Albert Hankins, BiographyPorter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Albert Hankins
ALBERT HANKINS was born in Lake County, Ind., February 27, 1842, and is the son of William H. and Margaret (Judson) Hankins, who in 1837 came from New York to the county named. After his school days, at the age of fifteen, Mr. Hankins learned the saddler's trade, but during his apprenticeship made a trip to Pike's Peak. In 1862, he went to Montana, where he was engaged in mining ten years. On his return, he engaged in horse-trading in Chicago. Christmas Day, 1872, he was married to Miss Ella A. Thrope, a native of Philadelphia, who has borne him two children - Ella J. and Cora Bell. In the spring of 1882, he purchased 160 acres of land in this township, on which he is erecting one of the finest houses in the county, together with suitable barns and other buildings. Mr. Hankins greatly prides himself upon his fast horses, and is the owner of the celebrated stallion "Aristides," who took the gold medal at the Illinois State fair held in Chicago in 1881. In speaking of a daughter of "Aristides," the New York Spirit of the Times on June 10, 1882, has this to say: "After the race for the Juvenile Stakes at Jerome Park on the 3d, ult., Mr. James R. Keene offered $15,000 for the winner, Henlopen, which Mr. Reed declined. The highest price ever paid for a two-year-old in this country was $15,000 and 25 per cent of his engagements, which Mr. Keene paid for Spendthrift in Christmas week, 1878. It is understood that Mr. Keene was desirous of purchasing with a view to exportation to England. We consider Henlopen one of the best fillies we have seen in years. She belongs to the class of which her relations, Sensation, Harold and Spinaway were the head, and has the development, action and high speed which distinguish the family. Last week we took occasion to notice the success which has attended the sons of Leamington at the stud, and of which Aristides is the most recent example. Aristides or 'The Red Horse' was, in our judgement, one of the best of the sons of the old hero Erdenheim, and as a stayer he ranked second to none. He won the first Kentucky Derby and the Withers at Jerome Park. He could have won the Belmont Stakes, also, but Mr. McGarth had backed Calvin heavily during the winter, and orders were imperative. It was the English Derby of 1827 over again, when Lord Jersey had Glenartney's head almost pulled off to let Mameluke win. At the club-house, Aristides was fighting for his head, but the Negro boy, Lewis, held him like a vise in order to let Swim win with Calvin, amid shouts of "Let go that horse's head." resounding on all sides. But 'Linden saw another sight' when, a year after, Aristides beat Ten Broeck to a standstill, making the fastest mile and a furlong on record - 3:45 1/2. Mr. McGrath's mistaken prejudice in favor of Tom Bowling denied Aristides proper opportunities at the stud, and though he has been off the turf for four years or more, he probably has not a dozen foals in list. Aristides, like his Athenian namesake, who was surnamed 'The Just', was known far and wide as 'The Red Horse,' from the peculiar blood red color of his coat. This he has transmitted to his daughter Henlopen, and which, with his own peculiar make, he has transferred to her, which refutes the assertion which we suppose will now be in order, that all the merit belongs to Susan Ann, as is the case whenever a son of Leamington succeeds, just as it was when Leamington himself was alive."
Source: Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p.
Page(s) in Source: 393-384
This biography has been transcribed exactly as it was originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.
Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook