From A Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. I, p. 17
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902 

C. V. PLANK 

   C V Plank, one of the early pioneers and leading agriculturists of Rice county, was born in Lagrange county, Indiana, on the 15^th of June, 1852.  His father, Isaac Plank, is a native of Wayne county, Ohio, and of German descent.  He was reared on a farm in the state of his nativity, and when a young man was united in marriage to Elizabeth Nofziger, a native of the Buckeye state and a daughter of Valentine Nofziger, of Pennsylvania-German descent.  After their marriage, Isaac and Elizabeth Plank removed to Elkhart county, Indiana, and five years later located in Lagrange county, that state, where they still reside, honored and respected by all who know them.  The father has been a farmer all his life, and he also owns a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Rice county, Kansas.  He has rounded the Psalmist’s span of three-score years and ten, being now in his seventy-ninth year, and his wife has reached the good old age of seventy-seven years.  His political support is given the Republican party, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Amish church.  This worthy couple are the parents of seven children, namely:  Levi, a prominent farmer of Harrison township, Rice county; Jacob, who resides southwest of Lyons; Elizabeth, who yet resides in Indiana; Christian V, the subject of this review; David, a resident of Idaho; Ephraim, also of that state; and Isaac, who makes his home in Oklahoma.

   Christian V Plank was reared on the old family homestead in Lagrange county, Indiana, where he was early taught the value of industry and economy as a preparation for the active duties of life.  He remained under the parental roof until twenty-one years of age, when he began life on his own account, and as a companion and helpmate on the journey of life he chose Celestia Smeltzly, the wedding being celebrated in Lagrange county, Indiana, in 1877.  She was born in Ohio, where she was reared until seven years of age, and was a daughter of Christian and Mary (Lehmer) Smeltzly, who still reside in Indiana.  The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with three children, - Claude, who is now twenty-one years of age, Mary and Florence.

   In the fall of 1878 Mr Plank came to Kansas, and in the following spring he located on one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm.  As the years have passed he has prospered in his undertakings and has added to his original purchase until he now owns four hundred acres, in one body.  His farm is located on section 27, Victoria township, and there he is engaged in the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to this soil and climate and in the raising of a good grade of cattle, horses and swine.  He has a good farm residence, a barn thirty-eight by forty-eight feet, a beautiful grove and orchard, and all necessary outbuildings and improvements, and a glance at his well regulated place indicates to the passer-by the careful supervision of a progressive owner.  He is well versed in all branches of farm work, and his life has been characterized by energy, perseverance and hard work, qualities which have won him a high and well merited degree of success.