(Lafayette, Indiana Weekly Courier, Friday April 20, 1917)

JOHN TANKERSLEY CALLED BY DEATH

After an illness of nearly three weeks John Tankersley died at his home, 824 South Twenty-eighth Street, Saturday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock. He had been in a critical condition for several days and the immediate cause of his death was heart failure.

He had for several years held the office of Justice of the Peace and was widely known through the county. John Tankersley was the oldest son of William and Susan Tankersley and was born in eastern Tennessee, May 13, 1843. When a boy he moved with his parents to the Shenandoah Valley and at an early age was drafted into a Virginia cavalry regiment. He spent nine months in the federal prison at Baltimore and Point Lookout. He was released from prison through the influence of his parents who, from that beginning were for the government and its flag and who, as refugees had come to Indiana and later become friends of the late Governor Godlove S Roth, who rendered them valuable assistance. Mr Tankersley always believed that the south merited defeat and was a loyal citizen.

He was married to Charlotte Richards, of Putman county, Indiana, September, 1871, and after their marriage they moved to Wheeling W.Virginia. In 1880 he returned to Indiana and located at Colfax. In 1884 he came to Lafayette and followed the shoe making trade. A number of years ago Mr Tankersley became interested in temperance reform, and in 1906 became grand chief templar of Indiana good Templary. When the late John W Warner, Justice of Peace, died, Mr Tankersley was selected by appointment for the place made vacant and later succeeded to the office by popular vote. He made an excellent record as a justice and was a man of strict integrity. Deceased was a member of Congress Street M E church, and was a man of deep religious convictions. He belonged to the masonic fraternity and for years had acted as tyler. He is survived by a widow and one son, William Tankersley. He also leaves the following brothers and sisters; Mrs Nancy Ream, Mrs Margaret Morgan and George W Tankersley, of Colfax; Richard Tankersley, of Frankfort ; Mrs Orlando Haynes, of Adrian, Mo; Mrs John Gant, of Stockwell. The funeral was held from the home Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock and Rev C. P. Brown delivered the sermon. The interment was in Springvale cemetery. The funeral was conducted by the Masons.

Note: John's obituary states he was born in Tennessee, however census records and his death certificate indicate he was born in Virginia.