Illinois:  History of Cass County, Illinois, ed. William Henry
Perrin. O. L. Baskin & Co. Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1882. 
Cass County.

JOHN BLANK, hardware merchant; Ashland; was born in Germany, Nov.
15, 1840; received his education in his native land, and assisted
in a bakery until he was seventeen years of age, when he
emigrated to America, and located at Quincy, Illinois, where he
remained about five years, and during the time learned the trade
of tinner.  In 1871 he removed to Ashland, and worked for a Mr.
Cullum, whom he bought out, and continued the business upon his
own account; at present his store is well stocked with the goods
usually found in a hardware store and tinshop combined.  He was
married Nov.  25, 1867, to Almira Best, who was born in Cass
County, June 19, 1850; she is the mother four children: Leonia,
Delia, Gertrude and John.  Mrs. Blank is a daughter of Wilson J.
and Nancy (Miller) Best.  John Blank, Senior, was a native of
Germany, a farmer by occupation, and died in 1864, aged sixty
years.  Christenia Blank, his wife, was also a native of Germany,
and died in 1847, aged about fifty-two years; they had six
children, of whom John was the youngest.  Although he is a man
not much interested in politics, his sympathies are with the
Republican party.

Blank Cullum Best Miller 
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Germany