FRANCIS M. BLANN

S. G. Blann worked as a hired hand early in his life, receiving six dollars a month, but late purchased land with his scanty earnings and commenced farming for his livelihood. He was a progressive and industrious man who accumulated rapidly, and at one time possessed eleven hundred acres of land, a portion of which was situated in Sullivan, and the remainder in Knox County. He spent the last years of his life in retirement at Oaktown, Knox County, to which place he removed in about 1899. He died July 4, 1907, and his widow still resides at Oaktown. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom are still living: Edward P., a merchant of Monroe City, Knox county; John A., deceased; Francis M., of this review; Mary O., wife of John G. Ford, residing in Knox county, a farmer by occupation; William W., a farmer of South Dakota; Dr. Herbert E., a physician of Fairbanks, Indiana; and Charles Everett, of Oaktown, a farmer.

Francis M. Blann obtained his limited education at the schools of Shaker Prairie and at Oaktown. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, and purchased a tract of land containing one hundred and twenty acres situated in Knox County, north of Vincennes. He was unmarried at that time, and only kept this land about one year, when he disposed of it and bought one hundred and ninety acres in Sullivan County, near Carlisle. Here he resided for five years, during which time he was married and purchased two hundred acres more land from his father, the same being near Oaktown, to which place he removed and engaged in the grocery business in partnership with an uncle. This he only followed for about a year, after which he purchased a hundred-acre farm two miles to the north of Carlisle, having already sold both of his other farms. The last place he kept a year and then sold and bought one hundred and fifty acres where he now lives, and upon which he has made extensive and valuable improvements. As it now presents itself it is among the best equipped places in the vicinity, and here he expects to remain and carry on his farming and stock raising operation, making thoroughbred short-horn cattle a specially. Possessed of great determination and natural ability, only success seems probable to follow and crown his untiring efforts.

Mr. Blann is in his political views a pronounced advocate of pure Democracy. In his religious faith he adheres to that of the Christian denomination. He was united in marriage, October 21, 1894, to Miss Effie J. Shepherd, a family sketch of whose family will appear in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Blann the following children were born: Edward Roy, born September 12, 1895; Lester Ray, born August 21, 1897: Robert Lowell, born in November, 1899; and Harry Shepherd, born November 1, 1906. The fourth born child died in infancy.

Mr. Blann is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 5488. as a protection to his family. The camp of Woodmen is located at New Lebanon, Indiana.

VOLUME II. PAGE 316.

A history of Sullivan County, Indiana, closing of the first century's history of the county, and showing the growth of its people, institutions, industries and wealth

THOMAS J. WOLFE EDITOR ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW YORK CHICAGO 1909