OCONTO COUNTY
Wisconsin
FAMILIES and BIOGRAPHIES

Although the surname of Blank shows up in Wisconsin censuses as early as 1870, the Carl Blank Family of Oconto are first found on the 1900 census. On that 1900 Federal Census, the family had 7 members and lived on Park Avenue in the East Ward of City of Oconto.

Carl (Charles) Blank was head of the household, being born in Pomerania December 10, 1849. Both his parents were also born in Pomerania. He had petitioned for US Citizenship after arriving in America in 1882. Carl was married in Pomerania 25 years earlier (about 1875). He was a mill laborer, age 50 years.

Emilie Blank, wife of Carl, was born November 9, 1852, in Pomerania as were both her parents. She had come to America in 1882. Amelia had given birth to 8 children, 5 of whom were living in 1900. She was age 47 years, married 25 years and had been in America for 18 years.

Ernest Blank, son of Carl, was born June 29, 1881 in Pomerania. He was age 19 and working as a mill laborer.

Albert Blank, son of Carl, was born March 8, 1885 in Wisconsin. He was age 15 years.

Carl (Charles) Blank, son of Carl, was born April 7, 1887 in Wisconsin. He was age 13 years and attending school

Hattie Blank, daughter of Carl, was born July 3, 1892 in Wisconsin. She was age 8 years and attending school.

Zelma Blank, daughter of Carl, was born December 10, 1895 in Wisconsin. She was age 4 years.

On July 16, 1905, Charles BLANK  age 55 years and 6 months passed away in Oconto He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, city of  Oconto on July 19,  1905. His diagnosis was "Locomotor Alaria ", which in recent times is called "Cerebral Malaria", often caused by a bite from a parasite infected mosquito.

Ernest A H Blank was married on  August  8, 1907 in Oconto County.

By the 1910 Federal Census, Widow Amelia Blank was head of the Park Avenue, city of Oconto, household ate age 57 years. She was working as a laundress at home. On this census it has her giving birth to 7 children, of whom 7 were living in 1910.

Also in the household was son Charles Blank, age 23, working at a lumber mill. Selma (Zelma), daughter, who was also residing in the household, was age 14.

Son Ernest Blank had been married two years in 1910 and lived separately, nearby on Park Avenue. He was age 29 and worked in a lumber mill and the year of immigration to America is 1881 here. His wife was Anna, age 25, born in Wisconsin, with both parents born in Ger-Germany. The couple had one child, daughter Lorraine, age 1 year.
 

One of two men named Albert Blank was living on 4th Street in Neenah, Winnebago County, Wisconsin. He worked in a lumber store paint shop. He was age 25 and married less than 1 year to Emma, age 20 years. They had no children. A point of interest is that two doors away was another Blank family residence. Gustave Blank, age 52, and wife Carolina, age 51  were both born in Germany, as were their parents. Gustave and  Emma came to America in 1882, were married 26 years and had 6 births, with 6 living in 1910. Gustave worked as a Cooper on wooden kegs. Four of their offspring, Herman, Martha, Elsa and Gustave Jr., were in the household; all were born in Wisconsin. The dates of immigration, nearness of households and general ages and backgrounds are strong indications of a relationship between these two households.

An Albert A. Blank, also age 25 and single, was farming in Orchard Mesa, Mesa County, Colorado in 1910. He was born in Wisconsin, with both parents born in Ger - Germany.

Widowed Amelia Blank, at age 67, continued to live on Park Avenue in city of Oconto. She had become a naturalized citizen in 1902 and was now retired. Son Charles Blank age 32, daughter-in-law Agnes age 26 (born in Wisconsin, both parents born in Denmark), with granddaughters Elison age 1 year 11 months and Bernice age 7 months were also in the household.

Ernest Blank and family were living on Jefferson Street, city of Oconto. He was a laborer, age 38 year. Wife Anna was age 34 years and their offspring were Lorraine age 11, Roland age 9, and Niel and Keil both age 3 years.

Widow Amelia Blank passed away from Cancer in Oconto on January 29, 1930 and was buried in Evergreen Cemetery February 1, 1930.

Other Blank Family buried in Evergreen Cemetery, city of Oconto.

BLANK, Charles  age 76y died in Oconto on 14 Dec 1963 buried 17 Dec 1963
BLANK, Agnes  age 58y died in  Oconto on 4 Jan 1952 buried  9 Jan 1952

BLANK, Ernest  age 65y  died in  Milwaukee, WI on 22 Apr 1946 buried 25 Apr 1946
BLANK, Anna  age 81y died in  Whitehall, Wis. on 15 May 1966 buried 18 May 1966

Federal Census - city of Oconto

Ernest Blank - No new members were added to the family.

Charles and Agnes Blank - continues residence on Park Avenue in city of Oconto. Offspring were:
Erna - daughter age 12
Bernice - daughter age 10
Ralph - son age 8
Gene (Jean) - daughter age 6
Melva - daughter age 4

Early Oconto High School Graduates with Blank surname:
Class   of   1925
  Lorraine Blank
Class of 1927:
  Ioland Blank
Class of 1934
  Keil & Neil Blank
Class  of  1935
  Erna Blank
Class    of    1938
  Bernice Blank

Oconto County Reporter
February 4, 1943
researched by Richard La Brosse

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