1. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; War; E.D. 24-12; taken on 16 Apr 1940;
Page 222A; Image 3 of 34; Household #24.
Listed as Viola Blankenship; age 10; born in WV; 4th grade education; attending school; lived in
same place on 1 Apr 1940; in household of father, John M. Blankenship.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1946); Page 301; WV Archives Web Site.
L.C. Nonkester; age 19; born in Dixon Co, WV; single; living at Ft. Meade, MD in US Army; married
on 22 Mar 1946 at War, WV; Viola Blankenship; age 18; born in War, WV; single; living at Excelsior,
WV; with consent of Mr/ Mrs Emmitt and Ethel Adkins, grandparents of L.C. Noonkester; and
John M. Blankenship, father, and Ida Mae Blankenship, step-mother, of Viola Blankenship.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1963); Page 429; WV Archives Website.
William Edward Hicks; age 18; born in Cove, VA; single; living at Box 41, Berwind, WV; married on 27
Dec 1963 in Berwind; Shelby Jean Blankenship; age 18; born and living in Excelsior, WV; single;
with consent of Otis and Nannie Hicks; parents of William Edward Hicks; and Ida Blankenship, mother
of Shelby Jean Blankenship, father deceased.
1. Facebook Message; 6 Sep 2019; posted by Shelby Hicks.
"Hi, my family is John Morgan Blankenship & Ida Mae Asbury Blankenship-McDowell County. My brother-in-law is a genealogist and has traced our family back to England. As far as the info that you have: Children are Clarence Edward, Ernest Harold (Ernie), Wayne Ellis, Shelby Jean, Anita Gayle, Karen Paige, Thomas Drew, and Morgan Bret (legally changed from Francis Bret). My father had a previous marriage and children. I will find my booklet and send more info later. You've done a lot of work! BTW, my mother and 2 of her sisters married Blankenships from different unrelated families."
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1963); Page 429; WV Archives Website.
William Edward Hicks; age 18; born in Cove, VA; single; living at Box 41, Berwind, WV; married on 27
Dec 1963 in Berwind; Shelby Jean Blankenship; age 18; born and living in Excelsior, WV; single;
with consent of Otis and Nannie Hicks; parents of William Edward Hicks; and Ida Blankenship, mother
of Shelby Jean Blankenship, father deceased.
1. Tazewell Co, VA; Marriage License #74-009965; Ancestry.com Web Site.
Randal Jackson Osborne; age 36; born 5 May 1947 in WV; single; this is his 1st marriage; 3 yrs
college education; living at Box 184, Bradshaw, WV; son of Woodrow and Mary Leona (Cole)
Osborne; married on 10 Mar 1974 in Grundy, VA; Karen Paige Blankenship; age 18; born 2 May
1955 in WV; single; this is her 1st marriage; 4 yrs HS education; living at Box 625, War, WV; daughter
of John Morgan and Ida Mae (Asbury) Blankenship.
1. McDowell Co, WV Marriage Records; Book #_____(1936); Page 108; WV Archives Web Site.
John Blankenship; age 32; born in McDowell Co, WV; widowed; railroad worker; living at War,
WV; son of ________; married on 29 Feb 1936 at War, WV; Ida Asbury; age 18; born in
McDowell Co, WV; single; living at War, WV; daughter of Frank and Rosa.
2. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; War; E.D. 24-12; taken on 16 Apr 1940;
Page 222A; Image 3 of 34; Household #24.
Listed as John M. Blankenship; age 36; born in VA; married; 4th grade education; lived in same
place on 1 Apr 1940; section foreman for railroad, head of household.
3. Mercer Co, WV; Death Certificate #'63 002387; WV Archives Web Site.
John Morgan Blankenship; age 58; born 4 Jun 1904 in Buchanan Co, VA; married; trackman for
railroad; living at Excelsior, WV; son of Abe (sic, Acie or A.B.) Blankenship and unknown mother; died
12 Feb 1963 in the Bluefield Sanitarium, Bluefield, WV; due to intra medullary and intra cerebral
hemorrhage; head injury and fractured skull. "Blasting and Rock hit pt, on the head" on N&W
railroad at Riffe, WV; buried 18 Feb 1963 in Roselawn Memorial Gardens, Mercer Co, WV;
informantt, Ernest H. Blankenship, Washimgton, DC.
4. FindAGrave,com Web Site. submitted by kenneth bowen; 6 Jan 2012.
" John Morgan Blankenship
Birth 4 Jun 1904
Buchanan County, Virginia, USA
Death 15 Feb 1963 (aged 58)
Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
Roselawn Memorial Gardens
Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia, USA "
1. McDowell Co, WV. Death Certificate #7031; WV Archives Web Site.
Cora Lee Blankenship; age 35 yrs, 3 mons, 6 days; born 20 Jan 1900 in Bradshaw, WV; married;
wife of John Blankenship; housewife; living at War, WV; daughter of James and Hanna (Cardwell)
Saryers (sic, Sayers); died 25 Apr 1935 in War, WV; due to chronic pulmonary tuberculosis; buried
26 Apr 1935 in Cove Cemetery; informant, John Blankenship, War, WV.
2. FindAGrave.com Web Site; submitted by Elizabeth Reed-Eanes; 25 May 2011.
"Cora Lee Gross Blankenship
Birth 18 Feb 1900
Bradshaw, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Death 26 Apr 1935 (aged 35)
War, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA
Burial
Cove Cemetery
War, McDowell County, West Virginia, USA "
1. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; War; E.D. 24-12; taken on 16 Apr 1940;
Page 222A; Image 3 of 34; Household #24.
