Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 289. J. A. BLANKENSHIP Of the successful and highly respected farmers of the vicinity of Creswell, Lane county, none is more highly regarded than J. A. Blankenship, who is operating one hundred and seventy-six acres of well improved and highly productive land. He follows twentieth century methods and keeps in close touch with advanced ideas in relation to his vocation, so that he has well deserved the prosperity which is now his. Mr. Blankenship was born in Illinois on the 30th of November, 1865 and is a son of L. M. and Jane (Downs) Blankenship. His father came to Oregon in an early day and located near Independence, where he rented a farm, and there he and his wife spent their remaining years, her death occurring in 1898 and he passing away in 1911. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser and was held in high esteem throughout the community. He was a veteran of the Civil war and while living in Illinois served several years as assessor and sheriff. J. A. Blankenship attended the public schools of his native state and in young manhood went to Tennessee, and later located in Kansas, where, at the age of twenty-one years, he took up a homestead. He proved up on this land, which he operated for seven years, when he sold it and, in 1888, went to Colorado, where he was employed in the cattle business two years. He then returned to Illinois and later came to Oregon, where he has since lived. While living in Kansas, he was for a time employed as a driver of street cars in Kansas City, the motive power being a team of mules. He is now the owner of a good farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres near Creswell, to the operation of which he has closely devoted himself. He has ten acres in prunes, five acres in cherries and one and a half acres in pears, all of which are in full bearing. He also keeps twelve head of milk cows and three head of horses. On August 29, 1886, Mr. Blankenship was united in marriage to Miss Lillia Thomason, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Sanders) Thomason, farmers. To Mr. and Mrs. Blankenship have been born five children, namely: Juanita I., born January 2, 1898, is the wife of Arthur Schmidli, of Medford, Oregon; Hallie F., born September 22, 1900, is a graduate in art; Cecile F., born April 30, 1902, is the wife of Clay M. Stone, of Creswell, and they have two children, Margaret and John; Ivan A., born July 6, 1905, is now in Washington, and John E., born March 7, 1915, is attending school at Creswell. Mrs. Blankenship is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah, the Civic Improvement Club of Creswell, the Presbyterian church and the Parent-Teacher Association. Mr. Blankenship is a republican in his political affiliation and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees. While living in Umatilla county he served as a school director and clerk of the school board. He keeps in close touch with public affairs, being a close and studious reader, and maintains well-defined opinions on the great questions of the day. He stands ready at all times to cooperate in all movements for the betterment of the community and is regarded by his fellow men as one of its best citizens. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2012 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.