Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 491
JASPER W. BLACKSTONE, is one of the representative citizens of Wilton Township, residing on section 22, where he has lived since 1861, at which time his father, Moses G. Blackstone, purchased the place. The latter was born in Maine, Feb. 24, 1809, and was the son of Josiah Blackstone, who was also a native of the Pine Tree State, but removed to New York, and thence to Warren County, Ohio, when Moses was about nine years old, and there passed the remainder of his life. He was reared to farm life, and on the 17th of October, 1832, led to the marriage altar Miss Melinda S. Hill, a native of Lansing, Tompkins Co., N. Y., born March 8, 1814. She removed to Hamilton County, Ohio, with her parents, in the days of her girlhood, and in that county her father departed this life soon after his arrival.

Mr. Blackstone remained a resident of the Buckeye State until 1860, when he emigrated to Iowa, and the following year settled upon the farm where his wife and son now reside. He was one of the representative men of the township, an honorable, upright citizen, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. Politically, he advocated the principles of the Whig party in earlier life, but in after years cast his ballot with the Republican party. He was a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church, an earnest Christian gentleman, and a liberal supporter of the Gospel. Two children were left to mourn the loss of a loving father, our subject, and Amanda, wife of Josiah W. Briggs. Three children of the family are deceased: The eldest, a son, died in infancy; Jane, departed this life at the age of twenty-three years; Newton, who was born in 1845, enlisted in the War of the Rebellion as a member of the 35th Iowa Infantry, and served for three years. He lost his health through the hardships of his army experience, coming home an invalid, and died June 17, 1866. He was a gallant soldier, but did not live to enjoy the fruits of vicctory.

Jasper W. Blackstone, the only surviving son of the family, was born in Ohio, Aug.3, 1842, and since the removal of his family to Iowa has resided upon the old homestead. In 1872 he was united in marriage with Miss Nannie E. Mansfield, a daughter of Lemuel Mansfield. She died on the 13th of October, 1872, at the birth of their only daughter, Nannie I., who is now sixteen years of age. Our subject's farm contains 120 acres of fine land under a state of cultivation, and in his pleasant home reside with him his mother and daughter. In politics he is a Republican, and ranks among the enterprising and progressive citizens of Wilton Township.

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