Thomas Gilbert Blankenship was born April 7, 1852 in Robertson County, Tennessee, the son of William Harvey Blankenship and Elizabeth Susan Hudgens. The 1860 federal census found the 8-year-old Thomas living with his parents and 5 siblings in District 1 of Cheatham County, Tennessee, his father was listed as a carpenter by trade.
By the time the 1870 census was taken the family had moved to Williamson County and were living in Township 10, Range 2 or what is now Southern Township near Pulley’s Mill. Thomas was 18 and had 7 siblings. His father was listed as a farmer and claimed a real estate value of $280 with a personal estate of $200.
On September 11, 1873, Thomas married Sarah Dinah Chamness, daughter of John C. Chamness and Sallie McIntosh. By the 1870 federal census, the couple were found living in Bainbridge Precinct west of Marion. In the census, Thomas, then aged 28 went by Gilbert and was listed as a farmer. The couple had two children, Riley aged 5 and Jennie aged 6 months. Also living with the couple was Sarah’s 57 year old mother.
In December of 1887, Thomas and Sarah purchased 40 acres of property that would now be about the north side of the 900 block of West Main Street for $300 from H.V. Ferrell. They refinanced this property from him again a year later and borrowed against it for $800 again in November 1896. A reference in Thomas’s obit refer to the fact that he used to live on West Main St. so it’s likely that they built their home on this property and developed the rest.
Since the 1890 federal census was destroyed in a fire it leaves a gap in people’s lives during this period, but picking up on a newspaper article written in July of 1894 it seems clear that at some point in the late 1880’s or early 1890’s Thomas likely entered into a business partnership with John H. Searing and that partnership was dissolved by the trustees of Searing’s estate after his death with Searing’s business with Blankenship all being transferred to Thomas. I have not been able to find out what this business might have been. It is known that in 1890 John H. Searing entered into a business relationship with C.H. Denison to form the Marion State and Savings Bank.
In 1895 and 1896, Thomas G. served as city alderman under Mayor John H. Burnett and again in 1897 and 1898 under Mayor Brice Holland.
An article appearing in the June 3rd, 1897 edition of the Egyptian Press newspaper, states Fannie B. Blankenship, 7 year old daughter of T.G. was killed by a south bound Illinois Central passenger train while attempting to cross the tracks by herself near the depot.
A census record for 1900 could not be found but there was a mortgage paid off here in 1902 so presumably the family was still in Marion at that time. His obit indicated that the family left Marion around 1903 likely to Kentucky to be near a daughter.
Thomas G. passed away at the age of 66 of a cerebral hemorrhage in Junction City, Kentucky on January 30, 1917. His obit states, “He left here 14 years ago. He lived on West Main Street and a small daughter, Fannie, was killed on the I.C. crossing on North Court Street. He is survived by his wife and six children: Mrs. James Blaine of Junction City, Kentucky, Mrs. Jenette Brady, Mrs. James Price, Mrs. Roy Webster and Will & Thomas Blankenship, all of Evansville, Indiana. Sisters: Mrs. Lou Anna Bankston of Mill Creek, Mrs. G.H. Gannon of Isola, Mississippi. Mrs. Bert Bagley of Marion is a relative. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.
His wife, Sarah D. Blankenship, passed away on April 25, 1947 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 90 near her daughter Mrs. Antice A. Higgins. She was born on October 21, 1856. Burial in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion.
Notes on Children:
Raleigh Blankenship, 1878-1915
Jeanette Blankenship, 1880-1968
Ella Blankenship, 1881-1963
William Henry Blankenship, 1884-1958
Anice A. Blankenship Higgins, wife of Joe, 1887-1967
Nell Blankenship, 1892-1967
Fannie Blankenship, 1894-1897
Thomas Harold Blankenship, 1897-1969
(Sources: Egyptian Press, The Leader, Marion Daily Republican newspapers, Federal Census Records, Williamson County Mortgage Records, Williamson County Marriage Records, FindaGrave.com, Marion City Cemetery records, 1905 Historical Souvenir of Williamson County Kentucky Death Records. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 8/31/2023)