That name is a mouthful! Tennessee Arkansas BLAN was called Tennie - and she was so named because her family had just moved from Henry County, Tennessee, to Sebastian County, Arkansas, shortly before she was born. Tennie was born at the start of the Civil War - Jul 1861. Tennie's parents - George Porter BLAN (BLAND) and Pernita Jane ASHLOCK - had 10 children, but only 9 are known - and only 6 of those children reached adulthood. Tennie's 3 sisters who died young are Mary, Frances, and Betty.
There is a 6-year gap between Tennie and her younger brother. I have wondered if that is when the possible missing child (8th in line, perhaps) was born. Children who were born and then died during the Civil War were often never recorded. In fact, those little ones were often buried in a quilt in the back yard during the dark of night to avoid bushwhackers and gravediggers pulling up the remains.
Tennie was 14 when her mother died. She had an older sister still at home, Pernita Adaline BLAN, age 17, and two younger siblings, James "Jim" age 8 and Amanda "Mandy" age 6. When Tennie was 15 1/2, her father came in for a noon nap after a hard day at work in the fields - and never woke up.
There is a 6-year gap between Tennie and her younger brother. I have wondered if that is when the possible missing child (8th in line, perhaps) was born. Children who were born and then died during the Civil War were often never recorded. In fact, those little ones were often buried in a quilt in the back yard during the dark of night to avoid bushwhackers and gravediggers pulling up the remains.
Tennie was 14 when her mother died. She had an older sister still at home, Pernita Adaline BLAN, age 17, and two younger siblings, James "Jim" age 8 and Amanda "Mandy" age 6. When Tennie was 15 1/2, her father came in for a noon nap after a hard day at work in the fields - and never woke up.
What was she to do now? The year was 1877. I'm not sure where all the kinds went right away. Tennie married Thomas Clinton ARY - always called 'Clint' - in 1879 in Arkansas. In the 1880 census (Dayton, Sebastian, Arkansas), Tennie is with Clint and their first child. Jim is found with his older sibling Henry W. BLAN - as a servant. And Mandy is found with older sister Pernita Adaline BLAN BREWER. There was another older sibling, Nancy Jane BLAN THURMAN, who died in 1881. I'm sure the years between 1877 and 1879 were hard years. Land records and an article from Goodspeed History indicate that Henry W. BLAN owned and worked his father's farm for many years. Perhaps Tennie lived with her older brother for a few years before she married.
In the 1900 census (Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory), Clint and Tennie are listed with 4 children. But the fine print states that she had 9 children and only 4 were living. Just like her mother, Tennie had buried several of her own children. What I would give to know anything about these little ones...boys?...girls? Through all the trials and struggles she had, she was a strong yet loving lady. My husband's grandmother remembers her Grandma Tennie fondly - not just what a great cook she was, but how much she loved her and how kind and good she was.
Aunt Tiffany i am so happy you did this im so excited to read and keep up i feel like im in the loop and what a great place to do it where we can all see your hard work. Thanks a ton!
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