Blanche Coffman Barnhart (1870 - 1954)

Born 20 Oct 1870 in Indiana

Ancestors

Husband of Caroline Amelia (Fischer) Barnhart — married 25 Nov 1896 in Clay County, Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died 20 Jun 1954 at age 83 in Indiana

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Biography

A Tribute to Blanch Barnhart

Born in a double log house sitting on top of old Locust Hill, so named by the family because of the tall locust trees in front of the house, on the 20th day of October in the year of our Lord 1870, Blanche has spent all of his life near that hill and resides there today with his brother Rolla, and his daughter Rhoda Catherine, and his granddaughter, now Mrs. Royer.

Blanche has led a singular life intertwined with the church from the age of twelve years to this present time. He has lived in his present dwelling since 1876, the year that the old double log house was replaced by the more modern house which now stands on Locust Hill.

Schooling was taken at the old Evans School which was located on his uncle’s farm. Blanche married to Amelia Caroline Fisher in, November of 1896.

To this union was born Rhoda Catherine on August 13, 1899 and in each succeeding period of two years from this time until 1905 and until four daughters were born the family increased in size. There followed a period of seven years up to 1912 when David William came to town in March 26 of this year. The girls named in order of the arrival are as follows: Rhoda Catherine, Mildred Marguerite, Delores Fischer, Marion Glenn.

Each year on his birthday, Blanche brings unforgettable talks to the church which mark the passing of the years in their flight and remind us all of the joy of living close to God and the church and proving to us the blessings which are to be found walking with the Lord. Sunday School teacher, and superintendent, with other high offices of the church, Blanche has made a marvelous contribution across the years to the spiritual developments of God’s work in this place. Called The Balance Wheel of the Church and many endearing names which indicate the high esteem in which he is held among us, shedding an influence in every area of the church; always giving untiringly of his efforts, it is impossible to visualize how much we really owe these old soldiers of the cross. These who have charted the way from the time the church met in the little school house and prayed for God’s blessing, through struggling periods always upwards, until today we have a lovely chapel, debt free in which to honor God according to the dictates of our hearts.

This year on October 20 our hearts were made heavy when Blanche had to forward his usual speech on his birthday occasion, in writing which the pastor read to the congregation. This marked the first year in forty two years that the speech was not made in person presenting an offering at the altars of the church. For all the grains of wisdom, condensed from life’s ever-moving stream, that he has brought us, for the loyalty to God and the fellowship, for his holding steady when many wavered, for his forward looking bright outlook on life that has led us constantly onward and upward, we pray that God shall supply all his needs and that his latter end of mortal existence shall shine more and more unto that perfect day, yea unto immortal life.

Sources

• Source: History of Saline City Evangelical United Brethren Church;

Saline City, Indiana, 1953. Edited by William Simpson

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, "Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:S5M1-G85 : accessed 2016-11-02), entry for Blanch Coffman /Barnhart/.

PEDIGREE RESOURCE FILE

Person Count 4,295

Submission ID MMSB-D97