John Alfred Blank

John Alfred Blank, a prominent resident of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, a contractor in the house papering and painting industry, is a descendant of one of the pioneer families of the state.

(I) Solomon Blank, grandfather of John Alfred Blank, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1807. He «was a shoemaker by trade, and migrated to Westmoreland county in 1837. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and gave his strong support to the Democratic party. He married (first) Catherine Whistler, of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, a native of Holland, who came to this country in 1836. She was a sister of Whistler, the famous painter. The children of Solomon and Catherine (Whistler) Blank were: 1. Thomas, born February 14, 1828, married Keziah Smith, daughter of Jacob Smith, of Harrison City, and had children: Sylvester, Oliver and Kate, who, married Edward Hammer, of Greensburg. 2. Henry, see forward. 3. George Adam, born January 27, 1831, married Lavinia Baum, and had children: George, Jacob, Henry and Solomon. 4. Eliza, born March 12, 1833, married Frederick Bauman. 5. Lydia, born April 12, 1836, married Henry Dixon. 6. Sophia, born October 8, 1839, married Philip Brindle. (See sketch of Richard C. Welty). 7. Susan, born October 11, 1841, married Henry Hilligass, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and had among other children: Charles, Elmer, Emma. 8. Jonathan died at the age of eight years. Mrs. Blank died in 1840. Mr. Blank married (second) Elizabeth Weaver, and they had children: 1. Mary, married Simon Feightner, and had children: Herman, John, Josephine and Thomas. 2. Josephine, married John M. Zimmermann.

(II) Henry Blank, second son and child of Solomon (1) and Catherine (Whistler) Blank, was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1829. He obtained a good education in Hempfield township, in the Gate, Dickey and Thomas schoolhouses. He is a member of the First Lutheran church of Greensburg, and is an active worker for the Republican party. He married, September 12, 1850. Susanna Louisa Cribbs, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Miller) Cribbs, of Hempfield township. Their children were: 1. John Alfred, see forward. 2. Elizabeth Alice, born June 28, 1854, married William F. Holtzer, one of the most prosperous farmers of Hempfield township, and has children: Daisy, Charles, Harry, Clara, Lloyd, Oliver and Jennie May. 3. Amanda Jane, born October 16, 1856, died December 4, 1904; she was the wife of Simon Wise, and had children: Coulter, Cora, Gertrude, Clark, and Howard. 4. Sarah Ellen, born September 2, 1860, died in infancy. 5. Mary Caroline, born December 25, 1868, married Harry B. Loughrey, of Greensburg.

(III) John Alfred Blank, eldest child of Henry (2) and Susanna Louisa (Cribbs) Blank, was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1852. He was educated in the public schools of Adamsburg and Grapeville, and was then apprenticed to learn the trade of painting with Amos Eisaman, of Greensburg. He is at present successfully engaged in contracting for the papering and painting of houses and similar work. He has been an active worker in the political field of his county for the Republican party, and was elected constable for the first ward in Greensburg for three years in February, 1905. He fills this office very acceptably, and his public spirit has won for him many friends. He married October 23, 1873, Jennie Reamer, daughter of John and Hannah (Pool) Reamer, of Greensburg, and they have had children: 1. A child not named, died in infancy. 2. Henry Clinton, born August 26, 1875, married Nannie Wallace, daughter of Michael Wallace, of Greensburg, and had children: Elizabeth, Alfred, Sarah, one who died in infancy, and ---. 3. John Reamer, born January 21, 1879, married Maud George, of Greensburg, and has one child, Helen. 4. James Howard, born August, 1881, died February, 1884. 5. Lula Maud, born 1883, married Samuel S. Brownfield. 6 and 7. Jessie Bessie and Joseph Dewitt, born July, 1886, died in infancy. 8. Richard Charles, born November 1, 1895.

In the maternal line Mr. Blank is descended from a family prominently identified with the development of Westmoreland county. The Cribbs family traces its ancestry to the province of Alsace-Lorraine, in Germany. The founders of the family in this country came to America about 1750, landing at Philadelphia. Their children were: George; John, see forward; Jacob, who purchased land and settled in Westmoreland county shortly after the war of the revolution; Susan, married and resided in Philadelphia; Peter George, who served with bravery and was killed in the war of the revolution.

(I) Captain John Cribbs, a representative of the second generation of this family in America, was a soldier of the revolution and was killed at the time of St. Clair's defeat, November 4, 1791, leaving to survive him a widow, Catherine (Harrold) Cribbs, and seven children: Peter, married Steelsmith: Christopher, see forward; John, married Elizabeth Keiffer, Clarion county; George, married, Canton, Ohio; Elizabeth, married Joseph Berlin; Mary, married George Repine; Susan, died in infancy.

(II) Christopher Cribbs, second son and child of Captain John (1) and Catherine (Harrold) Cribbs, was born February 10, 1780. He married (first), November 18, 1800, Mary Magdalene Silvis, born November 4, 1780, and had children: 1 John, born August 9, 1801, died July 25, 1805. 2. Peter, born February 3, 1803, married Catherine Miller, December 30, 1824. 3. Catherine, born January 13, 1805, married Daniel Miller, February 25, 1824. 4. Sarah, born January 15, 1807, married Peter Miller, October 8, 1829. 5. Anna, born April 6, 1808, married John Fox, November 18, 1828. 6. Joshua, see forward. 7. Levi, born April 10, 1811, married Hannah Miller, September 19, 1833. 8. Elizabeth, born November 2, 1812, died September 20, 1819. 9. Mary, born November 13, 1814, married Jacob Miller, April 17, 1834. 10. Magdalene, born June 6, 1816, married Peter Smeltzer, March 19, 1837. 11. Samuel, born March 14, 1818, married Sarah Smeltzer, October 27, 1839. 12. George, born April 15, 1820, married Jane Skelly, of Hempfield township, September 4, 1845. 13. Leah, born November 26, 1821, married Jacob Altman, May 20, 1847. 14. Susannah, born April 23, 1823. Christopher Cribbs married (second), April 30, 1847, Elizabeth Fisher.

(III) Joshua Cribbs, third son and sixth child of Christopher (2) and Mary Magdalene (Silvis) Cribbs, was born October 6, 1809. He married Elizabeth Miller, February 9, 1832, and among their children was Susannah Louisa.

(IV) Susannah Louisa Cribbs, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth (Miller) Cribbs, married Henry Blank, September 12, 1850, and their eldest child was John Alfred Blank, whose name heads this sketch.

John W. Jordan, ed. History of Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Genealogical Memoirs, vol. II. New York: Lewis Publishing Co., pp. 645-646.

Submitted by Nancy.