Ida Tarbell hoped throughout her life that someone would take up the challenge of straightening out the Hanks issue. She stumbled somewhat when she endorsed the work of
Carolyn Hanks Hitchcock. She later corresponded with a woman named
Maya Hank Rudolph about the Hanks genealogy but throughout her life, Tarbell was never satisfied with the dearth of verifiable proof. She also had a long-running "argument" with
William E. Barton over his claims, which she never accepted.
According to the Abraham Lincoln Bookshop, Adin Baber's
Nancy Hanks The Destined Mother of a President is on their list of essential Lincoln books, although
it would cost about $350. As I stated in an earlier
post, Baber actually wrote three different books on Hanks genealogy, only one of which is online.
STS Lincolnite is absolutely correct that without verifiable DNA evidence from Nancy or a descendent, absolute proof will be forever lacking.
Best
Rob
Nancy Hanks' lineage
