Blanche Bronson (1871 - 1942)

Born 8 Mar 1871 in Rickreall, Polk, Oregon, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 15 Nov 1942 at age 71 in Dallas, Polk, Oregon, United States

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Biography

Descendant of William Hickok, immigrant ancestor of Farmington, Colony of Connecticut.

She was thought by many to be the most knowledgeable person in Polk County, Oregon about the early history of the county and of Dallas. Collecting pioneer lore had been her passion.^[1]

her portrait

Blanche Bronson, daughter^[2] of David Ostrom Bronson and Mary Jane Dempsey was born on 8 March 1871 in Rickreall, Polk Co., Oregon.^[2][1][3]

She grew up on the family farm near Lewisville, Polk Co., Oregon.^[1]

She graduated from the Oregon Agricultural College at Corvallis.^[4]

Blanche married Horton "Hort" C. Eakin on 27 May 1895.^[5][1]

By 1900 she and Hort were living in Dallas, Polk Co., Oregon, and she lived there for the rest of her life.^[6][1] The family home, on Court and Shelton Streets (401 Court Street), is now (2012) where the fire department is located.^[7] photo of Eakin home about 1902 with son "Jack" standing in front

Blanche and Hort only had the one child, John Bronson Eakin.^[1]

Hort predeceased her in 1928. He had been a member of the abstract firm of Sibley & Eakin. After his death Blanche continued the business with her son, managing it up until her death. In the year prior to her death she had been involved with the bulk of the Polk County titles related to the Camp Adair purchase of many farms and homes.^[1]

Blanche was a charter member and past regent of the Sarah Childress Polk chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Eakin was also a member of the state DAR board for the Pioneer Mothers' Log Cabin at Champoeg, now part of the Newell Pioneer Village operated by the DAR.^[1] photo of cabin

She had been a member and past matron of the Naomi chapter no. 22, Order of Eastern Star of Dallas, as well as a board member that had established the Rainbow Girls; also one of the first mother advisors of the Rainbow Girls.^[1]

Blanche additionally had been worthy high priestess of Willamette Shrine of Jerusalem, of Salem.^[1]

Mrs. Eakin moreover had been a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and of the Presbyterian Church.^[1]

Blanche was 71 years old when she died on 15 November 1942 at home at 515 Court Street, Dallas, Polk Co., Oregon of a coronary occlusion.^[2][1][3]

Funeral services were planned for 18 November 1942.^[1]

Entombment was on 18 November 1942 at Mount Crest Abbey Mausoleum, Salem, Marion Co., Oregon.^[2][1][3]

She was survived by her son, her only grandson John Bronson Eakin, Jr., and her three brothers, William, Charles, and George Bronson.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14} "Blanche Eakin Passes Away At Dallas," The Capital Journal [Salem Oregon], 17 November 1942, p. 3, col. 1; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/94709632 : accessed 17 April 2022).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} "Oregon, U.S., State Deaths, 1864-1968," database with images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 April 2022), imaged Standard Certificate of Death, state file no. 154, Blanche Eakin, 15 November 1942, Dallas, Polk Co.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190766180/blanche-eakin : accessed 17 April 2022), memorial page for Blanche Bronson Eakin (8 Mar 1871–15 Nov 1942), Find a Grave Memorial ID 190766180, citing Mount Crest Abbey Mausoleum, Salem, Marion County, Oregon, USA ; Maintained by Rebecca Dunlap (contributor 47104507).
4. ↑ O.A.C. Alumni Association, O. A. C. Alumnus: Directory Issue 1925,185 ; image, Google Books (https://books.google.com : accessed 17 April 2022.
5. ↑ "Eakin Funeral Services Will Be On Sunday," The Capital Journal [Salem Oregon], 10 March 1928, p. 3, col. 7; image, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/96031241 : accessed 17 April 2022).
6. ↑ 1900 U.S. census, Polk County, Oregon, population schedule, Dallas, enumeration district (ED) 173, sheet 1B, dwelling 26, family 26, Hort C. and Blanche Eakin; digital image, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 September 2015); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll 1351.
7. ↑ Sue Hunter Rohde and Debra Lea Meaghers, Images of America: Dallas (Charleston, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2012), 119; imaged book, Google Books (https://books.google.com : accessed 17 April 2022).