TERRE HAUTE —
If you have followed this column a dozen years or more, you surely will recall “The Saga of Ben Blanchard,” eight sequential biographical installments initiated in 2000 and supplemented thereafter on three occasions.
Blanchard was a 19th century Terre Haute realtor who became one of the most imaginative and charming con men in America.
Between 1885 and 1942, Blanchard:
• platted and developed the communities of South Hutchinson, Kan., Blanchard, Ariz., and Monarch, Nev.;
• acquired elegant, custom-made Pullman palace cars to transport and entertain wealthy capitalists and potential real estate investors from the East and Midwest;
• founded mining companies, banks, businesses and churches in several states;
• circumvented a host of criminal charges and civil suits through unique chicanery;
• mesmerized sophisticated investors with his charm wherever he roamed; and
• became a bank executive in London and a goat-ranching hermit in the Chesapeake Valley before returning to Terre Haute, where he died at age 84 on March 24, 1942.
Significantly, on Sept. 27, 1887, Blanchard discovered the largest pure salt strata in the world in Reno County, Kansas, near Hutchinson.
For two decades, Blanchard earned notoriety in the nation’s newspapers, including the New York Times and various Chicago dailies. Seldom was the publicity favorable. However, until this columnist first became aware of Blanchard about 20 years ago, no one apparently had tried to assemble an accurate story of his life.
It would be absurd to claim that all relevant experiences of Ben Blanchard have been or can be recorded. His schemes dazzled, delighted and deluded the public.
Because Blanchard frequently was “on the move,” it was easy for journalists to create stories about his actions and whereabouts. Even the official history of South Hutchinson flavored its introduction to the town’s founding by telling the improbable tale about how Ben escaped court process while dressed as a woman.
In the eyes of most 19th century scribes, Ben was too dumb to take advantage of his salt discovery and disappeared from Kansas in 1888 to avoid creditors.
Neither statement is true. Blanchard not only continued to take potential investors to Hutchinson after his discovery of salt but he invested in one of the many salt mining companies that located in that city during its ensuing “Great 1888 Salt Boom.”
Will, Frank and Edward Barton, sons of pioneer Terre Haute real estate developer Aaron B. Barton, founded Barton Salt Co. in Hutchinson.
On March 8, 2004, the Reno County Historical Society — with the cooperation of several other state and federal entities — initiated construction of the Kansas Underground Salt Museum, 650 feet below the surface.
It took 364 days to complete the initial shaft though frozen tundra. The new museum — the only underground salt museum in America — was dedicated May 1, 2007.
Before that date, the site of Ben’s discovery was identified by a historical marker but the plaque omitted the discoverer’s name.
Recently, Linda Schmitt, executive director of the Reno County Historical Society, spearheaded an effort “to set the record straight.”
Provided with copies of this writer’s columns and energized by a June 26, 2010, visit from Ben Blanchard’s great granddaughter Terri Utz, great-great granddaughter Karen Peters and Karen’s son Mathew, Schmitt wrote a new chapter to the history of South Hutchinson.
Schmitt’s essay appears in the Winter 2011 issue of “Legacy,” the journal of the historical society, and at www.southhutch.com/DocumentView.aspx?DID=85.
This writer was able to communicate with Utz and Peters 10 years ago but his primary family source was Ben’s grandson, Howard Blanchard, an honorable man who knew his grandfather. Regrettably, Howard died, at age 84, on Feb. 15, 2005.
Today, Ben is appropriately recognized at the Kansas Underground Salt Museum.
A story in the Chicago Times may shed light on Ben’s activities in Chicago and Cheyenne, cities he allegedly hoodwinked before creating ghost towns in Arizona and Nevada.
During 1885, Ben secured a plush office with an extensive library at 100 Washington St., Chicago, from Samuel Axtel Kean of S.A. Kean & Co., a private banking house. The office was managed by Blanchard’s brother-in-law Marshall G. Lee.
When Blanchard was unable to meet the monetary demands of George Pullman to obtain release of his first custom-made palace car, Ben secured Dr. W.C. Willing, the eminent Chicago divine, as surety for a $4,200 loan from Kean. Dr. Willing was forced to pay when Blanchard defaulted.
According to the Times, Blanchard left Chicago also owing Thomas H. Avery, president of the Elgin National Watch Co., and the Rev. J.M. Caldwell, pastor of the South Park Methodist Church, several thousand dollars each.
The Times reported that Blanchard fled to Mexico for several months. Then, in 1891, he landed in Cheyenne, representing himself as an agent for an eastern syndicate wanting to build a $1.5 million smelting plant provided local citizens advanced $200,000.
The $200,000 was raised quickly on the condition that Blanchard’s syndicate would not be paid one cent until the smelter was completed.
Contractors spent nearly a year building the plant before demands for payment for work completed surfaced. Blanchard paid them with drafts from his “eastern investors.”
When the drafts proved to be bogus, a search for Ben disclosed that he had disappeared with about $5,000 of other people’s money.
A warrant was issued to arrest Blanchard for obtaining money by false pretenses.
Ben voluntarily appeared in court at Cheyenne on Nov. 17, 1892, posted bond and was released. He issued a statement refuting assertions in the Chicago Times and promised to meet his commitment to build a $1.5 million smelting plant in Cheyenne.
