BLACKFORD, JOHN ELLISON

BLACKFORD, MCLEAN, DRAKE, DANIELS, ROSS, TERRILL, CORY, KELSEY, JOHNS, WILLIAMSON, BALL, FORBES, WELCH, DE CAMP, WILLIAMS, CALL, CLARKE

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/24/2004 at 13:48:28

Biography reproduced from page 42 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

No history of Kossuth county or the city of Algona would be complete if it failed to make extended mention of John Ellison Blackford, one of the most successful and eminent citizens of the state of Iowa. His life has been intimately connected with the agricultural, political and industrial upbuilding of this section of the country. His wife was a sister of the founder of Algona and his daughter was the first white child born within its borders. He himself gave of his eminent talents and his high-minded and worthy life to the promotion of the progress and development of the county and upon his death, on August 20, 1911, the early career of an eminent organizer and builder of the middle west closed forever.

The record of Mr. Blackford’s ancestry dates back for many generations. The family can be traced to two brothers who emigrated from Scotland at an early date but of whom no historical mention is made. The elder brother had two children: Sophia (Blackford) McLean, who was born in New Jersey in 1755 and later emigrated to Ohio; and Mary (Blackford) Drake. The other brother married Miss Mary Daniels and became the father of three children: Nathaniel, born in 1764 in New Jersey, who came to Ohio at an early day, where he died in 1834; Benjamin; and John. Nathaniel Blackford married Miss Catherine Ross and became the father of ten children: Nancy, born in 1788, who died in infancy; Sarah, born in 1789, who later became Mrs. Terrill and died in Indiana; Mary (Blackford) Cory, born in 1792; Margaret (Blackford) Kelsey, who was born in Kentucky in 1794, and died in Ohio; Sophia, who was born in Ohio in 1797 and married a Mr. Johns, a native of the same state where she died; James Ross, whose birth occurred in Ohio in 1800 and who died in Iowa in 1871; Desire (Blackford) Williamson, who was born in Ohio in 1803 and who died in Kansas; Eliza, who later became Mrs. Ball and who was born in Ohio in 1805 and died in Indiana; Phoebe (Blackford) Forbes, whose birth occurred in Ohio in 1808 and who died in the same state; Jemima, later Mrs. Welch, who was born in Ohio in 1811. In the next generation James Ross Blackford married Miss Clarissa De Camp Williams and to this union were born three children: Sarah, born in 1822 in Ohio, who died in Michigan in 1892; John Ellison, the subject of this sketch, who was born in Ohio and died in Algona, Iowa, August 20, 1911, at the age of eighty-six years, seven months and sixteen days; and Aaron Lawson, who was born in Ohio in 1831 and died in 1907.

John Ellison Blackford was born in Warren county, Ohio, January 4, 1825. When he was yet a boy his parents moved to what was then the northern frontier of Indiana, where he grew to manhood. His educational opportunities were few, as the country was in an undeveloped condition and the school facilities were limited in the extreme. He, however, attended the district school for two terms, and laid the foundation for the life of learning and the taste for reading which distinguished him all during his life.

In September, 1845, Mr. Blackford was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Call, a sister of Asa C and Ambrose A. Call, who founded the town of Algona in 1854.

In the fall of 1855, with his wife and two sons, he came to Algona, Iowa, where Mrs. Blackford’s brothers had preceded them, making the long journey into the then frontier district by team and guiding their course by compass. In the spring of 1856, they moved into the log cabin situated on the site of the present residence. In the same year, he operated a saw and grist mill, sawing from native timber the lumber from which many of the earlier buildings were made. He was elected justice of the peace at Algona’s first election on August 4, 1856, serving for some years with great ability. From his earliest manhood Mr. Blackford was interested and active in promoting the welfare of Kossuth county, and in his work along this line he has shown a power of organization unsurpassed by any citizen of his generation. He was very prominent politically, and gave most of his time and attention to his activities in this line. He was an old-time abolitionist and free-soil advocate, and, upon the formation of the republican party, he naturally cast his lot with that organization and was loyal to its principles and policies all during his life. He represented his district in the Iowa legislature for two terms, from 1859 until 1862 and was prominent in the affairs of four sessions. Relating his experience during his political campaign, Mr. Blackford, in a family history written by himself several years ago, says, “My district at this time comprised seven counties, and in making my canvass I frequently traveled forty miles to see a single voter.” He was one of the members of the Iowa delegation to the national republican convention which nominated Lincoln for president for the first term.

When the Civil war broke out Mr. Blackford was largely influential in enabling Kossuth county to win the sanitary flag which was given as a prize to the district which furnished the largest per capita funds for the relief of the sick and wounded soldiers. Kossuth county led every other county of the state in proportion to its population. He was all during his life a strict prohibitionist, and did efficient work in controlling the sale of liquor in his state. He regarded public office as a public trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens, and believed it his duty to give his highest talents and his utmost energies for securing efficient legislation. His political career was marked by activity in every great and worthy cause, and he never used the power which his office gave him in any dishonorable way. His life was devoted to the upbuilding and improvement of his section, and his cooperation could always be counted upon in any movement looking toward the future progress of Kossuth county.

He was one of the charter members of the Patrons of Husbandry, or as it is usually called, the Grange, organized in June, 1873, and was worthy master of the Iowa State Grange for about ten years. He was likewise a member of the National Grange, in which he took an active and helpful interest.

Mr. Blackford during his life was prominently identified with the business development of Algona. He was the manager of the Patron’s Cooperative Store, and he finally obtained the sole ownership of this enterprise by buying out his partners. He conducted the business in his own name for many years in the Blackford building, south of the courthouse in Algona. He was the first president of the Kossuth County Insurance Company, and in association with C. C. Chubb and other early members of the organization labored with unwavering industry for the success and prosperity of the enterprise. He was an active member of the Old Settlers Association, and was one of the organizers of the County Historical Society.

The Blackford family consisted of six children, Mary Kate, who died in 1910, is the only one not living. Mr. Blackford’s elder daughter, Ella Algona who was born in January, 1856, was the first white child born in the town and the township of Algona and besides this enjoys the distinction of having been the first girl born in Kossuth county. She later became Mrs. Eugene H. Clarke, and resides in Algona. Mr. Blackford’s other children are: Edwin, J. Ernest and George E., residents of Algona; and Clarus, who resides in St. Louis, Missouri. His wife died in 1905.

John E. Blackford passed away on Sunday evening, August 20, 1911, in Algona, Iowa, the funeral services being conducted according to the ceremony of the Presbyterian church. He is buried in Riverview cemetery. His character to a great extent molded his destiny. His ideals were always high, worthy and honorable. His life was spent in useful efforts after great results. His mind was keen, and his intellect bright, and his life was a distinct influence in the upbuilding of Kossuth county, as his death was a conspicuous loss to its development.

(Photos of J. E. Blackford and Mrs. J. E. Blackford accompany this biography.)

Kossuth Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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