Born in Shelby County, Kentucky, of Holland Dutch descent, on the 5th of January, 1823, a son of Peter A. and Mary (Voorhies) Banta, natives of Ohio. Mr. Banta was the ninth in order of birth in a family of ten children who grew to maturity. He grew to manhood in Johnson County, Indiana. He removed to Decatur County, Iowa, and became recognized as an important factor in local political circles, and in 1872 took an active part in the campaign as a liberal republican, supporting Horace Greeley for president. In 1876, however, he avowed himself a democrat and in that campaign supported Tilden and Hendricks. Without his consent or knowledge he was nominated by the greenback party for the office of county supervisor and, as this nomination was indorsed by the democrats, he was elected by a fair majority, running ahead of the state ticket. Although he was not in full accord with the liquor policy of the Democratic Party, which had not then adopted the local option plank, in 1883 Mr. Banta was nominated as the democratic candidate for state representative. He was elected to that office, leading the state ticket in Decatur County by one hundred and eighty-nine votes. Upon the expiration of his term he wished to retire from political life, but against his will was almost elected mayor of Lamoni in March, 1886. In all of his public service he placed the general welfare before personal aggrandizement and his record was highly creditable. Mr. Banta was married in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on the 6th of October, 1846, to Miss Emeline Campbell. Mrs. Banta passed away in Decatur County on the 14th of May, 1876, when forty-nine years of age. On the 29th of November, 1877, Mr. Banta married Miss Hattie E. Crosby. They became the parents of four children.
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