Greenville, son of John and Agnes Blankenship, was born in Greenupsburgh, Greenup County, Kentucky, June 2, 1817. His mother died when he was about four years old, and his father removed to Lawrence County, Ohio, where he lived until reaching his sixteenth year, when, in company with his father, he returned to his native county in Kentucky and there remained until 1849. In that year he came to Missouri, stopped one winter in Ray County, then came to Daviess County and settled in Benton Township, near old Pattonsburg, in the spring of 1850. He purchased a tract of wild land, which he converted into a fine farm, and now owns 170 acres of as rich and well cultivated land as can be found in North Missouri. His farm extends over the Daviess County line into DeKalb County, and is most pleasantly located, with all the modern improvements. He is most profitably engaged in general farming and stock-raising for the market.
Mr. Blankenship was married to Miss Mary Ann Ellison, of Greenup County, Kentucky, on the 15th of February, 1838. The fruits of this union were eleven sons and five daughters, only three of whom are living; namely, Clarinda, wife of Thomas Herron, of Benton township; James, living on the home farm; and Thomas, at home. Of those dead, was Greenville, Jr., who was killed, June 20, 1881.