Banks Valley Nathaniel and Moroni Green pastured stock along the fertile grasslands in what is now known as Banks Valley. William Banks and his wife, Margaret, settled here in 1875. He was an immigrant from England who had participated in the American Civil War. He named Cherry Spring and Cherry Creek, which was near his home in Banks Valley. The valley was named after him. It was here that they raised a large family of nine children, three others died young. They lived the rest of their lives in Banks Valley.
Nine of the earliest settlers were William Banks, Jack Quayle, Fergus Brown, Charles G. Keetch, Matt Schmitt, Art Nate, Henry Schmitt, Boyd Miller, and John Wells. At the time of William Banks’ death in 1915, there were 17 families living in Banks Valley. The last public meeting was held in his home where he hoped to organize the settlers to establish their own community, church, and post office. A petition was circulated, but it never was processed after this death. He planned a store to be built where the lane to the ranch left the main road.
Mrs. Edna Stephens Meyers used to tell stories about her happy memories of Banks Valley. She said that William and Margaret Banks held a big party at their Banks Valley Ranch each summer. Everyone was invited. They hitched their horses and wagons up and filled them with food and bedding. A lot of people went to the party. There was a dinner and dancing most of the night. The Meyers family would spend the night there and return to Montpelier the following day.
When Dr. Paul Daines owned land in Banks Valley, he allowed the people in the area to hold a Rendezvous. There was a pageant and a Dutch oven dinner served to hundreds of people coming to watch the stagecoach, horse-drawn wagons, cavalry, cowboys, and Indians put on a big show for many years in the late 1980s through 1990s.
Resources:
- Notes of Elisha P. Keetch, and Max Lauridsen