Robert,
Thought you might like to know, I found an old certificate in my father's basement. It is John Blank Sr.' s (my great-great grandfather's) appointment as Postmaster of Canal Fulton, dated 5 July 1893. It is signed by an acting Postmaster General of the United States named Frank Hanes. The Postmaster General at the top of the Certificate is Wilson S. Bissell, don't know why he didn't sign it himself. Funny thing, on my dad's mother's side my great grandfather W.E. Moulton was also Postmaster of Canal Fulton in 1903 and 1907, his are signed by Theodore Roosevelt and William Taft.
I have a really old picture of a bunch of guys in suits, most with long beards; I believe one of these men is John Blank Sr.
Do you live anywhere near Canal Fulton? I would be happy to get together and show you these items.
Mary Ananea