Blankenship

John BLANKENSHIP was born in PA.  Source: 1880, 1885, 1900 census records which show Martha's son, John R. BLANKENSHIP's father's birthplace as PA.

John BLANKENSHIP and Martha SCARLET were married.  Martha SCARLET (daughter of Henry SCARLETT and Mary KNIP) was born in Mar 1845 in KY.  She died on 30 May 1907 in Soap Creek Tp, Davis Co, IA.  She was buried in Baer Cem, Davis Co, IA.  Surname based on the birth record in Davis Co., IA for Isaac O. Smith listing father Sargus SMITH and mother Martha (SCARLET).  When Isaac married in Ottumwa, IA in 1908, he listed his parents as Sardis SMITH and Martha HULETT, but a later found Pension record for Joseph RICHARDSON gives his wife's name as Martha SCARLET.  An 1850 census record in Christian Co., KY shows a fatherless family headed by Mary SCARLETT and five small children including five year old Martha.  Our speculation, unproven as yet, is that Martha's mother married a HULETT and the children were raised as Huletts.  There was a HULETT family near Martha and Joseph Richardson in later life that seemed to have some kind of family tie.  A marriage record in Schuyler Co., MO shows a Martha SCARLET marrying Edward HARRISON on 1 Jan 1860 and then a Martha HARRISON marrying Elisha DeWITT on 29 Dec 1861. These may have been this same Martha.  Her marriage to BLANKENSHIP still hasn't been found.   Family of Sardis and Martha taken from the 1880 Federal census and the 1885 Iowa State census plus the birth record of Isaac in Davis Co., IA.   Married to Joseph RICHARDSON 24 Nov 1892, Davis Co., IA by Jas. Rouch, JP -Book 5, Page 530.  The 1900 Census shows a daughter of Joseph: Eva D. RICHARDSON, born Mar 1886 in IA plus stepsons, "Jack" and Isaac, although they aren't listed as SMITH in the census record.  Joseph's birth date was given as Nov 1832, age 57. Martha died of a gunshot wound during a struggle between Joseph and another man over a shotgun.  A few months later a despondent Joseph ended his own life with a gunshot through the heart.  (Newspaper accounts and death records in Davis Co.)  John BLANKENSHIP and Martha SCARLET had the following children:

      I. Sarah BLANKENSHIP? was born about 1864 in IA.  She died before 1900.  Probably was the daughter of Martha by the same man that fathered John R. BLANKENSHIP.  She and John were both listed in the 1880 census as SMITH and as Sardis' children, but in the 1885 Iowa State census, John was listed as BLANKENSHIP.  Sarah evidently had died before the 1900 census, because Martha indicated that out of 6 children born to her, only 3 were still living.  They would be John R. and the two sons by Sardis SMITH who were still living with her.

      II. John R BLANKENSHIP was born in Jan 1870 in MO.  He died on 6 Apr 1930 in Bloomfield, Davis Co, IA.   Listed in the 1880 census for Scotland Co., MO as SMITH, Sardis' son, but by his correct name in the 1885 Iowa State census and the 1900 Iowa Federal census. In the 1900 Iowa census he was in Davis Co, Grove Tp enumerated with Joseph A. INSKEEP,  Age 30, born Jan 1870, Div., BP:IA, FBP:PA, MBP:KY, Servant.

      In the 1920 Soundex, still in Davis Co - ED 6, Sheet 7: John R. Blankenship, 49, MO, Janie, 46, IA Earl, 12, IA, Edgar, 8, IA, Edith, 7, IA, David W., 5, IA.  John died intestate and buried by the county.  Birth and death dates of some of his children and some marriages taken from information posted on RootsWeb's WorldConnect site.

      John R BLANKENSHIP and Jennie HERBERT were married on 15 Feb 1904 in Grove Tp, Davis Co, IA.  Jennie HERBERT was born about 1874 in IA.  Source: 1920 Iowa census.  John R BLANKENSHIP and Jennie HERBERT had the following children:

            A. Earl BLANKENSHIP was born on 29 May 1907 in IA.

            B. Edgar Jackson BLANKENSHIP was born on 13 May 1911 in IA.  He died on 29 Oct 1989.  Death date taken from the Social Security Death Index.  SS# 331-18-5288 issued in Illinois, no last residence or last benefits given.

            C. Edith BLANKENSHIP was born on 16 Jul 1912 in IA.  She died on 31 Jan 2001 in Ottumwa, Wapello Co, IA.  She was buried in Shaul Cem, Ottumwa, IA.

            D. David W BLANKENSHIP was born about 1915 in IA.  As of July 1, 1993, David W. Blankenship resided at 305 W. Grant, Bloomfield, IA, but when contacted, his wife said he knew nothing about his parents or grandparents and would rather not be interviewed.

Records

Murder Story