Submitted by: Dan Rich

Blanche Jackson

Apr 21, 1902 - Apr. 24, 1975

South Bend Tribune Apr. 25, 1975

WHERE TEACHER DIED - This 16-room rural North Liberty farmhouse at 29294 Quinn is where Miss Blanche Jackson, 73, a school teacher of 46 years, was murdered. Police believe she was attacked by a burglar Thursday night.

A 73-year-old long-time grade school teacher was found dead in her rural North Liberty farm home about 9 p.m. Thursday after she apparently had been strangled by a burgler. Dead is Miss Blanche Jackson of 29294 Quinn, who taught for 46 years in the North Liberty area before retiring in 1969.

Miss Jackson was found in the living room of her home by her sister, Mrs. Dorothy Mangus, who had come to the Jackson home to pay a visit.

The teacher was found on the floor near the front door. Indiana State Police said there were signs of a forced entry through a side door. They said there evidently had been a struggle between Miss Jackson and her assailant because a table and a lamp in the living room had been overturned.

An autopsy performed at Memorial Hospital today indicated that the probable cause of death was strangulation. The pathologist in charge of the autopsy told state police that a head injury caused by a blow with a heavy object was not severe enough to cause death. A final report will be issued after an examination is made of body tissue, police said.

Police said several rooms, including the bedroom, of the 16-room country farmhouse had been ransacked. There was no indication whether anything had been taken from the home.

Police reported that Miss Jackson's 1971 Chevrolet apparently had been stolen from the driveway. The car was found later Thursday night by Walkerton police near Walkerton.

Mrs. Mangus reported that her sister evidently either had arrived home or was leaving the home when she was attacked. Miss Jackson reportedly was wearing her coat and dress shoes at the time and could have been leaving the home or just entering when she was murdered.

The home, not serviced with electricity, is lighted at night by kerosene lamps - none of which were lit at the time.

Miss Jackson lived all her life in the family residence and was a well-known teacher.

She began her teaching career in the 1920s and taught students in various country schools around North Liberty before their consolidation.

She taught primarily the fifth grade, although from time to time she had taught in the fourth grade.

She was described as being in excellent health. Relatives said she even had planted her early spring garden near her home.

Miss Jackson was born April 21, 1902, in Liberty Twp. Also surviving is a niece, Mrs. Margaret Yoder of Kokomo.

Services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Church of the Brethren, North Liberty. Rev. A. P. Wenger, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Eastlawn Cemetery, North Liberty. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday in the A. M. Manuel Funeral Home, North Liberty. Miss Jackson was a life member of the North Liberty Church of the Brethren. Memorial contributions may be made to the North Liberty Church of the Brethren memorial fund.

South Bend Tribune 4/26/1975

Indiana State Police returned to the North Liberty area today as they continued their investigation into the strangulation death of Miss Blanche Jackson, 73, a long-time North Liberty school teacher.

Miss Jackson was killed sometime Thursday night in her farm home at 29294 Quinn where she apparently confronted a burglar. Police report that no major leads have occurred in the case. Miss Jackson's body was found by her sister about 9 p.m. Thursday.