| Contributor::
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Transcription contributed by Arne H Trelvik 13 July 2003 at the request of Janet Peters |
| Sources: |
The History of Warren County Ohio Part V. Biographical Sketches Clear Creek Township (Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992) |
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JOHN M. BLACKFORD, farmer; P. O. Springboro; born in Clear Creek Township Nov. 9, 1846; is a son of Ephraim and Anna Maria (Bacon) Blackford, he a native of this township and she of New Jersey. The paternal grandfather was Ephraim Blackford, who, it is believed, was born in Virginia, but became an early settler in Kentucky, and, in 1796, moved to Warren Co., Ohio, and settled on Section 31, Clear Creek Township, on the place now owned by Joseph Hare. At this time, there was one settler by the name of Richardson, near Springboro, on Section 7, the place now owned by Mahlon T. Janney; from this to Waynesville, there was no settler but Mr. Blackford. The rising generation can gain but a faint conception of the vast wilderness and wildness |
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of this country in that day – not a neighbor near; nothing but Indians and wild beasts to break the solitude and monotony of the vast unbroken forest; not a road of any kind – nothing but blazed paths and Indian trails for miles around. Who can imagine the fortitude, courage and self-sacrifice it took to settle and open out a farm in this wilderness? The present and future generations cannot render too much honor and praise to these worthy ancestors and pioneers for the great work they did. Here upon the place where Mr. Blackford first settled, he continued to live till his death, and his remains now rest in the Clear Creek Graveyard near Ridgeville. He raised a family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, seven of whom settled in Indiana and three in Ohio, all of whom are now deceased but Ephraim, the father of our subject. The maternal grandparents were Benjamin and Rebecca Bacon, natives of New Jersey, who became settlers of Warren County about 1821, where they lived and died on the place where Ephraim now lives. The father of our subject is now 71 years of age – born and raised and has always lived on the same section where he still resides, having experienced all the roughness of true pioneer life; has witnessed the wonderful changes and transformation from the vast wilderness to the now fine cultivated farms and all the present comforts of this now rich and beautiful county. Over “threescore years and ten” spent on the same place! Such has but few parallels in the history of men. Mr. Blackford and wife have had five children; four now survive – Mary Elizabeth, now Mrs. Jacob S. Pence; Rebecca Jane, now Mrs. George R. Duke, residing in Indiana; Charles W. and John M. Mrs. Blackford died in the fall of 1855, aged 41 years. Mr. Blackford is one of the prominent farmers of Warren County. Starting in life poor; by his own industry and energy, coupled with good management, he has acquired a good competency; is one whose honor and integrity has ever been of the highest order and stands among Warren County’s most worthy citizens. The subject of this sketch, the youngest son, on Nov. 19, 1868, was married to Mary E., daughter of Joseph and Rhoda Morton, natives of Warren County. By this union, they have had four children; three now survive – Anna Clara, born Oct. 1, 1869; Alice May, Aug. 26, 1871, died Dec. 31, 1876; Charles Franklin, born Jan. 26, 1875, and Walter B., born July 11, 1878. Mr. Blackford has adopted the honorable occupation of farming and located on the place where he now lives in the spring of 1880. |
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This page created 13 July 2003 and last updated
11 June, 2005
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