BLACKFORD, MARY KATE

BLACKFORD, CLARKE, STEVENS, TAYLOR, VAN GORDER

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/24/2004 at 13:46:12

Biography reproduced from page 160 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

“The last spark of life passed from the worn-out body of Miss Kate Blackford, Thursday morning, September 1, 1910. For a year or more the deceased has suffered ill health through the growth of a cancer, and the friends of Miss Blackford only marvel at the length of time she withstood the workings of that fatal disease.

“Mary Kate Blackford was born in Algona, September 7, 1862, amid the anxieties and uncertainties of pioneer life. At the time of her birth the grove around the home was filled with the wagons of the settlers who were fleeing from the Minnesota massacres of New Ulm and vicinity. She grew to young womanhood in this place. After completing the course in the Algona high school, Miss Blackford entered her father’s store, where she remained many years. Afterward she was employed by the American and United States express companies and later as long distance operator in the Algona telephone exchange. For the past seven years she has been the cashier and bookkeeper at the Chrischilles & Herbst store.

“During her long service in the business world, Miss Blackford, by her faithfulness, uprightness and strict adherence to business principles, won many friends. She was a faithful member of the Congregational society, and by her death a noble and Christian life is taken from our midst. The funeral services were held from the Blackford home, the same in which she was born and reared, Sunday afternoon, Rev. F. A. Smiley, newly elected pastor of the Presbyterian church, having charge of the services in the absence of her pastor, Rev. Holmes. The large crowd of mourning friends who gathered to pay tribute to this life member of our community, by their very presence, as well as actions, gave expression to the evidence of loss which has fallen upon this esteemed family. She leaves behind her aged father and four brothers, all of whom were present at the last service rendered the beloved member of the family.

“Those present from out of town on this occasion were: Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Blackford; Miss Mary Blackford; Ross Blackford from Fayetteville, Arkansas; Mrs. E. B. Tuttle of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Miss Elizabeth Clarke of Chicago; Misses Harriet and Dorothy Clarke of Des Moines; William P. Miller of Buchanan, Michigan; W. S. Colby, of Clear Lake, Iowa; Mrs. Dr. Shore of Des Moiens; and W. M. Colby of Wesley, Iowa.”

The above is an obituary appearing in one of the local papers at the time of Miss Blackford’s demise. She had four brothers and one sister, a record of whom is given below. Asa Edwin, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, in 1846.

Julian Ernest, whose birth occurred in St. Joseph county, Indiana, in 1852, was brought to Algona by his parents in 1855. In 1873, in company with his brother, Edwin, he removed to California, remaining in that state for ten years. On the expiration of that period, in 1883, he returned to Algona and here embarked in the express business.

Ella Algona, whose birth occurred at Algona, Iowa, in 1856, has the distinction of being the first white child born in Kossuth county. In 1880 she gave her hand in marriage to Eugene H. Clarke, who passed away in 1902, and by whom she had four children. Kenneth Eugene, who was born in Algona in 1881, was graduated from the Algona high school in 1901, was married in 1910 to Helen H. Stevens and resides in Chicago. Harriet Ella, whose birth occurred in Algona in 1882, was graduated from the Algona high school in 1901 and now follows the profession of teaching in Chicago. Mary Elizabeth, who was born in Algona in 1884, removed to Chicago in 1905 and is now a stenographer in the western metropolis. Dorothy Kate, whose birth occurred in Algona in 1887, was graduated from the Algona high school in 1904 and is now engaged in teaching at Des Moines.

James Clarus, born at Algona in 1858, was married in 1881 to Maria A. Taylor, by whom he had four children. He served as cashier of the First National Bank at Algona for several years, then removed to Sycamore, Illinois, and later to Chicago. Subsequently he took up his abode in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he is now the manager of a lumber company. His eldest son, Neal Harold, was born at Algona in 1887 and attended the Armour Institute of Technology in Chicago. In 1909 he wedded Nellie Van Gorder, by whom he has one daughter, Mary Grace, whose birth occurred at Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 1910. Mary Agnes, who was born at Algona in 1891, is a graduate of a Chicago high school and in 1910 completed the course in the University of Arkansas. In 1911 she entered the Chicago University. Stella, who was born at Sioux City, Iowa, in 1896, died in infancy. James Ross was born in Sycamore, Illinois, in 1900.

George Emerson, whose birth occurred at Algona in 1869, was graduated from the Algona high school in 1889 and is a photographer by profession.