Listed as William Blankenship; age 7; born in WV; 2nd grade education; attending school; lived in
same place on 1 Apr 1940; in household of father, John M. Blankenship.
1. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1946); Page 301; WV Archives Web Site.
L.C. Nonkester; age 19; born in Dixon Co, WV; single; living at Ft. Meade, MD in US Army; married
on 22 Mar 1946 at War, WV; Viola Blankenship; age 18; born in War, WV; single; living at Excelsior,
WV; with consent of Mr/ Mrs Emmitt and Ethel Adkins, grandparents of L.C. Noonkester; and
John M. Blankenship, father, and Ida Mae Blankenship, step-mother, of Viola Blankenship.
1. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Big Creek District; War; E.D. 24-12; taken on 16 Apr 1940;
Page 222A; Image 3 of 34; Household #24.
Listed as Viola Blankenship; age 10; born in WV; 4th grade education; attending school; lived in
same place on 1 Apr 1940; in household of father, John M. Blankenship.
2. McDowell Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1946); Page 301; WV Archives Web Site.
L.C. Nonkester; age 19; born in Dixon Co, WV; single; living at Ft. Meade, MD in US Army; married
on 22 Mar 1946 at War, WV; Viola Blankenship; age 18; born in War, WV; single; living at Excelsior,
WV; with consent of Mr/ Mrs Emmitt and Ethel Adkins, grandparents of L.C. Noonkester; and
John M. Blankenship, father, and Ida Mae Blankenship, step-mother, of Viola Blankenship.
1. 1910 Census, Wyoming Co, WV, Center District, taken on 28 Apr 1910, Page 221B, Family # 140.
Listed as James M. Blankenship, age 1, born in WV, in household of father, Gideon J.
Blankenship.
2. 1920 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Slab Fork District; taken on 4/5 Feb 1920; Page 269A; Image
7 of 19; Family #49/51.
Listed as Jame M. Blankenship; age 13; born in WV; lin household of mother, Rebecca J. Pendry
Blankenshp.
3. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1929); Page 122; WV Archives Web Site.
Morgan Blankenship; age 20; born in Wyoming Co, WV; living at Itmann, WV; son of Gideon
Blankenship; married on 26 Oct 1929 at Pineville, WV; CordieAdkins; age 17; born in McDowell Co,
WV; living at Itmann, WV; daughter of Frank Adkins.
4. Ancestry.com Web Site; Hall Family Tree; submitted by djmajor02, McDonough, GA.
"This was submitted by Audrey Blankenship Gill on Findagrave.com"James M. Blankenship - Brother James Morgan Blankenship 81 of Pineville, died Tuesday March 27, 1990 at Wyoming County Hospital following a long illness.
"Born Jan 27, 1909 at Keyrock, he was the son of the late Gideon and Rebecca "Pendry" Blankenship. Brother Blankenship was a retired Coal Miner having last worked for Itmann Coal Company at Itmann and was a pastor of New Richmond Chapel with 35 years of service.He was preceded in death by his first wife, Cordia Mae Adkins Blankenship (1976), three sons, Morris, Coy and Eugene Blankenship, two sisters, Lois Cook, Dana Slavey and three brothers, Hiley, Jess and Henry Blankenship.
"Survivors include his wife Rose Rufus Blankenship, two daughters, Mrs Sidney (Letha) Allen of Ravencliff, and Mrs. Hubert (Pauletta)Shrewsbury of Advance, N.C.; six sons; James Alvin, Theodore Blankenship of Pineville; Robert Lee Blankenship of Greenboro, N.C., Frank Elden Blankenship of Brenton, Dennis Ray of New Richmond, and Roy Blankenship of East Bend, N.C; two sisters; Mrs Tom (Dicie) Woods of Maryland, and Gay Gill of New Richmond; Three brothers; David Blankenship of New Richmond, Merle Green of Itmann and Paul Green of Fairdale; step daughters-Violet Smith of Baltimore, Md, Ruby Boyd of Houston, Texas, Louise Sisk of Ohio, and Bessie Withingham of Detroit, Mich, Shirley Rufus of Richmond, Va, Betty Edwards of Cocoa Fla; Step sons- James Rufus of Itmann, Guy Rufus of Roanoke Va, Bob rufus of New Smyrna, Fla., Jimmy Rufus of New Richmond; 21 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren.
"Services were Friday 11 am at the New Richmond Chapel, with Brother William O. Tolliver officiating. Burial Bower Cemetery Twin Falls State Park. Friends may call today from 6 to 9 pm at the Calfee Funeral Service in Pineville and at the church onehour prior to the service..."
1. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Registry Book #______(1919); Page 404.
