David Sankey

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.