History
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Catching up with Ben Blanchard and the Underground Salt Museum
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GENEALOGY: Library archives contain tons of information
Inside the archives room of the Vigo County Public Library, row after row of fragile documents, rare out-of-print books, and historic photographs are kept on shelves in a humidity and temperature-controlled room.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Historic efforts to open Center Street from Cherry to Swan
Efforts to open Center Street, from Cherry to Swan, spanned a half century or more.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002 — Valley drenched in wettest spring in 107 years
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star. -
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Some history wreathed in hair
From the unfortunate occurrence of Prince Albert’s death in 1861 came the social mores of proper mourning practices and accoutrements witnessed and endorsed by the admirers of Queen Victoria in her reign-long state of grieving.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: League of Women Voters reorganizes
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Here comes the bride
The newest major exhibit at the Historical Museum, which opens Tuesday, showcases wedding gowns worn by Vigo County residents.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Downtown changes featured in early 1927
During March and April of 1927 – about 85 years ago – the owners of interests in four major downtown Terre Haute theaters were negotiating to transfer their interests to representatives of Paramount Studios.
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GENEALOGY: Genealogy isn’t for the easily embarrassed
The saying goes, if you’re easily embarrassed or afraid of what you’ll find, don’t start doing genealogy.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The long, lost, last — the 27th —Amendment
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The Haymarket Square Massacre
One unhappy byproduct of the Industrial Age was the growing discontent of its industrial workers, who constantly agitated for better pay and more humane working conditions.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Stands packed as Wiley takes county track title
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and the Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Death of Terre Haute jeweler gains national headlines
Terre Haute sought national publicity in 1910 through “Boosterism,” lauding the city’s significant advancements during the decade ending Dec. 31, 1909.
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GENEALOGY: Cemetery Committee to conduct restoration workshop
The Wabash Valley Genealogy Society’s Cemetery Committee will conduct an all-day cemetery restoration workshop on Saturday at the Smith Cemetery near Youngstown, Honey Creek Township, Vigo County, Ind.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Harmonious history
In 1923, a group of singers calling themselves the Harmony Four entertained regularly over the radio and at civic and various club events.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Cleveland observes Lincoln’s funeral
The death of America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, resulted in an outpouring of national mourning, the apex of which came in late April of 1865 when a specially outfitted train carried his body on a thirteen-day, 1,700-mile, eleven-city funeral procession from Washington, D.C., to his home and final resting place in Springfield, Ill.
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GENEALOGY: Many people can trace ancestry to Titanic
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which occurred on April 14-15, 1912.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: ISU bowling team at nationals again
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Sullivan County mine explosion kills 8 in 1878
Shortly after 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, 1878, an enormous explosion rocked the Handford Brothers mine about one-half mile north of the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad depot in Sullivan County.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A common feature, but memorable
As an absolute architecture nerd, I tend to look at buildings noticing the odd ball things such as door hinges and door locks in addition to admiring the overall building.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSONS: MLK’s letter written from a jail cell in Birmingham
This week (April 16) in 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. sat in a jail cell in Birmingham, Ala., having been arrested for violating a trumped-up court order that prohibited him and his followers from conducting various protest activities, most of which you can read about in the First Amendment.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Swope celebrates 20th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: 1955 Babe Ruth League championship team to be feted
Currently in his 25th year as a college baseball coach, Rick Heller is in the midst of his third winning season at Indiana State and has embraced the university and the community.
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GENEALOGY: Long-awaited 1940 census is now available for the public
The long-awaited release of the 1940 census took place on April 2.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Memories baked from scratch
On my Historical Treasure hunt, I was drawn to a pasteboard barrel 28 inches high and 18.5 inches across with the words “Calumet Baking Powder Bakes Best, Received Highest Award” on one side and “Calumet Baking Powder Always Pleases, Try It” on the other.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Thomas Jefferson's flights of fancy
Thomas Jefferson, born this week (April 13) in 1743, is — deservedly so — in the pantheon of American heroes.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: J.K. Emmet’s first appearance at the Terre Haute Opera House
The first season of the magnificent Terre Haute Opera House, which featured many of the world’s premier celebrities, was a resounding success.
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GENEALOGY: Black Death had a monumental effect on world
One event in the past had a monumental effect on our ancestors, indeed determining who they would be. This was the advent and spread of bubonic plague, the Black Death. The plague originated in China in 1333. It was caused by a bacterium in fleas, which were carried by rats. The plague spread out of China via trading routes with the West (the Silk Road) and especially on ships, which carried flea-infested rats and provided a closed environment for people to infect each other.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: 'Banana king' opens Farmer's Market
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Hunting for sugary Easter treats
Among the many varieties of the Easter egg, none is more charming than the panoramic Sugar Egg. Three were recently given to the Vigo County Historical Museum by Judy Lowe and are shown in an Easter-themed display case in the entry hall.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSONS: 1820s: The power of the postmaster general
John McLean, who died this week (April 4) in 1861, was — by his early 40s — one of the most important people in America. In fact, he oversaw what was, in the 1820s, the federal government’s largest, most extensive and arguably most important responsibility.
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GENEALOGY: Library archives contain tons of information
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