James Rufus; age 24; born in Wyoming Co, WV (sic, Italy); son of Frank Rufus; married on 22 Apr
1919, Rosa Rose; age 17; born in Wyoming Co, WV; daughter of N. Rose.
2. 1920 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Slab Fork District; Tracoal; taken on 7 jan 1920; Page 276B;
Family #11/15.
Listed as Rosa Rufus; age 17; born in WV; married; in household of husband, James A. Rufus.
3. 1930 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Slab Fork District; taken on 10 Apr 1930; Page 254B;
Family #148/152.
Listed as Rosa Rufus; age 26; born in WV; married at 15; in household of husband, James A. Rufus.
4. FindAGrave.com Web Site; Wiley Bower Cemetery, Saulsville, Wyoming Co, WV; submitted by Audrey
Blankenship Gill; 8 Jan 2006.
Rose E. Blankenship; born 25 Mar 1903; died 24 Aug 1990; buried here; double headstone with second husband,
James Morgan Blankenship and obit shown.
"PINEVILLE--Mrs. Rose Rufus Blankenship, 87, died Friday August 24, 1990
at a Beckley hospital following a long illness."Born March 25, 1903 at McGraws, she was the daughter of the late
Nathan and Liza Shumate Rose."Mrs. Blankenship was a member of the New Richmond Chapel.
"She was preceded in death by her first husband Jimmy Rufus in 1965,
her second husband Morgan Blankenship in 1990, a son Carl Rufus in 1987."Survivors include four sons, Guy Rufus of Roanoke Va., Bob Rufus of Edge Water Fla.,
Mickey Rufus of Itmann, Jimmy Lee Rufus of Richmond Va."Six daughters; Violet Smith, Baltimore Md., Ruby Boyd, Houston Texas, Louise Sisk,
California, Bessie Whittington, Gibraltar Michigan, Shirley Hill of Glen Allen Va., Betty
Jack Edwards of Cocoa , Fla. Two step daughters, Letha Allen- Ravencliff, Pauletta
Shrewsberry- Advance N.C., Six step-sons; James A., Theodore Blankenship of
Pineville, Robery Lee Blankenship-Greensboro, N.C., Frank E. Blankenship-Brenton,
Dennis Ray Blankenship-New Richmond, Roy Blankenship-East Bend, N.C.
Two sisters, Elizabeth Lafferty of Stephenson and Pearl Marinell of Bristol Tenn.
35 grandchildren, 21 step- grandchildren, 36 great- grandchildren, 19 step- grandchildren,
6 great-great grandchildren."Services will be Sunday 11 a.m. at New Richmond Chapel with Rev. Hannibal Blankenship
Jr. officiating.
"Burial will be in the Wiley Bower Cemetery at Twin Falls Park.
1. 1920 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Huff Creek District; taken on 19 Jan 1920; Page 222A;
Family #100.
Listed as Lenzy G. Lester; age 6; born in WV; in household of father, Amos Lester.
2. 1930 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Huff Creek District; taken on 17 April 1930; Page 181A;
Family #111.
Listed as Lindsey Lester; age 16; born in WV; in household of father, Amos Lester.
4. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1936); Page 125; WV Archives Web Site.
Lindsey Lester; age 22; born in Wyoming Co, WV; single; farmer; living at Hanover, WV;
son of Amos and Thursey; married on 30 Jun 1936 at Hanover, WV; Pearl Cline; age 19;
born in Wyoming Co, WV; single; daughter of Josh and Myrtle.
1. 1930 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Huff Creek Dostrict; Big Branch; taken on 16 Apr 1930; Page 181A;
Image 13 of 22; Family #106/107.
Listed as Pearl Cline; age 13; born in WV; in household of father, Joshua Cline.
2. Wyoming Co, WV; Marriage Records; Vol #__(1936); Page 125; WV Archives Web Site.
Lindsey Lester; age 22; born in Wyoming Co, WV; single; farmer; living at Hanover, WV;
son of Amos and Thursey; married on 30 Jun 1936 at Hanover, WV; Pearl Cline; age 19;
born in Wyoming Co, WV; single; daughter of Josh and Myrtle.
1. 1930 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Huff Creek District; taken on 17 April 1930; Page 181A; Family #111.
Listed as Remley Lester; age 6; born in WV; in household of father, Amos Lester.
1. 1930 Census, Wyoming Co, WV; Huff Creek District; taken on 24 Apr 1930; Page 182B; Family #140.
Listed as Lilly Lester; age 5; born in WV; in household of father, England R. Lester.
2. 1940 Census, McDowell Co, WV; Browns Creek District; Big Sandy; E.D. 24-37; taken on 24
Apr 1940; Page 756B; Image 27 of 35; Household #201.
Listed as Lella Lester; age 14; born in WV; 4th grade education; attending school; lived in Twin
Branch, WV on 1 Apr 1935; in household of father, England R. Lester.
3. E-mail; 13 Jan 2013; blesternc@gmail.com.
"...Essie Lella Lester (Lilly)
b. 20 Aug 1925 d. 4 Mar 1971
Husband: Remley Lester b. 1924
Children: i Randy Lester
ii Brenda Lester