My Genealogy Hound

WILSON BLANTON, Webb City, Mo. Mr. Blanton is a native of east Tennessee, born in Severe county, June 4, 1840, His parents were Gazaway and Mary Blanton (nee Mary Baker). They were both North Carolinians by birth, being natives of the original Burk county (which has since been subdivided). Grandparents on both sides were natives of North Carolina, and Thomas Baker, an ancestor, was a Revolutionary soldier under Sumpter. His grandson (Mr. Blanton’s uncle), Thomas Baker, was a member of Congress from one of the southern districts of N. C. The subject of this sketch was raised in east Tennessee. The breaking out of the war interfered with his completing an education begun in the common schools. In 1860 he started for Illinois, but a call for troops to defend the Southern states changed his purpose, and being at Helena, Ark., in May, 1861, he enlisted with the first company that was raised in that state for the Confederate army (Capt. W. S. Oty’s company, afterwards attached to the First Regiment Arkansas Volunteer Infantry). With his command he went through some of the most fiercely fought battles of the war; viz., Shiloh, Corinth, Mobile, Chattanooga, and with Bragg’s expedition into Kentucky, being fortunate in never receiving a scratch. In 1863 the regiment was disbanded at Knoxville and out of 1,100 men that went in only eighty able-bodied men were left to be mustered out. In 1870 he came to Missouri and has since been a resident here, though not all the time in Jasper county. In 1876 he came to this county and engaged in mining, and has since followed it. Was married in McMinn county, Tenn., July 2, 1863, to Miss Elizabeth A. Cass, a native of that county. They have six children, all living; viz., William A., Martha J., John N., Lewis M., Mary A., and Edward W. Himself and lady are both worthy members of the M. E. Church (South), and he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding his membership with Webb City Lodge, 512.