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| About The Planks | ||||
| Genealogy Home Kenaga Family Photo's |
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Johann Melchoir Blankenberg came to America with his wife on October 29, 1757. Oral tradition states that some of their friends were on a ship ready to sail to America. Our ancestors came on board to have their last visit with them. They stayed on board ship that night believing the ship would sail the next day. When they awoke the morning they were many miles at sea. They were ordered to pay for their passage, and bing without sufficient funds they indentured themselves for a period of five years or 23 pounds. The original copy of the indentured papers are in the Ina Plank Collection at the Goshen College Library, Goshen, Indiana. Part of this story seems questionable, Melchoir's son Christian continued the tradition that his father came from Switzerland. Another conflict of this story stating that they were natives of Rotterdam, Holland conflicts with the fact that Melchoir and his family were Amish and spoke Pennsylvania German, the langage of the Palatinate area of Southern Germany. Tax and census records of Berks and Lancaster Counties show Melchoir as both a Plank and a Blank. His name first appears in the list of taxpayers in Caernarvon Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1780. In 1780 he paid tax on two cows, in 1781 two cows, in 1784 one horse, two cows and 6 sheep. In 1785 he paid $9.00. He was not taxed for his land because he did not own any at that time. The records or John Blank( Melchoir's son) will and land deeds tend to support the oral tradition that Melchoir and Margaret come to America in 1767 with friends, who could have been the Peter Beachy family, and the Yost Yoder family, whose daughters married three of Melchoir's sons. This would also support the tradition that Melchoir and Margaret came from Switzerland by way of Rotterdam, Holland. Unfortunately, the passenger list is missing. Land deeds show that Melchoir Plank purchased land in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania in 1799 when he moved with his family in 1793. In his last will and testament dated November 1, 1811 in which he states he is sick and weak of body but sound in mind, he recommends that his body be buried in a Christian like manner and debts and funeral expenses be paid. Then he bequeths his estate to his wife, Margaret, for her natural lifetime, leaving her whatever is left of his estate for son, Jacob and his heirs. Sons Christian, John, Peter and daughters Barbara and Margaret all received $1.00 each. It was signed with his mark. Melchoir's wife was Margaret, last name unknown. In Melchoir's BIBLE, a note in the margin gives the date 1744 which could be the year of his birth. He was buried in Locust Grove Cemetery, Belleville, Pennsylvania. |
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| Children of Johann Melchoir Blankenberg and Margaret: | ||||
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| Jacob Plank, son of Melchoir and Margaret Plank was born November 6, 1767, in Berks County, Pennsylvania. He married Mary Yoder, born February 13, 1771 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and they settled in Union Township, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania in 1799. Jacob built an oil mill, west of Belleville, Pennsylvania in 1812. The family moved to Wayne County, Ohio in 1820 and sons John and Christian soon followed. John entered into partnership with his father engaging in the grist mill business and later a saw mill and cabinet shop. People came for miles to get their furniture made or have old furniture repaired. They also made coffins. Seeing the need of an easier way to separate the wheat from the chaff, the Plank's invented a fanning mill. These mills were manufactured at John Plank's cabinet shop. The family was skilled in flour milling, lumber milling, and woodworking. They transported grain and supplies to and from Cleveland, Ohio. Wheat sold for 40 or 50 cents a bushel and the farmer had to take part of it in trade. They would exchange their crops for leather, fish, salt, and other things they could not grow or make themselves. Their education was very limited. The pioneers could read, write and figure well, but this was as far as they advanced. Many women could not write and the only book they read was the BIBLE.
Jacob died January 10, 1851 and Mary died March 28, 1830. They are buried in the Plank Cemetery, Wayne County, Ohio (picture). |
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| Children of Jacob Plank and Mary Yoder: | ||||
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| Christian Plank was born November 8, 1793, son of Jacob and Mary(Yoder) Plank in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. His wife, Elizabeth Kurtz was born March 28, 1798. They were married March 31, 1817 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Christian was a farmer, who leased a farm for several years until he moved to Ohio. His landlord after the expiration of his lease gave him a nice horse, as a reward for his faithfulness and honesty as a renter. Christian built a grist mill downstream on April Creek. Christian died September 8, 1881 and Elizabeth on December 11, 1879. They are both buried in Pretty Prairie Cemetery, Howe, Indiana.
Christian and Elizabeth Plank had 12 children, 90 grandchildren, and 117 great grandchildren! |
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| Children of Christian Plank and Elizabeth Kurtz: | ||||
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| Christian J. Plank (picture) was born September 13, 1833, son of Christian and Elizabeth ( Kurtz) Plank. He was born in Wayne County, Ohio. His wife, Mary Musser, was born March 9, 1836, also in Wayne County. She was the daughter of Abraham and Catherine Musser. Christian and Elizabeth were married January 3, 1856 in Adams County, Indiana. The Mussers came to Adams County from Wayne County, Ohio in 1854.
Mary died September 17, 1872 and was buried in Pretty Prairie Cemetery, Howe, Indiana. Christian remarried Fannie Morrell Plank, widow of Gideon Plank. They had one son Harvey b. May 30, 1874. Fannie died February 15, 1892. Christian died April 4, 1913 and is buried in Pretty Prairie Cemetery. |
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| Children of Christian J. Plank and Mary Musser: | ||||
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