Benjamin P. Blackmer M.D.

BLACKMER, PECK, EIGHNEY, STURDIVANT

Posted By: Fran Hunt, Volunteer
Date: 10/3/2001 at 13:46:25

From the Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties – 1890 County
BENJAMIN P. BLACKMER, M.D.
Benjamin P. Blackmer, M.D., a practicing physician and surgeon of Bonaparte, Van Buren County Iowa, was born in Wyoming county New York on April 6, 1839, and is a son of General Charles J. Blackmer. The family is of English descent and was founded in America by the great-grandfather of our subject, who at an early day left his home across the water and immigrated to America. That was prior to the War of the Revolution in which he served. Gen. Blackmer was an attorney-at-law by profession and was a man of superior ability. His large and well-balanced brain, which readily grasped any situation, made him a power at the bar and his commanding presence readily claimed the attention of all. In disposition he was social, genial and proved an entertaining companion. He had a keen perception of honor, was a good judge of nature and endeavored to make truth and purity the standard by which his own life was governed. All who knew him respected him and sincere grief was felt at his death, which occurred in Wyoming county New Your. He married Miss Permela Peck who was also descended from Revolutionary stock, her grandfather having served in the War of Independence, during which he was captured and imprisoned in the old prison ship in New York Harbor. By the union of Gen. Blackmer and his wife, five children were born, four sons and a daughter: Irvin, Benjamin P., James, Urana and George M. The daughter is the widow of the late Edgar L. Eighney of Attica New York, and the youngest son is also a physician engaged in practice in Pike Wyoming County New York. He graduated from Keokuk Medical College and afterwards from Bellevue Hospital at New York City. The mother of this family who, like her husband, won for herself many friends as the result of her graces of character and many excellent qualities, died in Wyoming County, New York.
Dr. Blackmer, whose name heads this notice, spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native state and received his education in the common schools and the Brockport Collegiate Institute. It was his desire to engage in the practice of medicine as a life work and to this end he began reading at home. Ten years later he immigrated to Paw Paw Michigan, where he engaged in teaching school and also embarked in the prosecution of his chosen profession, which he continued in that location for five years. In 1878, he came to Bonaparte Iowa. The same year he attended a course of lectures in the Keokuk Medical College and in the month of June was graduated from that institution, since which time he has been in active practice in Bonaparte.
In 1881, Dr. Blackmer was united in marriage with Miss Colusa Sturdivant, daughter of R.J. Sturdivant, and by their union has been born two children—Capitola and Nola. This family holds a high position in the social world and the Blackmer household is noted for its hospitality. The Doctor is essentially a self made man and no person living in Van Buren County today is entitled to greater credit for raising himself from a comparative humble position to one of eminence in his profession. He is still a student, as is every first class member of the profession, and keeps well informed concerning all of the latest discoveries in medical science.
I am not related, and am only copying this for the information of those who might find this person in their family.