Hardin Blansett did claim Cherokee heritage, as shown in the following affidavit, but I understand his claim was rejected. Might be more at fold3.com. Janet

From "Applications for Enrollment of the Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914", online images at fold3.com
[1896 affidavit of Hardin Blansett, apparently a copy introduced into file of Sarah E Henson’s application for Cherokee Citizenship in 1899:]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
NORTHERN JUDICIAL DISTRICT
INDIAN TERRITORY
Vian, I. T.
Before the Honorable Dawes Commission, at Vinita, I. T.
HARDIN BLANSETT AND PERLINA ELIZABETH COTNER vs CHEROKEE NATION
Affidavit of Hardin Blansett.
On this 2nd day of Sept 1896 personally appeared before me, J. S. Lucas, a Notary Public at Vian, I. T., Hardin Blansett to me well known and being first duly sworn deposeth and says.

My name is Harden Blansett. I am the same person mentioned in some of accompanying affidavits as “Howard Blansett.” I am of Cherokee Indian Blood through my mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Elizabeth Gentry. She was the lawful wife of my father, William P. Blansett. My mother’s mother, Maidan[sic] name Martha Ballard, was the lawful wife of Mother’s father, Shedric Gentry. Both of said Grandparents were Cherokee Citizens by blood and so recognized by the Cherokee authorities before their removal West. Said Grandparents moved from Knox County, Tennessee to Jackson County Alabama where they, my parents, lived and where I was born March 1st, 1850. Said grandparents left Alabama when I was about 8 years old. Last I heard of them they were said to be in Pocahontas Arkansas this was about 25 years ago, Fall of 1869. Father, myself, my brothers, John A. & Christopher Columbus & my Sister Perlina Elizabeth Cotner (joint applicant herein) left Alabama, my mother died some years before our leaving Alabama. We came to this Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory. Stayed a month or so and removed to Texas where Bro. Columbus died. We then all came back to Cherokee Nation about 1879. Went to Tahlequah, made application for citizenship under the Cherokee Acts of 1870 & 1871, called the general Invitation Acts. But the Cherokee authorities didn’t happen to be in a humor to entertain our claims. So we never got them to take our claims up until the Adair Cherokee Citizenship Commission took our application up, & then ruled us out on same objections to the form of our affidavits. We could get no attorney to represent us before them at this time.
However my sister Perlina Elizabeth Cotner (wife of Jacob Corner[sic]) and myself located us farms, accumulated property & made improvements on the strength of our claims & this General Invitation. About 1886 Indian Agent for this Territory ordered us two to remove. Whereupon we forwarded three affidavits of our Blood & rights here to the Secretary of the Interior at Washington, D. C. upon which he ordered the Indian Agent to countermand his order in our cases, on ground of our three affidavits making a prima facie showing of our Cherokee Citizenship. Which affidavits were left on file in Indian Agent’s office at Muskogee, I. T. Said Agent informs me he has record of their filing, but that he can’t find the three affidavits. Said three affiants are now all there dead, and they were all Cherokee admitted citizens by blood. My brother, Columbus, and father died here in Cherokee Nation after our return from Texas. Affiant Toney Smith is reported dead, & affiants Martha Fin-Lucinda Smaples & Mary Carden are out of this Indian Territory.
My present family consists of my wife named Tennessee, age 27 years.
My daughter, named Sarah Elizabeth Henson, age 21 years.
My daughter, named Laura Adella Henson, age 19 years.
[page 3 – transcriber note – I have inserted words where original had ditto marks]
My daughter, named Mura Francis Blansett, age 16 years.
My daughter, named Arkadelphia Blansett, age 10 years.
My daughter, named Nettie Blansett age 6 years.
My daughter, named Bessie Blansett age 3 years.
My son, named Oscar Blansett aged 4 months.
My son, named Walter Blansett aged 4 months.
(Signed) Harden Blansett
Subscribed & sworn to before me this the 2 day of Sept 1896.
(Signed) J S Lucas, Notary Public. My Com. Ex. 9, 21, ’99.
(SEAL)