Biography

1809 - 1884

The “Father of Lawrence County” and the son of Major Ezekiel and Jane (Cubbison) Sankey originally of Lewistown, Mifflin County, Senator Sankey was born January 10, 1809, Mercer County; permanently settled in Edinburgh Lawrence County.  The Senator was a banker, newspaper editor, and Lincoln appointee as Collector of Revenue in 1862-1866.  He taught school, 1833-34, served as a State Public Works contractor 1835-1840, elected justice of the peace in the latter year; elected as a Whig to the state House of Representatives in 1843; member of the state senate representing Mercer County, 1848-1850, where he was instrumental in passing a bill for the organization of Lawrence County; member of the Senate’s Committee of Claims; member State Board of Equalization (taxes); Treasurer of the Northwestern Railroad Co. (director for several years); president of the Bank of Newcastle; purchased the Lawrence Journal in 1867-1874; served as School Director; travelled and toured England while delivering his grandchildren to his son, Ira David Sankey, a Methodist pioneer of gospel music. He married Mary Leeper.  The Senator died on January 5, 1884, in Lawrence County.
 
History of Lawrence County, 1877.