In a letter dated July 6, 1915 from Pittsboro, Mrs. J.P. Taylor replied to Dr. Ewing Jordan of Philadelphia who had requested information about Dr. John Armstrong Hanks for inclusion in a University of Pennsylvania alumni catalog that was being proposed. Evidently she was in Pittsboro for an extended visit, because she dated the questionaire 7/17/1915 and a notation at the bottom reads, "Pittsboro, N. Ca, until Oct 1915, will be my office. Mrs. J.P. Taylor." The questionaire contains a wealth of genealogical information. Copy from the University of Pennsylvania.
Dear Sir:–
Replying to your favor of July 2nd, which fell into my hands, I cordially submit the following:
Dr. John Armstrong Hanks was my father, also the father of Dr. Lucien Albert Hanks.
He was born on Apr. 19th, 1812. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1837. We have his diploma; also his certificate of examination which states, "John A. Hanks attended a course of examination in this Institution, and acquitted himself creditably," but no date is given–though it gives Dr. N. Chapman President*, and is signed by four M.D. examiners. He married on May 16th 1839, Miss Euphemia M. Morris of Philadelphia, and settled in the old Revolutionary town of Pittsboro N.Ca. Seven children were the offspring of this marriage. He married a second time in the summer of 1851. The only living child of this marriage, Walker C. Hanks, still resides in Pittsboro. Dr. J.A. Hanks was considered an able and very successful physician, and had an extensive practice in this and other counties. If he had any specialties, they were the treatment of women diseases, and the eye.
Many young men studied medicine under him, among whom I remember Mark Bynum of Meridian, Miss. and Joseph Bynum (cousin of Mark) now deceased. They entered the University of Penn. through the influence of Dr. J.A. Hanks–sometime in 1857 or there-abouts. If you wish to know of them you might get desired information of them from Mr. Ernest Bynum, (lawyer) Pittsboro N. Ca.
As to the literary productions of Dr. Hanks I know little; but I remember that he was a regular subscriber to the "London Lancet," and corresponded occasionally with the editor.
Sometime during the 70's he contributed articles (by request) to a Medical Journal in Atlanta, Ga., conducted by Dr. Powell an eminent physician of that city. I suppose these articles related to cases that came directly under his observation, but that was long ago, and I remember only the fact of his writing for the Journal, not the subjects nor substance. Hoping this will help you in your proposed work, I am yours. Mrs. J.P. Taylor
*Dr. Nathaniel Chapman was the first president of the American Medical Association.
