Bacon Chapel Neighborhood

16 May 1902

Clarence, Mo. Shelbina TORCHLIGHT

ROBT. BLACKBURN

Mr. Blackburn was born and raised in the state of Kentucky. When he was of age he married and came to Missouri, settling on a tract of land near Hunnewell, in what was known as the Robb neighborhood. Mr. Blackburn settled on this farm in an early day. He lived here till most of a large family was grown. In 1865 he moved to this neighborhood and settled on the John F. Benjamin farm, where he lived for several years when he sold out and went to Saline county Mo. Mr. Blackburn followed farming all of his life, feeding and shipping cattle and hogs. In connection with his farm and stock shipping, for a short time he was engaged in furnishing ties and timber to the H. & St. Joe railroad. Mr. Blackburn was a very industrious energetic man, a good neighbor and citizen, a Democrat and a Methodist. He died at his home in Saline county several years ago.

WM. BLACKBURN

This is the oldest son of Robert Blackburn and was born and raised on the farm north of Hunnewell. Mr. Blackburn was just verging into manhood when the war begun in 1861, and being a Democrat cast his lot with the south, not in defense of slavery but as he understood it, to defend the principles of a free people and a republican form of government founded by the blood of his forefathers, against coercion and imperialism. He joined Col. Martin P. Green’s company in 1861 and went south where he took part in some of the noted battles in one of which he was wounded by being struck by a piece of bomb shell, which disabled him for service. For a long time he was expected to die. He revived some and became able to walk a little. The wound healed but he was supposed to have been in the last stage of consumption. Not being able for duty, he applied to General Pierce for a discharge, which was granted. He continued to improve until he was able to ride horseback a short distance, so he bought a small Indian pony and started home. He would ride as far as he was able each day, then he would stake the pony out to grass and with his saddle for a pillow and his blanket for a bed and covering he would sleep and rest till he was able to travel again. He continued to travel in this way, starting from a point in Arkansas till he reached home, resembling more a corpse than a living being. The little Indian pony was his only companion on this long and lonesome trip, and the attachment for each other was remarkable and continued as long as the pony lived.

Mr. Blackburn continued to improve till he was able in two or three years to work some on the farm, and engage in buying and shipping stock, which he followed for several years, the little pony doing his part in the handling of the stock as long as he lived. Mr. Blackburn married Mrs. Sarah Woods, widow of Jesse Woods, one of the eighteen who was murdered at Kirksville by John McNeal in 1862. Mrs. Wood was the daughter of John R. Colvert of whom we wrote sometime ago. In 1870 Mr. Blackburn moved to Saline County and settled on a farm, where he continued to farm and trade till his death, which occurred several years ago. He left a wife and several worthy children. He was a Methodist, a Democrat, a good citizen, a brave soldier of the last cause, never regretting the part he took and the blood he shed in defense of his honest convictions.

BRAXTON BLACKBURN

The second son of Robert Blackburn was born and raised on the old homestead above described. He came to Bacon Chapel neighborhood with his parents, where he remained farming and handling cattle till some time in the seventies, he moved to Saline county and settled near Marshall where he continues to farm and trade in stock. He once owned and lived on the farm one mile east of Lentner, known as the Judge Young farm. He is a Democrat and an honored citizen of his adapted county.

ADDISON BLACKBURN

A third son of Robert Blackburn was also born and raised on the old farm and came to this neighborhood with his father. Addison Blackburn was a farmer by profession and soon after he became of age moved to the far west settling in the state of Oregon, where he yet lives, surrounded by a worthy family and a host of friends. Some of his children are holding honorable and trusted positions in society.

MARCUS BLACKBURN

A fourth son of Robert Blackburn was born and raised on the old home farm. He too was a farmer, and soon after arriving at manhood, left for the far west, living a short time in the state of Oregon, where he met with an accident at a railroad crossing which cost him his life and that of his team. He left a wife and several children. Marcus Blackburn was a Methodist, and a good hearted honest boy.

Robert Blackburn had two other sons, who were young when they moved to Saline Co., with their father. They were Robert Blackburn Jr., and John Blackburn. These boys have grown up and taken positions in the great drama of life, unknown to their many associates of their boyhood days of Old Bacon Chapel neighborhood.

Dr. JOHN F. BLACKBURN

Dr. John F. Blackburn was born and raised in old Kentucky. He was a brother of Hon. Wm. F. Blackburn, the merchant and banker at Hunnewell, and representative of Shelby county in 1883 and ’84. Dr. Blackburn being a southern man in principal when the war began in 1861 he joined the confederate army and remained at his post till the close of the war. He was one of the man that saw and realized what it was to be a soldier fighting for principle and home and not for a bounty and a monthly salary. He participated in many of the hard fought battles of the south and in one of these he received a painful wound that reminded of a soldier's life and the lost cause as long as he lived. A ball lodged in the knee joint which caused the knee to be stiff and made him a cripple for life and caused him much suffering ever afterwards. After the war closed Mr. Blackburn came to Missouri and made his home with Robert Blackburn of this neighborhood for several years; also with Wm. Blackburn who once owned and lived on the farm now owned by Dr. Wood of Lentner.

Dr. John F. Blackburn before going in the army, had obtained a good education. The citizens of the neighborhood helped to get him a start in life, he not being able to do manual labor. They hired him to teach a select or subscription school, in Bacon Chapel Church house. Many of the boys and girls of the neighborhood remember going to school in the old church to John Blackburn. While teaching this school, he began to read medicine, which he continued till he was ready for his course in college, which he took and graduated with honor. On coming home he began to practice and in a short time settled in Saline county in the town of Blackburn, making his home with William Blackburn who had lived in this county and had since settled in Saline county and from whom the town derived its name. John F. Blackburn made a fine physician and built up a practice worthy of the profession. He never married. He died several years ago, his days being shortened by his wound, being a constant sufferer ever since the fatal shot. Dr. John F. Blackburn was a gentleman, a brave soldier, and a credit to the profession and an honor to his adapted county.

J. H. Pollard