Carl J Blanchard (1836 - 1917)

Born Mar 1836 in Potton, Stanstead, Lower Canada

Ancestors

Died 19 Feb 1917 at age 80 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Oklahoma, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Blanchard Name Study.

Carley J. Blanchard (Carl) was born in Potton in 1836. He was the son of Daniel Blanchard and Hannah Bourn. In the absence at this moment of a vital record tying Carl to his parents, the connection of C. J. Blanchard to these parents is based on the following items of evidence:

1. the Obituary of sister Phoebe identifying "C. J. Blanchard of Oklahoma City" as one of her four surviving brothers;
2. a news clipping from 1904 (transcribed below) linking "Carl Blanchard of Oklahoma City" to Potton, Quebec, and
3. a news clipping from 1911 (transcribed below) linking "C. J. Blanchard of Oklahoma City" to Colby, Wisconsin, where we know two of his siblings (Horace and Phoebe) were living at that very time.

Carl first appeared in the USA on the 1860 census, where he owned land and was living beside his sister Phoebe in Plainfield, WIsconsin.^[1] The 1904 clipping transcribed below, claimed that he had left Potton "almost 50 years ago", implying a migration date of the mid or late 1850s.

Four pages away from Carl on the 1860 Plainfield, WIsconsin census, was a 14-year-old girl called Martha Gower. Carl and Martha were to get married in about 1874, probably in Wisconsin, and were then together for many years in Butler County, Kansas. On the 1875 Kansas State Census, Carl and Martha were recorded with a daughter Emma (8).^[2] Whether Emma was Martha's daughter is uncertain, given the birth timing and contradictory census data - the 1900 census records that Martha had three living children, yet the 1910 census referenced below credited her with a total of two children.

There were in total three children, all appearing on the 1880 census:^[3]

1. Emma, b. 1866 (in Wisconsin)
2. Emery Carl, b. 12 Nov 1874 (in Kansas), and
3. Nellie, b. 1878 (in Kansas).

The 1880 census lists Carl as a "retired merchant".

After more than 15 years living in Kansas, an opportunity arose in 1889 that Carl found irresistible. Some "unassigned lands" in the Oklahoma territory were opened up at noon, April 22, 1889, for anyone able to stake a claim. The land was free of charge for anyone able to improve the land within five years.^[4] Thousands poured in that day, including our Mr. Blanchard. Being one of three claimants to the same land, prolonged litigation ensued and Carl Blanchard's claim was denied.^[5] However, he still ended up a resident of Oklahoma City, presumably by other means.

In 1898, by then an Oklahoma resident, Carl was found guilty of perjury and sentenced to five years in the Fort Leavenworth prison.^[6]

Perjury Conviction, C. J. Blanchard, Kansas State Register, 12 Nov 1898

On the 1900 US Census, we find Carl in prison,^[7] with his wife Martha running a rooming house in Oklahoma City to make ends meet.^[8] Both 1900 census entries declare 26 years of marriage.

Thanks to the 1910 census, we are able to see that Carl and Martha were together again, after serving his sentence.^[9]

In his retirement years, Carl did some visiting of relatives, as indicated by the following newspaper clippings at the time:

Potton, 24 June 1904. NEWS ITEM. - "Mr. and Mrs. Carl Blanchard from Britten, (sic) Oklahoma are in Potton. Mr. Blanchard left here and went west nearly 50 years ago."^[10]

Note that Britton, Oklahoma is a town originally in the outskirts of Oklahoma City, but later (1950) annexed by that city.

Steven's Point, 17 June 1911 - "Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Blanchard, also of Oklahoma City, are spending a short time in the city (ed. Steven's Point, Wisconsin) on their way to Colby to enjoy a reunion of the family."^[11]

Carl passed away in 1917, and was interred in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ^[12] The following short Obituary appeared at the time:

Obituary, Tuesday, 20 Feb. 1917 - "C.J. Blanchard, 81 years old, died at 11:40 o'clock yesterday morning at his home, 1017 W. 10th street. He was a pioneer resident of Oklahoma City. Surviving him are his wife and two children, Mrs. Nellie Smith and Emery Blanchard of this city. Mrs. H.G. When of Parsons, Kan., a sister of Mrs. Blanchard will attend the funeral, which will be held this afternoon at 3:30 o'clock from the family residence."^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ 1860 United States Federal Census, State of Wisconsin, Waushara County, Plainfield, Page 34, Line 6| 1860 US Census, "C Blanchard, Age 22"
2. ↑ 1875 Kansas State Census, Butler County, Augusta Township, Page 5, Line 7| 1875 Kansas State Census, "C J Blanchard, Age 38"
3. ↑ 1880 United States Federal Census, State of Kansas, Butler County, Augusta, Page 85A, Line 4| 1880 US Census, "Carcy J Blanchard, 42"
4. ↑ The Oklahoma Land Run| Landrun 1889
5. ↑ An Oklahoma Decision, Pleasanton Observer-Enterprise, Pleasanton, KS., 15 March 1890, Page 1 (attached)
6. ↑ The Kansas State Register, Wichita, KS., 12 Nov 1898, Page 4 (below)
7. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census, US Military Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas, Page 2B, Line 87| 1900 US Census, "Carley J Blanchard, Age 64"
8. ↑ 1900 US Federal Census, Oklahoma Territory, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City, Page 18B, Line 91| 1900 US Census, "Martha Blanchard, Age 55"
9. ↑ 1910 US Federal Census, Oklahoma Territory, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City, Page 5A, Line 6| 1910 US Census, "C J Blanchard, Age 73"
10. ↑ Waterloo Advertiser, Waterloo, Que., 24 June 1904
11. ↑ Steven's Point Journal, Steven's Point, Wi., 17 June 1911, Page 6
12. ↑ FindAGrave| "Carley J. Blanchard"
13. ↑ The Oklahoman, 20 Feb 1917