Note: Death certificate originally had a death date of Jan 5, 1935, but it was written over to change it to Jan 6, 1935 (which fits with the info in the article below).

Also, the article below describes him as being 37 years old, whereas his death certificate shows that he was 38 years and 8 days old.

However, there must be a problem with either Arch's birth date or his father Jim's death date. Arch's death certificate says he was born 26 Dec 1896, but his father Jim's headstone has a death date of 04 Jul 1895. Arch couldn't have been born a year and a half after his father's death, so either Jim died in Jul 1896, or else Arch was born in Dec 1895 (which would make him 39 at his death). According to the 1910 census (enumerated in May 1910), Arch was 14 at the time, which would place his birth in Dec 1895 rather than Dec 1896, so that's the date I've listed above.

Additionally, Arch's WWI draft registration card (which he signed himself) gives his birth date as 27 (not 26) Dec 1895.

Another discrepancy is that Arch's death certificate states he was born in Campbell County, but his WWI draft registration card states he was born in Huntsville (which is in neighboring Scott County).

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Son of:
Jim D. Blankenship &
Jane [Emory?]

(It is said that both Arch and his older brother Link were both illegitimate children of Jim D. by another woman. Jim D. had been married to Emeline Trammell since 1871. After Jim's death, Emeline raised Link & Arch).

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Husband of:
1). Vesta "Vestie" (Woods) Blankenship
* * * * (mother of Lillian & Archie Delphie)
2). Martha (Miller) Blankenship
* * * * (mother of Carlton & Leon)

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Many thanks to fellow member Edie Doepel for Arch's obituary!

From The Lafollette Press, Tuesday, January 8, 1935

BLANKENSHIP FUNERAL WILL BE TUESDAY

Arch Blankenship Shot And Killed Instantly In Caryville Early Sunday Morning

Arch Blankenship of Caryville is dead as the result of a bullet said to have been fired from the gun of Will Wood, deputy and watchman of Caryville. Wood is held under bond, and the preliminary trial will be held in Caryville Friday afternoon before Esquire Bill Sharp.

According to Sheriff Davis, Wood tells the following story:

Blankenship came and called Wood out on Sunday morning about 12:10 and as Wood came onto the street, Blankenship hit him with his hand, and then ran his hand into his own pocket as if to draw a gun. Wood believing that Blankenship intended to shoot him, fired a forty-five, the bullet hitting Blankenship between the eyes. Wood alledges [alleges] that Blankenship was drunk.

Blankenship died with his hand in his pocket, according to Sheriff Davis who investigated the killing, and had no weapons on him. Wood was arrested and granted bail.

Blankenship was born and reared in the county, was veteran of the World War, and 37 years old. He is survived by his wife and four children, Lillian, Delphie, Carlton and Leon, one brother Link, and one half brother Rufus Hembrey. He was a member of the Baptist Church and Rev. J. W. Wright will conduct funeral services there at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. Burial will be in the Sharp Cemetery.

Minton Sharp Funeral Home will be in charge of the funeral.