Harrison Blackledge ~ 1840-1911

BLACKLEDGE, NICHOLS, BROWN, HOLBERT

Posted By: Volunteer - Rhonda Rankin Rowe
Date: 2/19/2002 at 09:53:25

Harrison Blackledge, youngest of the eleven children in the home of Thomas and Abigal Blackledge, was born in Columbia County, Ohio, April 8, 1840. His fathers home was graced by five fair daughters and six stalwart sons; so Harrison had five sisters and five brothers with whom he shared life’s joys and sorrows, and he lived to see all of them travel lifes pathaway except one, Frank Blackledge, who in poor health is passing declining years in Springfield, Mo.

In the summer of 1844 one of Harrison’s uncles came to Van Buren County, Iowa, and on his suggestion the following spring several families were moved from Columbia County to this one. Among them was Thomas who celebrated his youngest sons birthday by moving on the farm he had purchased of Mr. Manning in Des Moines Township, near the present sight of Mt. Sterling. The farm is now owned by Mr. David Craig, one of Harrison’s brother-in-laws.

At the age of eleven the subject of this sketch was orphaned by the death of his father and he at once assumed the responsibility of superintending the farm; a position he filled until his mothers’ death and then he bought the farm from the estate. Mr. Blackledge had but three homes during his long life. The one in Ohio, already mentioned, the one in Des Moines Township, where he lived forty-two years and Keosauqua, to which city he moved in March 1887. His business relations since coming here have covered two distinct fields: first, he entered the implement business and ten years ago formed a Real Estate company, with his son, Herbert E. Blackledge, as junior partner. He continued to be the active head of this firm until the day he was called from lifes labor to try the realities of the world beyond our sight. But farming and the sale of machinery and land could not satisfy the energy of this man. He began crying sales when but a boy and hiss native ability coupled to great energy soon made him Van Buren’s leading auctioneer, which position he held for fifty years. He was a man of great prowess and determination. Above six feet tall, and in his prime and which shows his strength and energy, weighed two hundred and sixty pounds. One fact, of which he was justly proud, is that in his years of auctioneering he never failed to be at the place of sale at the time appointed.

On the 25th of February 1858, at his parents home in Clark County, Mo., Mr. Blackledge led to the marriage alter Miss Ann Eliza Nichols, who preceded him to that realm toward which all creation moves in the year of grace 1888. She had been a great sufferer for years but her sweet life still wafts its benignant influence upon the path of those who follow her. She became the happy mother of two children, Mable, who died in infancy, and Herbert E. the sole survivor of the family.

Again, on the 8th of April 1900, Mr. Blackledge entered the matrimonial realm in the marriage of Mrs. Cordelia J. Brown at LaCrew, Ia., who survives him.

Among the marked characteristics of this man are these; He was public spirited. The best was none to good for the community in which he lived. This trait caused him to be chosen president of the Van Buren County Old Settlers Association, in which capacity he showed his superior powers as a presiding officer just twelve days before his death. He loved home. During his most active days in auctioneering he would drive twenty miles, after a hard days work and back the next morning, just for the enjoyment of a few hours in the sacred confines of home. He was religious. This trait of character developed in two ways. In his younger days he loved to sing and while he took no part in the leading he so enjoyed sacred songs that he humorously would say, “The singing don’t go right unless I am in it.” But as time past he lost the power to sing and his greatest joy was found in reading of the sacred word. At evening he desired the Scripture and whether read by himself or by his wife he would make some comment on the passage read. This would be done partly in argument for the consideration of others and partly in soliloquy for his souls satisfaction. He was converted thirty-five years ago, and with his wife, joined the Methodist Episcopal Church at Wiley School House during the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Swanson. He served the church both as a steward and trustee. He was independent. This desire caused him to state many times that he hoped to be able to work until the last and heaven seemed pleased to grant this, for the day before his death was spent in selling land and he had an appointment to show land in the country on the day of his departure. During his last evening on earth he seemed stronger than usual, but on retiring asked for the medicine he used when his heart troubled him. This seemed to have the desired effect and he slept until near morning when a disturbance caused him to go to the barn and yards to see if anything was wrong. About five o’clock he spoke to his wife, but she, knowing his tendency for early rising, replied that it was not time to get up. After a nap Mrs. Blackledge awoke to find that her husband had slept out of one world into another. The end came somewhere between six and seven o’clock Tuesday morning, Aug. 29, 1911; he being 71 years, 4 months and 28 days old.

Besides the loved ones already mentioned should be added his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Herbert E. Blackledge and his grandson, Richard Harrison Blackledge, of whom he was most fond.
Also “Alice” who for years lived in his home and who is now Mrs. Herman Holbert. These with many other relatives and a host of friends mourn his departure.

After a funeral service in the Methodist Episcopal Church conducted by Rev. C.A. Field assisted by Rev. W. H. Wilkins at 2 o’clock Thursday, Aug. 31st, the remains were laid to rest in the Purdom Cemetery, Keosauqua, Ia., byu the order of A.F. and A.M. who gave the mortal remains of their honored brother a fitting burial by their impressive ceremony.

The pall bearers were Hugh Sloan, Frank Truax, Jno. Maltbie, J.H. Landes, G.F. Smith and Robt. Dahlberg.

The honory pall bearers were Mark Whitney, Capt. Duckworth, W.W. Price, Jas. Benjamin, Thos. Parsons, (unreadable) Daughrity and Judge Sloan.

Source; Iowa Rankin and Jenny Matheson newspaper clippings