Eleanor was the 6th child of William Thomas Blenkarn & Eleanor Maria Ardley. Her family moved from England in 1874, firt to Illinois and then on to Kansas. William Blenkarn was a minister and moved from church to church. On the 24 Dec 1884, she married Thomas Doile, son of James H. Doile from Scotland and Charlotte Sharpe from England. 12 children were born to them with only 7 lived to adulthood. After 34 years of marriage, they divorced in 1918 and she married H. Wing in 1919. How long they were married I do not know but no children.

Eleanor always had poor eye sight and in her later years went completely blind. Her children loved her and were disapointed in their father because he drank, the reason for the divorce. What they could not have known was that when he grew up, he was required to do most of the work on the family farm because his only bother was a very small and sickly child. Thomas also was passed over on the will to a great extent. He had become bitter and moved from Kansas later. I know this because my Grandfather was his brother.

I have photo's of Eleanor and Thomas as young married people, both of them were very good looking. Thomas married again also but nothing is known of her.
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Maude, as she was known by most, was born in England. She was the fifth child of William Thomas Blenkarn and Eleanor Maria Ardley Turner.

"She was but nine years old when she and her family moved to the U.S. in 1874. They first lived at Dover, Illinois afterwards removing to Wabaunsee, Kansas in 1877, and from there to a number of different places in Kansas. Her father, being a minister of the Congregational Church meant for them a number of different homes and schools. On Christmas Eve 1884 she married Thomas George Dolle,(son of James Doile and Charlotte Sharp) at Emporia, Kansas. Maude's parents and sister Lily were visiting in England at this time and missed the wedding, however, in a letter to her brother Osborn her father made mention of it, so she was in their thoughts even though they could not be there at the time of the "great event." Twelve children were born of this union but only seven lived to adulthood.

In 1918 after bearing his 12 children, Maude divorced Mr. Thomas Doile in 1918 because he was an alcoholic. She married Mr. H.J. Wing (son of John Wing and Eunice Sperry) in 1919 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.They were married until he died in 1935. H.J.Wing was a pioneer resident of Colorado Springs and Justice of the Peace for about ten years. Maude made Colorado Springs her home for 28 years. She was a member of First Baptist Church for about 25 years and was very active in the Loyal Mothers Class of the Church. She went blind in her later years and in 1945 she moved to San Gabriel, California to make her home with her daughter Ruth Irvin.

Maude's obituary read: "Eleanor Wing died Tuesday June 2, 1952 in San Gabriel, California. Burial was at the Crown Hill Cemetery at Denver, Colorado. The Rev. J.H. Skeen, Pastor of the First Baptist Church officiated at the services. Survivors included two sons, Cyril Doile, Pratt, Kansas and Alfred Doile, Marshalltown, Iowa, five daughters, Mrs. Lottie Justice, Denver, Colorado; Mrs. Katherine Kane, Okanogan, Washington; Mrs. Nellie Round, Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Ruth Irvin, San Gabriel; and Mrs. Florence Virden, Alhambra, California; 15 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren."

The following letter was written to her sister sometime before 1918, but it is not dated: 'Dear Clara" I guess I had better write a few lines to you, the girls say they had a fine time while they were with you. I don't want Osborn to stand the expense of taking them to Topeka so please send word what it was. I wish you would kind of see to Katherine's clothes, that is, watch them how they are wearing and see that she mends them, when necessary and let me know if there is anything she needs. She has never tended to her own clothes, yet, I want her to ask about her things and I want her to be such a good help to you. You must write and let me know if she is a good girl and minds in everything. I have just lately weaned my baby and she has not been one bit bad about it. My milk has been such a bother to me though, it has very near made me sick. Emporia is full of measles I do hope my little ones don't get them at this time of year, Lottie says you are not going to move yet. Let me know when you are going to do so when you know. I was in hopes you would come to Strong City. I must close now with much love to you all from all your loving sister, s/Maude Doile P.S. Cyril says to tell Aunt Clara he is going to school."

The link to her first husband and 7 of their children is here: ThomasGeorgeDoile the rest of the children are below.



Source: "Blenkarn Tapestry" by Dorothy L. Taylor pgs. 113-116