Herman and Lydia were married on today’s date in 1875, so today would be a very special wedding anniversary for them. You will be reading their story today. I will begin with the groom.

Herman Blanken was born on November 4, 1854, the son of Johann and Margaret (Reimann) Blanken. Herman was baptized at Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna. An image of his baptism record from that congregation’s books is pictured here.

Herman is found in the 1860 census at the age of 5. His father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

In the 1870 census, Herman was a teenager. Even though this entry does not say so, I have to think that Herman was helping his father on his farm.

Now, we will take a look at the bride. Her name was Lidda Anne Gentsch, who was born on September 2, 1850 in Ronneburg, Germany. Lydia was the daughter of Friedrich and Marie (Lange) Gentsch. I am able to display her German baptism record from the parish in Ronneburg.

In America, Lidda went mostly by the name, Lydia, but in one document, I found it spelled as Lina. I will use Lydia for the rest of this post. I have to think that Lydia was quite young when her family came to America. Her sister was born in 1854 and baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown. Lydia is found in the 1860 census at the age of 13, but if we have her correct date of birth, she would have been about 10. Lydia’s mother had died in 1857, so she is not found in this entry. Her father was a farmer in the Brazeau Township.

Next, we find Lydia in the 1870 census, which says she was 18 years old.

Herman Blanken married Lydia Gentsch on December 2, 1875. I am able to display 2 civil marriage records, both of which say that this couple was married by Rev. A.W. Bergt, who was the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown at that time. However, I was unable to find a church marriage record for these two in the Grace, Uniontown books. Each of these records use the name, Lina Gentsch, for the bride. They each spell Herman’s surname as Blank.

Our German Family Tree lists 8 children born to this couple. All of them have baptism records in the books of Concordia, Frohna. When the 1880 census was taken, we find the Blanken’s living in the newly-formed Union Township. This entry can be confusing. Herman and Lydia were living with Herman’s parents. The 24 year-old Margaret was actually a daughter, not a daughter-in-law, and John B. is another brother of Herman. Lydia (called Lidda) is not shown next to her husband, Herman. Three children of Herman and Lydia are also found in this entry. Herman was a farmer.

The last of the Blanken children was born in 1892, but the Blanken’s are no longer found living in Perry County when the 1900 census was taken. The Blanken family was living in the Lorance Township of Bollinger County in all their remaining census entries. That would mean that they were living near Marble Hill. There were 6 children in their household, and Herman was still farming.

The 1910 census shows that 3 children were still living with Herman and Lydia.

The Blanken’s are found in the 1920 census, and Herman was still farming. Their daughter, Minnie, had married Robert Heider, but he had died in 1917. Minnie and her 3 children were living with Herman and Lydia.

Lydia Blanken died in 1927 at the age of 77. We can view her death certificate here.

Lydia is buried in the Jackson Cemetery in Jackson.

Herman Blanken would marry a woman by the name of Susan Bray in 1929. As near as I can tell, Susan may have been married 3 times before marrying Herman. This couple is found in the 1930 census still living around Marble Hill.

Herman Blanken died in 1935 at the age of 81. His death certificate below says he died of stomach cancer. It says he was born in 1853, not 1854, so he was likely only 80 when he died.

Herman Blanken is buried in the Hahn Chapel Cemetery in Marble Hill. His year of birth is said to be 1853, which may have been taken from his death certificate.

I have written several other Blanken stories on this blog. Several of the Blanken’s ended up living in Colorado, but this Blanken couple migrated not so far away. They ended up being what I will call the Marble Hill Blanken’s.