Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 312 - 313 

ZAVEN LANNING, a faithful and valiant soldier in the late war, after the settlement of the difficulties between the North and the South, carried on farming in his native State of Ohio until the spring of 1881. He then made his way to this county, settling soon afterward on his present farm in Valley Center Township, where he has since resided. He was at once recognized as a valued addition to the community, a man likely to further its best interests, the friend of religious and educational institutions, and an enterprising citizen. He has served as Director of School District No. 9, almost from the beginning, a period of six years. 

     The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in Guernsey County, Ohio, where his birth took place Oct. 16, 1828, at the modest homestead of his parents, Isaac M. and Lydia (Fuller) Lanning. He at an early age became familiar with the various employments of farm life, and received his education in the district school. Isaac Lanning and his wife were natives of New Jersey, and spent their entire lives in that State and Ohio. The father died about 1866, when seventy-six years of age, and the mother, surviving her husband for a period of nineteen years, passed away at her home in Ohio in May, 1885. They owned and occupied a good farm in New Jersey, which was devoted largely to the raising of hogs and cattle. The mother for many years was a consistent member of the Baptist Church. The father was not identified with any religious organization, but politically, uniformly voted the Democratic ticket.  

     There were in the family of Isaac and Lydia Lanning six sons and two daughters, the record of whom is as follows: Martha became the wife of David Fisher, of Guernsey County, Ohio; Robert married Miss Margaret Kennedy, and is now a resident of Blackford County, Ind.; Jerry married Miss Jane Perrigo, and is farming in Guernsey County, Ohio, where her brother, Oakley, who married Miss Martha Lanning, is also located; Mary is the wife of William Little, a well-to-do farmer of Valley Center Township, this county; John married Miss Elizabeth Styles, and during the late war enlisted in the 80th Ohio Infantry, in 1863, and died that same year while in the service; George married Miss Mary Emeline Brown, and occupies the old homestead in Guernsey County, Ohio. 

     Zaven Lanning continued a resident of the Buckeye State until twenty-two years of age, attending school during the winter season, and laboring on the farm in the summer. Altogether he carried on farming in Guernsey County for a period of thirty years, with the exception of the time spent in the army. On the 1st of January, 1861, after the outbreak of the Rebellion, he enlisted in the 80th Ohio Infantry, his company being under command of Capt. J. M. Anderson, for a period of eighteen months, and who was then succeeded by William Wagstaff. After two changes in the Lieutenancy, Mr. Lanning was given a commission as First Lieutenant, which he held until being mustered out of service. 

     Lieut. Lanning met the rebels in twelve pitched battles, namely: Iuka, Corinth, Port Gibson, Champion Hills (both engagements), Raymond, Mission Ridge and Resaca, Ga. The last named was one of the principal battles of the war. In addition to these the 80th Regiment was also engaged in the famous "charge of McAllister." At the time of the surrender of the Confederate forces under Gen. Lee to Gen. Grant, and the troops of Gen. Johnston to Gen. Sherman, the 80th Regiment proceeded to Richmond, Va., whence, after resting a few days, they went on to Washington City for the purpose of being mustered out of service. From the capital they were sent to Louisville, Ky., and thence to Little Rock, Ark., where the 80th was mustered out, and the boys in blue were permitted to return to their homes. 

     Our subject, upon receiving his honorable discharge, sought the home of his childhood in Guernsey County, Ohio, where he continued to reside until coming to this State. In 1850 he married Miss Elizabeth Little, who became the mother of two sons, and died six years later, in 1856. Their eldest child, Isaac N., died Aug. 31, 1880, in Guernsey County, Ohio; George M. is employed as a teacher in Morganza, Pa. 

     The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married on the 12th of August, 1859, was in her girlhood Miss Margaret Whitcraft, who departed this life on the 10th of August, 1881, at her home in Sedgwick County. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the mother of six daughters and two sons. These were named respectively: James W., Eckley B., Mollie, Alma, Amanda Jane, Carrie, Elsie A. and Zella. All are living, and two daughters and one son are married. James W. took for his wife Miss Emma Oxley, of Guernsey County, Ohio, and they were married in January, 1882; this lady died on the 4th of April, 1887; she was a member of the Baptist Church. Mollie is the wife of William Lowry, a real estate man of Wichita, and doing business with the firm of Sherman & Barwise; Alma is the wife of Samuel Gibson, who is farming in Guernsey County, Ohio. 

     The present wife of our subject, formerly Miss Lydia Whitcraft, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, March 11, 1839, and is the daughter of James and Mary (Cransteon) Whitcraft, who were natives respectively of Ireland and Ohio, and are now deceased. Their family of nine children included seven daughters and two sons, namely: Mary, Nancy, Thomas, Margaret, Lydia, Isaac, Jane, Sarah Ellen and Amanda Matilda.

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