STEPHEN BLANK

Has the honor of having resided in the city of Forest Grove for the longest
continuous space of time, and as such might truthfully be styled of the father
of the municipality, which alike reflect honor on each other, the city as being
one of the most beautiful, and the citizen as combining all that is honorable
and worthy in character.
He was born in Lockport, New York, December 26, 1829. His father, Jones
Blank, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1799. The ancestors of
the family came originally from the fatherland of Germany, where they were well
and favorably known. The father married Miss Saloma Moore, also a native of
Pennsylvania, and they had eleven children, six of whom are now living.
The subject of our sketch was the fourth child, and attended school in his
native city a little during the winter, later learning the carpenters' trade of
his brother, with whom he worked for some time, but most of his life has been
devoted to tanning.
In 1844 he removed to Illinois, going through Chicago, which was then but a
hamlet, and near which Government land could have been had for the asking. He
located on a farm near St. Charles, Illinois, remaining there for eight years.
He was married on October 9, 1850, to Miss Parthena McMillen, a native of
Ohio, and a daughter of Joseph and Ruth McMillen, highly respected people of
that State. She was a most estimable young lady, and was one of two twin
sisters.
Two years later, in 1852, he and his wife crossed the plains with oxen to
Oregon, experiencing all the usual vicissitudes of that long and perilous
journey. There were sixteen wagons in the train, and there was a guard kept
all of the time, to prevent being surprised by the Indians, but a more perilous
enemy was in their midst, in the form of cholera, which caused the death of one
of the company, the rest happily surviving.
Mrs. Blank and wife arrived in Portland about the middle of October. He
remained for a short time at the Dalles, in order to provide for the keeping of
his stock there, and the party agreed to wait there for him. When they arrived,
however, they claimed that all of his cattle had died, but he thinks they were
stolen. He recovered only one cow, which he took out of a team. She bore his
mark, but the man who was driving her, said he would prevent him taking her, but
Mr. Blank took her.
He came to Forest Grove in October, 1852, where he purchased three acres of
land, which joined the corporation, and which he afterward platted, laying out
Walnut street across it. He has from time to time added to the original plat,
and sold the lots, and has also erected a number of substantial buildings, thus
aiding in the growth of the city.
He at first worked in logging camps, and afterward kept a grocery and a
meat market, has also done a good deal of teaming, and has for years boarded a
number of the college students, thus turning his hand to whatever was
convenient, and which was most needed. He has also frequently worked at his
trade of carpentry, and has always done his own painting. He had a sash and
door factory as early as 1858, which he continued for ten years, doing at the
same time his other work. He is a stockholder in the Canning Company, as well as
in the Electric Light Company, and has been eminently successful in everything
he has undertaken.
Mr. and Mrs. Blank have never had any children of their own, but have
reared three to womanhood. Two of these, Mary and Emma Nichols, were the
daughters of James Nichols, who died when the children were six and eight years
of age, since which time they found tender foster parents in Mr. and Mrs. Blank.
Mary, became the wife of Mr., J. M. Garrison. She is a lady of many charms of
person and character, and is highly esteemed by all who know her. She has a nice
family. Emma was a good daughter and became the wife of Mr. Allen. Beside these,
Mr. and Mrs. Blank took Ida Horner, in her third year, and raised her to
womanhood. She remained with them until twenty-three years of age, when prompted
by her kindness of heart, she went to take care of her aunt's family, when she
became sick and died. All of these children were always treated by Mr. and Mrs.
Blank with the utmost kindness, as if they were their own, and while the
children were with them, they were patterns of obedience and goodness.
Mr. and Mrs. Blank are still in good health, and enjoy the deserved esteem
of the whole community, who have known them for so many years, and firmly tested
their worth.