Photo photo
Research Note Front Row: Virginia Alice Blankenship, Martha Ann (Garrison) Blankenship, Lorenzo Jackson Blankenship, Emma Laura Blankenship.

Back Row: Mary Catherine Blankenship, Ulysses Grant Blankenship, Jacob Elihu Blankenship, John Rite Blankenship, Martha Armita Blankenship (Minerva Naomi Blankenship - not in the photo.)

Martha and Lorenzo were buried in Corsicana Cemetery.
From a letter Betty Lamberson received in 1979 from Edith Salyer, a daughter, of pictured Emma Laura. This letter is also going to be featured in the Corsicana section of the soon to be released centennial book for Wheaton, Wheaton Echoes.
Lorenzo Jackson Blankenship (born April 4, 1820) married Martha Garrison (born May 1, 1830) in Virginia. They came to Missouri and located on Flat Creek north of Cassville. He was a carpenter and Brick Mason. He had a mill and a carding machine there. While there he also built the first Courthouse in Cassville. Mary, born in 1851, and Minerva born 1853, were born there. Minerva died and was buried here. (Cassville) Then they moved to Corsicana where he bought a farm and built a Mill, had a cotton gin and a carding Machine. He built an addition to a log cabin and lived there while the big house was being built. Evidently it was built in the 1860's for my Mother Emma was born in it December 3, 1872. She married there in 1890. Grandmother died in November 1897, Grandfather couldn't carry on alone as he had lost his hearing so the children took turns living with him. He died October 11, 1901. Elihu and family were living with him at that time and they stayed for a while. The original house did not burn until after the property was sold. Grandfather was considered a very prosperous man. Grandmother had the first cook stove and the first sewing machine in that part of the country and people would come for miles to see them. but think what a life she had with a baby every two years and all that work! The other children of Lorenzo and Martha are: William Alonzo b. 1835, Jacob Elihu born 1857, The baby born 1858, Virginia Alice born 1860, John Right ( Rite?) born 1862, Lorenzo Dow born 1864, Ulysses Grant born 1866, Martha Arminta born 1868, Emma Laura born 1872. Edith Salyer
From a letter sent to Betty Higgs Bridges by Edith Salyer of Cassville in 1979 when Betty was doing research on an old brick house thought to have been built by Lorenzo Blankenship.

You will notice that Edith has listed five boys, only three in the photo caption are listed - but four in the picture. I wonder which he is William Alonzo or Lorenzo Dow? There is one absent from the photo.

The first Courthouse in Cassville was built of brick by Lorenzo Blankenship and it was destroyed during the Civil War, A picture of this Courthouse is featured on the cover of the 1888 Goodspeed's History of Barry County, reprinted by Emory Melton.

Lorenzo also built a hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, it is thought to be on one of the lower streets and is tri-cornered, I have really forgotten which one but have it somewhere in my stuff!! I will try to look it up Soon?

On page 110 of the Higgs Family Maryland to Missouri is a group picture made in Pierce city in about 1899 of some Garrisons, Higgs, Brattins and Blankenships. My Father told me that the girls were the daughters of Dow Blankenship.
Date Taken Abt. 1895
Resource family photos
Submitted by Photo submitted in 2007 by: Jim Garrison - Note submitted in 2007 by: Betty Higgs Lamberson - Deceased
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