W. P. BLANKS |
W. P. Blanks was born in what is known as the Cook
settlement, Liberty Township, St. Francois Co, Mo., November 29, 1838, and is the son of
Zeno T. and Maria (Withers) Blanks, and grandson of Shadrock and Lydia (Perrin) Blanks.
The grandparents were born, reared and married in Louisa County, VA. Shadrock Blanks was a
farmer by occupation. He moved from his native country after marriage and settled in
Lincoln County, Ky., where he died. His widow came to Missouri with Zeno Blanks and
settled in Liberty Township. Zeno was born in Lincoln County, Ky., near what was known as
The Crab Orchard. He came to Missouri with his mother, located in Liberty Township on what
is known as the Crow farm, and built the present brick house that stands there, though,
the present owners have made an addition to it. Here the mother died, and here Mr. Zeno
Blanks also passed his last days. He died in 1844. His widow survived him about six years.
Both were members of the Christian Church. Mr. Blanks was an old line Whig in his
political preferences and had held the office of justice of the peace for some time. W. P.
Blanks, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Liberty Township, St. Francois County,
and secured a fair education in the schools of that county. He was reared to farm life,
and about 1861 he engaged in mercantile pursuits at Libertyville, where he continued until
the fall of 1884, and then sold out. Just before completion of the Iron Mountain branch
road through Knob Lick, he, in connection with John E. Clardy, erected a building in the
last named place, and engaged in merchandising there. They afterward dissolved
partnership, and Mr. Blanks was not connected with business in Knob Lick. In the fall of
1884 he removed his family to Knob Lick and has ever since resided there. He was married
in DeSoto, Mo., August 16, 1869, to Miss Minerva Bainbridge, a native of Jonesboro, Ill.,
and the daughter of Col. Allen and Nancy (Spiller) Bainbridge. Both parents were natives
of Tennessee, but later removed to De Soto, Mo. Col. Bainbridge was engaged in milling and
merchandising while in Jonesboro, Ill. He also represented his county two terms in the
Legislature. After removing to De Soto, Mo., he engaged in fruit growing, and died October
28, 1873. His wife is still living, and is now residing in St. Louis. To Mr. and Mrs.
Blanks were born these children: Florence E., Maria B., Arthur Withers, Mary Alice and
Anna Grace. Mr. Blanks is a member of Knob Lick Lodge No. 337, A.O.U.W., and is treasurer
of the same. He represented the lodge in the general convention at St. Louis, in February,
1888. He is a Democrat in his political views, and, with his wife and two daughters, is a
member of the Christian Church, of which he is an elder. GOODSPEEDS HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888, Page 623. |
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