RACKLIFF, Blanche Knox

UPDATE - Blanche has been claimed by a relative and is going home!

BLANCHE KNOX RACKLIFF
born 1913

These two photos were found in Pomona California last week, at the Pomona Antique Mall.

The first is Blanch as a toddler. The photo was taken in Westbrook Maine, in mid February 1916. Blanche is described as "Blanche K. Rackliff, Age 2 years, 10 months, Feb 15, 1916"

Blanche was born in Westbrook Maine (a suburb of Portland), 15 April 1913 to parents Evan D. Rackliff (1865-1916, a silk-weaver) and Olive Malinda Knox (1888-1978). Her birth record states she is the third child. (I suspect this means Evan's third child, as he was previously married to a woman named Nellie who died in 1902. I think Blanche is Olive's first child.) Olive and Evan married in 1905.

Evan Rackliffe was much older than his wife Olive, and died in 11 Nov 1916, when daughter Blanche was only 3. Olive moved back in with her parents William B. Knox and Margaret J. McDougal, as can be seen on the 1920 Census.

1920 Census, Westbrook, Cumberland, Maine
KNOX, William B., head, 71, Canadian (immigrated 1883) of English & Canadian parents, occupation laborer at paper mill
KNOX, Margaret J., wife, 61, Canadian (imm. 1883) of Scottish and Canadian parents
KNOX, Archie Q., son, 40, born in Canada, carpenter
KNOX, Mary M., daughter, 35, born in Maine
KNOX, Ralph, son, 24, Maine
KNOX, Ralph Jr., grandson, 2, Maine
RACKLIFF, Olive M., daughter, 32, Maine, paper sorter at paper mill
RACKLIFF, Blanche K., granddaughter, 6, Maine

Blanche at age 16

The second photo was taken in Biddeford Maine and shows Blanche presumably as a graduating student in 1930.

1930 Census, Saco, Maine (just across the river from Biddeford Maine).
RACKLIFF, Olive M., head, 42, runs boarding home for children
RACKLIFF, Blanche K., daughter, 16, no occupation
KNOX, Margaret J., mother, 72
KNOX, Mary M., sister, 45, no occupation
WOOD, Dorothy E., boarder, 15
KATEN, Theodore, boarder, 8
KATEN, Ralph, boarder, 6
KATEN, Roger J., boarder, 5
KATEN Irene, boarder, 4

1940 Census, Madison, Maine
RACKLIFF, Olive, head, 52, no occupation
RACKLIFF, Blanch, daughter, 26, stenographer at filling station

Blanch died 14 March 2004, at age 90, in Madison Maine. Her obit below:

Blanche Knox Rackliff 1913-2004

Morning Sentinel (Waterville, ME) — Thursday, March 18, 2004

MADISON -- Blanche K. Rackliff, 90, died Sunday, March 14, 2004, at Maplecrest Rehabilitation & Living Center in Madison.

She was born April 15, 1913, in Westbrook, the daughter of Evan D. and Olive M. (Knox) Rackliff.

Blanche was educated in Saco and Portland, graduating from Thornton Academy in 1930 and from Gray's Business College in 1932. She was employed 37 years as a secretary and bookkeeper for Flanagin's Auto Sales of Madison and for five years at Edwards Funeral Home in Madison. For several years she did volunteer work for AARP.

Blanche is survived by several cousins.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 19, at Giberson Funeral Home, 40 Maple St., in Madison with the Rev. Nathan T. Richards officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Westbrook.