Theodore Blanks (abt. 1821 - 1903)

Born about 1821 in Louisiana, United States

Descendants

Died 18 Dec 1903 at about age 82 in Kerr, Texas, United States

Biography

Theodore Blanks is a part of US Black heritage.

Theodore was born about 1821. He and his sister Mahalia Banks were brought to Texas in the 1850s as slaves of either the Thompson or Dr. Charles Ganahl family. If they came with the Thompsons, they were given or sold a short time later to the Ganahls, who settled in Center Point in the newly formed Kerr County of Texas.^[1]

After the Civil War ended and they were emancipated, Theodore and his wife Eliza continued to live on a homestead reported to have been given them by the Ganahls "in appreciation for the faithful services".^[2] In 1880 Theodore received a preemption grant of 160 acres in Kerr County from the State of Texas; these grants were available to homesteaders from 1866 to 1868 as long as the grantee stayed on the land for at least 3 years..^[3]

Theodore and Eliza raised ten or more children on their farm.^[2] In 1870 they had ten children in their household in Kerr County.^[4] In 1880 they had 5 children remaining at home.^[5]

In 1900 Theodore and Eliza were still living in Kerr County along with two grandsons.^[6]

Theodore passed away in 1903. He was buried in the Blanks Cemetery in Kerr County, Texas.^[7]

Research Notes

Information on the Ganahl family (the slave owners) can be found in this article by the West Kerr Current .rrent.c

Sources

1. ↑ https://wkcurrent.com/blanks-family-went-from-slavery-to-emancipation-in-kerr-county-p1598-71.htm
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Early Settlers: Blanks family Free View of Clipping Kerrville Mountain Sun, Kerrville, Texas · Thursday, November 17, 1955, p. 7]
3. ↑ Land Title: "Texas, U.S., Land Title Abstracts,1700-2008"
   Original data: Texas General Land Office. Abstracts of all original Texas Land Titles comprising Grants and Locations. Austin, TX, USA
   Ancestry Record 5112 #228390 (accessed 4 August 2023)
   Grantee: Theodore Blanks; Patentee: Theodore Blanks; Patent Date: 06 Jan 1880; Acres: 160; District: Bexar; County: Kerr; File: 252; Patent #: 159; Patent Volume: 10; Class: Bex.Pre.
4. ↑ 1870 Census: "1870 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 2, Kerr, Texas; Roll: M593_1594; Page: 145B
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7163 #5226455 (accessed 4 August 2023)
   Theodor Blank (48), Farmer, in Precinct 2, Kerr, Texas. Born in Louisiana.
5. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Precinct 2, Kerr, Texas; Roll: 1315; Page: 252C; Enumeration District: 090
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #11128982 (accessed 4 August 2023)
   Theodore Blanks (61), married, Farmer, head of household in Precinct 2, Kerr, Texas, USA. Born in Louisiana.
6. ↑ 1900 Census: "1900 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1900; Census Place: Justice Precinct 2, Kerr, Texas; Roll: 1651; Page: 5; Enumeration District: 0042
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7602 #43772170 (accessed 4 August 2023)
   Theodore Blanks (73), married head of household in Justice Precinct 2, Kerr, Texas. Born in Louisiana, USA.
7. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #112890208 (accessed 4 August 2023)
   Memorial page for Theodore Blanks (1821-18 Dec 1903), citing Blanks Cemetery, Kerr County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Linda Nielsen (contributor 47095736).