Charles Stacy “Charlie” Blankenship

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Charles Stacy “Charlie” Blankenship

Birth
Death
14 Jul 1959 (aged 81)
Burial
Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Charles "Charlie" Stacy Blankenship (1877-1959) was the son of James Preston "Jerry' Blankenship and Francis Elizabeth "Bettie" Simpson Blankenship.

Charlie's parents valued education; consequently, Charlie was sent to Milton, Tennessee to attend the Brantly Academy. Research indicates that this was a private college prep school run by Reverend Edward Theodore Brantly on the Brantly Farm in Milton. In order to attend the school, Charlie lived in the home of William McKnight Byrns. He worked at Brown's flour mill. While he was in Milton, Charlie met and married Ina Burns in Dec of 1899. Ina died in April of 1900, a month after giving birth to son, William Preston Blankenship. William's middle name was given in honor of his paternal grandfather, James Preston Blankenship. Baby William passed away May 19, 1900, a month after his mother's death. Mother and son are both buried in the Milton Cemetery. After the death of his wife Charlie moved back to his parents farm in Cainsville. Census documents show him living in his parents home on June 16, 1900.

When Charlie returned to Wilson County, he married his childhood sweetheart, Minnie Bell Cason on Nov 18, 1900. The wedding ceremony was held at the brides home in Simmons Bluff, Wilson County, TN. Brother Dan Vance, pastor of the Baptist Church, performed the ceremony.

Charlie and Minnie had seven children. The children (in order of birth) were:
Carl Stacy Blankenship (1901-1991)
Mary Elizabeth Blankenship Smotherman (1904-2001)
Rebecca Loudelia Blankenship Smith (1909-1947)
Daisy Bell Blankenship Williams (1911-1975)
Charles William Blankenship (1915-2002)
John Edwin Blankenship (1917-1996)
Minnie Catherine Blankenship (1920-2014)

In 1909 the state of Tennessee passed a General Education Bill for the founding of a state normal school (i.e. teacher's college) in Murfreesboro. The promise of advanced educational opportunities for their children prompted Charlie and Minnie to move to Murfreesboro from Cainsville around 1910. The family's first home was a house on North Maple Street. They lived there for a year before moving to a farm.

As promised, Middle Tennessee State Normal School (MTSNS now MTSU) opened its doors on Sept 11, 1911. In Oct of the same year Charlie paid $7,000 for 100+ acres of farmland on Midland Road, approximately three miles from town. Later, in 1920 the family purchased a farm on Salem Road for $28,000. As a result of their move, MTSU, became the school of choice for most of the Blankenship children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and 2x great grandchildren. Son, Charles Blankenship chose to go to school at UT in Knoxville but he was the exception to the rule.

In Sept of 1918, at age 40, Charlie signed up for the draft as required by law. The draft registration papers describe him as being tall with a slender build, grey eyes and black hair. He was also listed as a farmer with his own farm on Rt. 6.

Charlie worked as a farmer and livestock dealer. He and Minnie attended First Baptist Church on East Main. They were music lovers, strong believers in the value of education, and they were active members of the community.
Charles "Charlie" Stacy Blankenship (1877-1959) was the son of James Preston "Jerry' Blankenship and Francis Elizabeth "Bettie" Simpson Blankenship.

Charlie's parents valued education; consequently, Charlie was sent to Milton, Tennessee to attend the Brantly Academy. Research indicates that this was a private college prep school run by Reverend Edward Theodore Brantly on the Brantly Farm in Milton. In order to attend the school, Charlie lived in the home of William McKnight Byrns. He worked at Brown's flour mill. While he was in Milton, Charlie met and married Ina Burns in Dec of 1899. Ina died in April of 1900, a month after giving birth to son, William Preston Blankenship. William's middle name was given in honor of his paternal grandfather, James Preston Blankenship. Baby William passed away May 19, 1900, a month after his mother's death. Mother and son are both buried in the Milton Cemetery. After the death of his wife Charlie moved back to his parents farm in Cainsville. Census documents show him living in his parents home on June 16, 1900.

When Charlie returned to Wilson County, he married his childhood sweetheart, Minnie Bell Cason on Nov 18, 1900. The wedding ceremony was held at the brides home in Simmons Bluff, Wilson County, TN. Brother Dan Vance, pastor of the Baptist Church, performed the ceremony.

Charlie and Minnie had seven children. The children (in order of birth) were:
Carl Stacy Blankenship (1901-1991)
Mary Elizabeth Blankenship Smotherman (1904-2001)
Rebecca Loudelia Blankenship Smith (1909-1947)
Daisy Bell Blankenship Williams (1911-1975)
Charles William Blankenship (1915-2002)
John Edwin Blankenship (1917-1996)
Minnie Catherine Blankenship (1920-2014)

In 1909 the state of Tennessee passed a General Education Bill for the founding of a state normal school (i.e. teacher's college) in Murfreesboro. The promise of advanced educational opportunities for their children prompted Charlie and Minnie to move to Murfreesboro from Cainsville around 1910. The family's first home was a house on North Maple Street. They lived there for a year before moving to a farm.

As promised, Middle Tennessee State Normal School (MTSNS now MTSU) opened its doors on Sept 11, 1911. In Oct of the same year Charlie paid $7,000 for 100+ acres of farmland on Midland Road, approximately three miles from town. Later, in 1920 the family purchased a farm on Salem Road for $28,000. As a result of their move, MTSU, became the school of choice for most of the Blankenship children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and 2x great grandchildren. Son, Charles Blankenship chose to go to school at UT in Knoxville but he was the exception to the rule.

In Sept of 1918, at age 40, Charlie signed up for the draft as required by law. The draft registration papers describe him as being tall with a slender build, grey eyes and black hair. He was also listed as a farmer with his own farm on Rt. 6.

Charlie worked as a farmer and livestock dealer. He and Minnie attended First Baptist Church on East Main. They were music lovers, strong believers in the value of education, and they were active members of the community.