 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PARIS BLANKENSHIP |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
My Grandfather Paris was a moonshiner from Old Buchanan Virginia. He ran a still about all his life. Records in Grundy Court house confirm what I was told all my life. He ran moonshine in Buchanan and was caught with it at times. But I dont think he ever spent a day in jail for it.
I never met him, although he lived until 1973. My grandmother had divorced him long before I was born. and she came to McDowell County and settled here with her children. The only things I know of him are the stories I was told all my life. And I have to add that most of the stories were not good. Still I wish that I had met him, before he died. I know that he could have told some very interesting stories. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paris Blankenship was born in Buchanan County Virginia in 1901. He was the son of Alfred and Nancy Blankenship. Alfred Blankenship apparently died before 1910, because Nancy is married to Rome McCoy by 1910 (according to the 1910 Buchanan County census). Paris had one sister, Margarette Blankenship and one half-brother, Dennis McCoy. although there are stories in the family that indicate that Dennis was in fact Margarettes child , not her half brother |
|
|
|
Paris married a Mary Baker in 1921 and they had one child, Ira Blankenship. Mary and Paris stayed together only a short time. Thin in 1922, he married my grandmother Cartie Johnson. They had six children and then they were divorced. My Mother said that Paris was a moonshiner and he alway kept a still where they live on Knox Creek. Paris died July, 25, 1973, in Buchanan County Va. and is buried in the Willis Blankenship Cemetery at Hurley Virginia. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CHILDREN OF PARIS & CARTIE BLANKENSHIP |
|
|
|
1. Frances Blankenship......Married.... William Beckner
2. Gladys Blankenship.......Married.... Herman McNeely
3. Elsie Blankenship..........Married.... Zeb Allen
4. Margaret Blankenship....Married.... Lloyd Parks
5. John H. Blankenship... Married..... Ada Matney
6. Edna Blankenship...... Married..... Tommy McNeely |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Paris, as a young man. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paris in the 1960s |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Paris and daughters Margaret and Elsie |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BACK TO BLANKENSHIP PAGE |
|
|
|
|
|
