C. M. Price, a prominent and influential citizen of Butler county, is an early pioneer well worthy of mention in a work of this character. Mr. Price is a native of Kentucky, born in Logan county on October 12, 1849, and is a son of T. J. and Sarah (McCarley) Price, natives of Kentucky and of Scotch-Irish ancestry.

C. M. Price grew to manhood in Kentucky and drove through from Logan county, Kentucky, to Butler county, Kansas, with a team and wagon. He pre-empted the northeast quarter of section 21, Clay township, or, what was later called Clay township, upon the organization of that township. Mr. Price has successfully followed farming and stock raising, and has added to his original farm until he now owns 520 acres of rich, alluvial soil on the Rock creek bottoms.

Mr. Price was married on August 25, 1874, to Miss Melcena Blancett, a native of Clinton county, Ohio, born January 27, 1857. She is a daughter of Joseph and Isabell (Barker) Blancett, The mother was a native of New Orleans, La., and daughter of Samuel Barker, a native of Connecticut, and of English descent. Joseph Blancett was born and reared in Ohio, a son of Joseph and Hannah (Beadle) Blancett, the father being one of the very early settlers of Ohio, locating in that section when it was still a part of the Northwest Territory. The Blancett family are of French origin. Mrs. Price was the only child born to her parents. Her family migrated from Ohio to Adair county, Missouri in 1870, and two years later came to Butler county, Kansas and pre-empted a claim in the northern part of Clay township.

To Mr. and Mrs. Price have been born the following children: Opal married Charles M. Frakes, Clay township; Ernest, an extensive cattleman, Clay township; Clifford, also a cattleman, in Clay township; Roy P., Clay township; Marjorie, married George Hall, Clay township; Ruby, married W. E. Jenkins, Douglass, Kans.; Nina, married George Gibson, Clay township; Emmett, Clay township; Audrey, resides at home; Belle, married Joseph Markley, Atlanta, Kans.; Percy, resides at home; Iris, died at the age of one year, and Romney, died at the age of six years.

Mr. Price has been identified with Clay township and Butler county almost since their beginning, and has always taken a praiseworthy interest in local affairs, and in the welfare of his county and State. He attended the first election ever held in Clay township, and has the distinction of having cast the first Democratic vote in that township. He is recognized as one of the successful citizens of Butler county.

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