HON. ALBIN C. BLACKMORE
A life that measured up to the highest standards was closed when Hon. Albin C. Blackmore passed to his final rest on the 29th of August, 1915 at the age of Seventy two years. As the day with its morning of hope and promise, its noon tide of activity, its evening of completed and successful effort, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night, so was the life of this good man. Progressive and thoroughly reliable in business, trustworthy in office, loyal in citizenship and most faithful to the ties of home and friendship, he exemplified the teaching of the Christian religion and passed on, leaving behind him a memory that will be cherished for years to come by all who knew him.
Mr. Blackmore was a native of New York. His birth occurred in Cattaraugus County, August 19, 1843. He was the fourth in a family of seven children and his youthful training was that of the home farm, and the lessons which we early impressed upon his mind were those which bore rich fruit in the development of a high and honorable character. His education was acquired in the public schools and he was but eighteen years of age when in 1861, he respond to the country's call for military aid and joined Company I of the Sixty-fourth New York Volunteers, with which he served until September, 1864. Although but a boy in years, he was soon promoted to the rank of corporal and after ward to that of sergeant. At the time of his demise the Worth County Index wrote of his army record: "This regiment probably saw as much hard service as any in the Army of the Potomac, being in most of the engagements a pitched battles from Fair Oaks until the capture of Richmond. On the 2nd July, 1863, it was in the thickest of the fight of that second day at Gettysburg. With every other member of the regimental color guard either killed or wounded, Sergeant Blackmore took the flag-staff from a comrade's dying grasp and advanced the colors' in the face of a storm of bullets till the almost breaking regime rallied and swept on. For that deed of gallantry he received his commission first lieutenant, which position he held with credit and honor until finally mustered out after being fearfully wounded at Spottsylvania. What the brave soldier endured from that would in his shoulder and right arm no other mortal could ever know, but he bore the effects of it to the grave."
Following the close of the war Mr. Blackmore returned to the north and came a resident of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to which place his parents had in the meantime removed. He came to Iowa in 1866 and in February of the following year was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Covel, a native of Cattaraugus New York, born in 1844, with whom he traveled life's journey for nearly a half century. They shared with each other in the joys and sorrows, the adversity and prosperity which checker the careers of all, and their mutual love and confidence increased as the years went by. They became the parents of three children: Bertha V., now the wife of C. W. Sanders; Elizabeth M., the wife of S. Amundson, of Waverly, Iowa; and Lottie L., the wife of Will Kelly of Manly.
Upon removing to Iowa, Mr. Blackmore turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits and became the owner of an excellent tract of land, which he brought under a high state of cultivation and to which he added splendid improvements. He was very progressive in his methods of farm work and was thoroughly practical in all that he did. He added fine buildings to his farm and all the accessories and conveniences which promoted farm work and enhanced the productiveness of his fields. He continued upon his farm until following the election of October, 1883, when he was chosen to the office of county auditor in Worth county and took up his abode in Northwood. He continued to fill the position for eleven years and then voluntarily retired from the office as he had entered it—with the confidence and good will of all concerned. He then resumed farming to which he devoted two or three years and also made stock raising feature of his business. On the expiration of that period he accepted the position of cashier and manager of the Manl:y Bank, in which he held a large amount of stock. He acceptably served in that capacity for eight years and then again became a resident of Northwood, which city was very dear to his heart. He was always ready and willing to cooperate in any plan or movement for the general good and in 1906 he was elected to the state legislature by his fellow townsmen, who recognized his fidelity to the best interests of the community and commonwealth. Endorsement of his first term's service came to him in a election and again he made a most excellent record, being connected with much constructivelegislation and at all times staunchly supporting those plans and measures which he deemed of benefit to the state. He was also active in community affairs and did important work as a member of the city council of Northwood as a member of the school board and in other public capacities. His aid could always be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good. He never sought political preferment or advancement in any public line yet his fellow townsmen recognized his worth and ability and again and again sought him to fill positions of public honor and trust.
Mr. Blackmore was a most faithful and devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Northwood, as is his widow, and for a time he served as steward in the church. He was always regular in attendance at the services of the church and cooperated most heartily and effectively in promoting its growth and extending its influence. His life was dominated by his Christian faith and he reached out in helpfulness and sympathy to all mankind. It was because of his many admirable attributes of character that he was beloved by all who knew him. Again we quote from the Worth County Index, which said: "Besides being an eminently friendly and companionable man, with a quiet wit which brightened but never scorched, he was even of temper, wise in counsel—a brave true, loyal high-minded man, as modest and unselfish as he was brave. A nature like his, whether inborn or acquired, or partly both, is one of God's best gifts Mr. Blackmore was a faithful member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was most loyal to the teachings of those societies. He maintained pleasant relations with his old military comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, being identified with Randall Post, No.142, G. A. R., and when he was laid to rest his comrades of the post attended as a guard of honor and rendered their impressive burial service at the grave. His was indeed a splendid career, his life being at all honorable and actuated by the highest manly principles. To know him was esteem him. The most envious could not grudge him his success, so honorable was it won and so worthily used, and the most malevolent never dared to utter a word against his character. In fact, throughout the entire county in which he so long resided he was spoken of in terms of the highest respect and the news of his death brought with it a sense of personal bereavement to many of homes of Northwood and of Worth county. All who knew him were proud claim him as a friend, and the universality of his intellectual hospitality was manifest in the fact that anyone of worth could win his friendship. He judged men by their character and not by their possessions and thus it was that he was loved by rich and poor, young and old.
NOTE: The 1884 edition of History of Mitchell and Worth Counties contained information on Albin's parents. His father, Edwin Blackmore, was born Nov. 13, 1810 in New York. His mother, Cynthia Wetmore, was born July 24, 1812. They were married in Ontario County, New York on Feb. 6, 1831.
Transcribed by Gordon Felland - Mar. 2003 (picture added 11/25/06)