George was given a liberal amount of schooling and at the proper age assisted his father in his large milk and ice business.  When this business was disposed of in 1888, George engaged in the ice business on his own account.  This he maintained until 1891, at which date he purchased the interest of Mr. Williams in the insurance firm of Johnston & Williams, and the popular firm of Johnston & Blank was brought into existence.

Mr. Blank was elected to the first City Council, an important and historic body, and acquitted himself with credit.  He was nominated unanimously by the Republicans in March, 1895, for Mayor of his city, and after the hardest-fought campaign in its history–a campaign into which local matters were interjected to the utter submersion of party fealty or individual merit of the heads of the two tickets–he was defeated.

Mr. Blank was married in Sault Sainte Marie, December 8, 1886, to Lottie G. Ferris, and they have two children, George Early and Mary Margaret, aged five and three years respectively.  Mrs. Blank is a daughter of John G. Ferris, deceased, who came to this city from Meaford, Canada, and was engaged in the butcher business; was a successful and prominent man and died in February, 1893, aged sixty-three years.  His wife’s maiden name was Jane Boucher, and their children are:  William, Willet, Wallace H., Charles, Mrs. David Bell, Mrs. William Keuhle, and Mrs. Gerard Warrick.

Fraternally, Mr. Blank is identified with the Masonic order.  He is Past Master of the blue lodge and High Priest of the chapter at Sault Ste. Marie.  He was made a Mason in Bethel Lodge, No. 358, Sault Ste. Marie, in 1883, was made Master of the lodge in 1891-2, and he is a member of the Sault Ste. Marie Commandery, No. 45.