My Genealogy Hound

Robert N. Banister, attorney-at-law at El Dorado Springs since 1882, is the oldest practicing attorney in town. He was born in Ray County, Mo., in 1856, and is the son of Judge Nathaniel and Louvice (Craig) Banister, the grandson of Thomas Banister, and a great-grandson of Thomas Banister, who was a native of South Carolina, but who died in Kentucky. Thomas Banister was born in Kentucky, and died in Ray County, Mo. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a major in the Mexican War. Judge Nathaniel Banister and wife were natives of Nicholas County, Ky., and both born in the year 1830, he in January, and she in June. They came with their parents to Missouri in 1841, and were married in Ray County of that State in 1850. Judge Banister died in 1877, but the mother is still living. The Judge was a successful farmer for many years, and after that was a legal practitioner for seventeen years. He was judge of the court of common pleas of Ray County, from about 1864 to 1867, and was one of the prominent men of the county. He was of English descent. Robert N. Banister, the second of nine children, received his education in Richmond College, from which institution he graduated in 1875. He then taught a number of years, after which, for a year, he was in the law department of the University of Columbia, and was admitted to the bar of Ray County in 1878. In 1882 he came to El Dorado, and was there married in January, 1883, to Miss Mollie, daughter of Wesley and Nancy Gentry, and a native of Carrollton. Mr. and Mrs. Gentry are now living in Cedar County, Mo. Mr. Banister is a Democrat in politics, is an active politician, and his first presidential vote was cast for Gen. Hancock, in 1880. He is an able and fluent speaker, a deep reasoner, and bids fair to become one of the best lawyers in Cedar County. He practices in Vernon, St. Clair and Cedar counties. Mr. Banister has a good house in town, and is the father of two bright children.