James Blackman (1825-1907)

BLACKMAN, ALLEN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 10/29/2013 at 22:11:04

From unknown newspaper March 1907

OBITUARY

DEATH OF JAMES BLACKMAN.

James Blackman died at his home in this wicyt at 3:20 Friday afternoon March 15, 1907, aged 81 years, 4 months and 14 days. His death was not at all unlooked for, but it had for a long time been recognized as approaching, and in his last days the real surprise to his family and friends was that he held out so long. He had been in declining health for the past year, and for much of the winter he had been very seriously ill. When Mrs. Blackman died quite suddenly only about three weeks before, people had to be told twice that it was his wife and not himself that had passed away; for his end was even regarded as near, while she was not seriously ill. Under such conditions his end came as a relief from suffering and though greatly regretted had little of the element of shcok.

Mr. Blackman was born at Ashford, England, not far from London, November 1, 1825; emigrated with his parents to the United States when he was two years old and was reared in western New York, the family home being near Palmyra in Wayne county of that state. he was there married January 14, 1852, to Miss Belinda Ann Allen, with whom he lived for more than fifty-five years, and whose death, as noted, occurred on February 21 of the present year. They continued to reside on a farm in Wayne county until 1864, when they came to Benton county, Iowa. There they farmed ntil 1872, when they came to Nevada. They lived here first on what is now the Zwilling corner until 1883, when they built and occupied the residence which was theirs until their death.

Mr. Blackman after coming to Nevada engaged first in the grocery business on the corner where the Letta House now is, and later he was a member of the firm of Amoth and Blackman, which handled poultry on the same corner. Then he was not in business for himself for a time but soon drifted into farming and gardening. With him gardening became the more attractive, and with his son T. W. in 1862 he went definitely into the business of market-gardening. In this business the firm of Blackman & Son were very successful. The business is notably one in which results are sometimes precarious; but in their hands it prospered steadily, until they had developed just west of Nevada what is probably the finest market-garden in the state. A year ago the younger son, A. L. was taken into the firm, and Mr. Blackman, whose health had begun to fail ceased to give close attention to the business.

Mr. Blackman was a most worthy man and citizen, devoted to the right as he saw it, a faithful member of the Methodist church and possessing at all times the esteem of the community in which he lived. He leaves his two sons, T. W. and A. L. and other relatives. His funeral was conducted from the Methodist church Sunday afternoon by the pastor, Rev. R. E. Shaw, assisted by Dr. D. J. Bunce.