Jackson County Banner 
Brownstown, Indiana
Thursday, April 17, 1879
Page 4

E.T. Blankenship
Whose death we announced last week, was born near Dupont, Jefferson county, Indiana, January 25th, 1824. When he was five years of age his father died. Five years later he set out for Mobile, Alabama, when he went on a vessel as cabin boy, which position he held for about eight years. He then returned to Madison, this state, and became an employee on the Madison & Indianapolis R.R. tracks. He soon run on it, and continued this until 1852, when he quit and settled at Columbus, ahd was station agent there for 14 years. On the 11th of April, 1844 he married Miss Martha Boone, with whom he lived about 16 years, when she died, leaving four children. On the 10th of October, 1860, he and Miss Emma Lawhead were married, and to them a son was born. He and his last wife lived happily together until his death. He united with the M.E. Church in the winter of 1857-58, and was soon appointed class leader. He was also elected Sunday School Superintendent. In April, 1870, he moved 2 1/2 miles south of here, and largely entered into the making of bricks.
At a Quarterly Conference held in Seymour in 1872, he was licensed to preach, and became an effective speaker, and as a revivalist had but few superiors. It will be many a day before his place will be filled here, as he was a christian gentleman of the first order, and very highly respected by all who knew him. His remains were taken to Columbus for interment. Rev. J. Cotton conducted the funeral ceremonies.