably the 'Permelia and Cyara' listed with his brother Jesse H. Shankland in the 1860 census for Boone Co., Indiana. NOTE: Albert Shankland's research notes that their family record "does not list a Zora or Zona but instead a Gary Vilinder, female, born 8 Mar 1849".

I have not found him in the 1860 census. His daughters are living with his brother Jesse, his son with brother Kendall, and [his second wife?] Polly Alexander is living with her brothers in Springfield, with infant Jesse, shown as Jesse Shankland in 1870.

In the 1870 census for Mechanicsburg, Sangamon Co., Illinois, John Shankland is a carpenter, age 40 from Kentucky, Arminda is 36 from Illinois, and their children are Walter L., 2; and Leona, 9/12 -- both born Illinois. {p.237} Her father Rezin Judd is listed on the same page.

In the 1880 census for Dawson, Sangamon Co., Illinois, John H. Shankland is a carpenter, age 52 from Kentucky (father Maryland, mother Pennsylvania). His wife Mary L. is 40, born Illinois (father Kentucky, mother Illinois) The children are Walter L. 13; Leonia I. 11; and Olie E. son, 9 -- all born in Illinois. There is also a stepdaughter Antoinett Rinker, age 17, born Illinois (father Pennsylvania, mother Illinois), and a niece, Lucy Constant, age 5, born Arkansas (parents Illinois). There are also [boarders?] George Peddy, 33, works in coal mine, born in England; and Frank Rodman, blacksmith, 32 from Pennsylvania. {NARA T9-0249, p. 394a}

In the 1900 census for Mechanicsburg, Sangamon Co., Illinois, John H. 'Shanklen' is 71, born May 1829 in Kentucky (parents Pennsylvania), married 23 years, carpenter; with wife Mary 60 born Sept 1839 in Illinois (father Kentucky, mother Georgia), with 1 of 1 child living. Her daughter Nettie Metcalf is 37, born Feb 1863 in Illinois (father Pennsylvania, mother Illinois), widow, with 1 of 2 children living; and her son Don R. 6, born Oct 1893 in Illinois (parents same). {ed 116, sh 13b, p. 156}