Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/143

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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was a lord mayor of London. The earliest member of the family in Virginia was Joseph Dabbs, one of whose descendants was Richard Dabbs, a Baptist minister, whom the church authorities persecuted and imprisoned for preaching without authority from the Established church. Many of the descendants of Joseph Dabbs served in the Virginia soldiery of early days and the roster of revolutionary soldiers from Vir- ginia contains many of the name.

William Dabbs Blanks was born in Clarksville. Virginia, April 3, 1864, son of James Matthew Blanks, born in Charlotte county, Virginia, j\Iarch 13, 1818, died in 1884. He was a prosperous farmer, and after becoming a resident of Clarksville was postmaster and mayor of that thriving Mecklenburg county town, where he was for many years engaged as a merchant. He married Julia Frances Dabbs, born in Hali- fax count}', Virginia, November 21, 1829, died ]\Iay 9, 1909, daughter of Josiah and Frances Elizabeth (Dabbs) Dabbs, both de- scendants of Sir Richard Dabbs, the Vir- ginia founder of the family.

William D. Blanks spent his early life in Clarksville, where he attended the local schools and prepared for college. He was a delicate lad, which fact absolved him from all laborious tasks and gave him complete freedom for study and home associations, which were of the best. His plans for a college education were thwarted by finan- cial considerations and henceforth his edu- cation depended entirely upon self study, wide reading and association with men of greater learning. At the age of twenty years he became the confidential clerk and book- kee])er for Colonel Thomas F. Goode, pro- prietor of the Buffalo Lithia Springs in Mecklenburg county, remaining with him two years. He then entered mercantile life as clerk and proprietor, then as dealer in leaf tobacco, as senior member of the firm of Blanks & Watkins. He attained high standing in the mercantile world of his dis- trict, and in 1892, when he began the or- ganization of a state bank in Clarksville, there was a ready response, resulting in the incorporation of the Planters' Bank of Clarksville, of which he was chosen the first cashier. He developed fine ability as a financier and continued as cashier until 1903, when he was elected president. He remained the efficient head of the Planters'

P.ank for ten years, resigning in 1913. Since that period he has been engaged in the con- duct of his private business, real estate and insurance. He has held many city offices, justice of peace, councilman, notary public, and in all positions has rendered efficient service.

A Democrat in politics, Mr. Blanks has ever been a hearty party supporter, repudi- ating, however, the "Free Silver" heresy and its sponsors, opposing it and them by voice and influence, but refraining from sup- porting the opposition by his vote. He was for several years a member of the Meck- lenburg County Democratic Committee, served as delegate to numerous county and state conventions of his party, making in 1905 a campaign for the nomination for state senator from the twenty-fifth Virginia district. He was opposed by F. B. Roberts, of Chase City, who carried the primaries by a plurality of fifty-nine votes. In 191 1 Mr. Blanks was the successful candidate for state senator from the same district, com- posed of the counties of Mecklenburg and Brunswick. He served with credit as sena- tor and rendered valued service on the fol- lowing senate committees : general laws ; insurance and banking; enrolled bills; and counties, cities and towns. For twenty years he has been treasurer of the Clarks- ville Baptist Church, is a member of Wash- iiigton Union Lodge, No. 157, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of which he was junior warden, member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, member of the Junior Order of the American Mechanics and takes an active interest in all. Ever the energetic man of business, he has neglected none of his duties of citizenship, but in every de- partment of town life has borne his full share of responsibility. As a merchant, financier, public official, citizen, friend or neighbor, there is no stain upon his record, and while the thwarting of his earlier plans lost him to the legal profession, the same influences gave to the business world a strong character and valued leader.

Mr. Blanks married, June 24, 1891, Julia Watkins, born at Buiifalo Springs, Meck- lenburg county, Virginia, April 20, 1870, daughter of Charles B. and Mary Ann (Womack) Watkins. Children: i. Mary Frances, died in infancy. 2. Julia Dabbs. born January 5, 1894. 3. William Dabbs (2), died in infancy. 4. James \\'illiam, born