Mary (Layton) Blackford

LAYTON, BLACKFORD, WHERRY, WALKER, JACK, READ, FERGUSON

Posted By: Volunteer - Karen DaPra
Date: 5/7/2004 at 02:10:48

Mrs. Mary Layton Blackford was killed in an accident at Los Angeles while crossing a street from the sidewalk to a street car or safety zone. Mrs. Blackford, although seventy-two years of age, was active and vigorous, and was struck by a moving truck and injured so seriously that she died soon after reaching a hospital where she was taken as soon as possible.

A letter from Mrs. Ida Wherry to Mrs. W. M. Walker enclosed a clipping from a Los Angeles paper giving an account of the accident. The letter was not dated but the post mark was Nov. 18th. The letter stated that the accident happened yesterday, hence it must have been on the 16th or 17th.

Mrs. Blackford is the Mary Layton who received so much favorable publicity last summer in connection with the Layton-Douglas picnic arranged by Ed Pittman and held at the Van Buren county fair grounds. Mrs. Blackford did not attend the picnic, but an interesitng letter from her was read on that occasion.

She taught several terms of school in various schools of Van Buren county and about forty years ago went to Montana where she also taught and where she was united in marriage with Francis W. Blackford who survives her untimely decease.

She is also survived by three sisters, Mrs. Emma Jack, Mrs. Helen Read, and Mrs. Aurelia Ferguson, who reside in Los Angeles.

Her husband was a civil engineer for many years, but has retired from active work.

(Photocopy of this obit found on page 212 of Obit Book "A" of the Van Buren County Genealogical Society's collection at the Keosauqua Public Library in Mar 2001. Name of newspaper and date of obit not given.)

I am NOT related and am posting this obit for those who may find this person in their family history.

(Originally posted 13 Apr 2001)

NOTE: There is a Francis W. Blackford born 16 Dec 1859 in Ohio who died 25 March 1942 in Los Angeles Co, California aged 82 years. Also, there is a Mary L. Blackford aged 72 who died 15 Nov 1929 in Los Angeles Co, California who I believe is the same Mary.