Samuel Collins Bankston

Samuel Collins Bankston was born 02 Sept 1887, Griffin Jackson CO, GA, died 07 Nov 1952 Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 31 Aug 1914 Hastings, St Johns CO, FL at M.E. Church South Parsonage by Rev. J. W. Palmer to Katherine Delores Johnston, dau of John Baggs Johnston and Mary Ketus Carter, born 17 Mar 1895 Espanola, St Johns now Flagler CO FL d 4 June 1982, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL Both are buried Espanola Cemetery, Espanola, Flagler CO, FL.

They resided in Hastings where he was employed on the Killingsworth Farm. Later he worked in the meat department of Fred Kaiser's grocery store. They then moved to Mound Grove in Volusia CO just south of the Flagler CO line, where he was employed by the Mound Grove Fruit Company.

In 1925 they moved to Bunnell where he was employed in the meat department of grocery story owned by Clarence Pellicer, then was the butcher for the Bunnell Mercantile Company. In 1942 he bought the grocery store and meat market in Bunnell from William and Curtis Deen, when they enlisted in the military service.

In late June 1952 he purchased the Flagler Grocery from Mr and Mrs F L Malphurs. He changed the name to Bankston's Grocery and Market. As an experienced butcher his clients were always faithful followers.

Katherine Delores Johnston Bankston was a charter member of the General Joseph Eggleston Johnston Chapter #2317, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL joining on 14 May 1962 with eligibility based on the service record of Joseph M Johnston, Co I, 25th GA Infantry.

According to a legend in the Fred Kaiser family, Collins Bankston was a resident of Bunnell prior to 1913 before moving to Hastings. Mr and Mrs Bankston were the parents of three children;

1. Emily Katherine (Kate) Bankston, born 12 June 1916, Bunnell, St Johns now Flagler CO, FL, d 2 Jan 1917, FL, buried Pellicer Creek Cemetery, St Johns CO, FL
.
2. Theda Jeanette Bankston born 16 April 1920 Hastings, St Johns CO, FL, died 23 Mar 2001, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married 22 Jan 1938 Macclenny, Baker CO, FL by Judge Frank Dowling to Robert Thomas Bertha, Jr., son of Robert Thomas Bertha and Mary Harvoth, born 06 June 1918 Cabin Creek, Kanawha CO, WV, died 04 Jan 1998 . Divorced Dec 1976, Flagler CO, FL.

Theda Jeanette Bankston Bertha was charter member of the General Joseph Eggleston Johnston Chapter #2317, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL joining on 14 May 1962 with eligibility based on the service record of Joseph M Johnston, Company I, 25th Reg GA Infantry. She served as 1st Vice President (1962-1964) and recorder of crosses (1964-1968, two terms). Issue;

(1) Robert Thomas (Tommy) Bertha III b 30 Oct 1938, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married 10 Dec 1959, First Methodist Church, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL Phyllis Rea Hazen, dau of Frank Meyer Hazen, Jr., and Eva R (LNU), born 1 Feb 1941. Issue;

A. Mary Katherine Bertha born 03 May 1960, Flagler Clinic and Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL

B. Robert Thomas (Robbie) Bertha IV born 26 Jun 1961, Flagler Clinic and Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married Jennifer Yvonne McMullian, dau of James DuPont McMullian. Issue;

a. Thomas James Bertha born 25 Feb 1981

b. Troy Allen Bertha born 15 Jan 1986

c. Candace Bertha

d. Allen Travis Bertha born 11 Jun 1962, Flagler Clinic and Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL

(2) Samuel Johnston Bertha born 10 Mar 1941 Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL married 07 July 1961, First Methodist Church, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Joyce Marlene (Molly) Ricks, dau of John T Ricks, born 19 Oct 1943, DeLeon Springs, Volusia CO, FL. Issue;

A. Samuel Johnston Bertha II born 18 Jul 1962, Flagler Clinic & Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, married Debbie Ribaudo.

B. Montgomery Bert (Monty) Bertha born 03 Sep 1964, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL

(3) John Howard Bertha, born 09 Jan 1951, Flagler Hospital, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL, married Oct 1968, Methodist Church, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL, Karen Price. Issue;

A. John Howard Bertha Jr., born 31 Jan 1969, Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL

B. Melissa Ann Bertha, born 30 Aug 1971, Bunnell General Hospital, Bunnell, Flagler CO, FL

3. Howard Samuel Bankston, born 17 June 1925, Mound Grove, Volusia CO, FL, killed in action, 22 Sept 1944, Peleliu Island, Pacific Ocean.

The following story appeared in The Flagler Tribune, Thursday, December 7, 1944; HOWARD S. BANKSTON, Private First Class of the U. S. Marine Corps, and son of Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Bankston of Bunnell was killed "in action on September 20, 1944 in the performance of his duty and service of his country," a telegram from Washington delivered to the parents here last Saturday stated.

Private Bankston was 20 years of age, and enlisted in the Marine Corps at Orlando, Florida, on December 11, 1942. He took most of his training in California, being sent to the Southwest Pacific theater a few months later.

He took part in a number of. actions there before losing his life on one of the Pacific islands.

He was born and reared in Bunnell and attended the local high school before entering the Marine Corps.

Surviving are his parents and one sister, Mrs. Robert Bertha, also of Bunnell

Howard enlisted on 11 Dec 1942 at Orlando, Orange CO, FL as a Pvt in the USMC, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Div and was killed in action on 20 Sep 1944 at Peleliu, Pavlau Island as a PFC. Period of service was 17 months. Decorations included the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/3 battle stars, American Theater of Operations Medal, WW II Victory Medal.

Mrs. Katherine Bankston was presented the Cross of Military Service from the United Daughters of the Confederacy, General Joseph Eggleson Chapter on 20 Apr 1969, posthumously for her son, Howard Samuel Bankston, USMC.

NOTE: The Crosses of Military Service, the outgrowth of the Cross of Honor awarded to Confederate Veterans, include WW I Cross of Military Service; Spanish-American; Philippine Insurrection; WWII; Korea and Vietnam. The decorations have been established as a testimonial to the patriotic devotion of certain Confederate Veterans and their descendants, are not given for any one special act of bravery, but to officers and privates alike for endurance.

 

Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who listed her sources as Published Articles and Jeanette Bankston Bertha.

Additional sources used by the compiler were: Florida Death Index, Social Security Death Index Record, 1877-1998, World War I Draft Registration Cards; 1917-1918, the US Government listing of World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas and Profiles; General Joe's Daughters, by Geraldine Vaughn (published by Gen Jos Eggleton Johnston Chap 2317, UDC, Bunnell, FL, 2005)

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com