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- Monument of J.P. BLACKBURN Ready-Descendants of one of Texas five Heroes of War of 1812 Unveil Memorial - Mark Grave at Killeen - 87th Birthday of Merriweather Whitney BLACKBURN, only living son of war hero, is celebrated by unveiling of monument on June 4-Also 57th Birthday of R.T. BLACKBURN - Killeen, Tex., June5-One of five events of its kind possible to be held in Texas was celebrated yesterday when the monument of Captain John Porter BLACKBURN, hero of the war of 1812, was unveiled by his descendants at BLACKBURN cemetery, four miles east of here. Mr. BLACKBURN is one of five soldiers of the war of 1812 buried in Texas. The other graves are those of Lieut. Gen. John WOOD of Austin, Channecy JOHNSON near Bastrop and Mr. NEBLETT at Navasota. A marker has been issued to Mrs. J.A. WALKER of Brownswood for one of her ancestors.
June 4 was chosen for the occasion of erecting the bronze marker, issued by the Daughters of the War of 1812 because it is the birthday of the only living son of Mr. BLACKBURN. He is Merriweather Whitley BLACKBURN of this place who was 87 years old yesterday. This day, is also the fifty sixth birthday of Richard T. BLACKBURN, grandson of the American patriot.
Mrs. Harry HYMAN, 617 Hammond Avenue, San Antonio, great grand daughter, was in charge of the ceremony. She displayed a cane made of palmetto which Mr. BALCKBURN had fashioned while in Florida serving during the war. She also showed a helmet which the hero wore. The helmet was fastened to the cap and bore a tall plume. On the face of the helmet at the top is the inscription "Jackson's Guard." Beneath is a cluster of stars representing the states. Under the star is a spread eagle carrying in its beak a banner on which is written: "Liberty, Union and Independence."
The Rev. W. J. MAYHEW, Killeen gave a brief history of the war of 1812 and Miss Guton GRIFFIS of Baylor College, Belton represented the Agnes WOODSON chapter of the D.A.R. After these talks Mrs. HYMAN gave a history of the captain's life.
John Porter BLACKBURN was born in 1786 in North Carolina but later moved to Tennessee. It was while in Tennessee that he was made captain in Jackson's Guard. In 1851 he moved to Texas, coming through in wagons, bringing all his negroes and settling in Bell County. He was a farmer and bought the land which is in the possession of his descendants. The site of his home, a double log cabin, is a quarter of a mile from the cemetery where he is buried, and the trees and roses which he planted are still living. About ten feet from the foot of Captain BLACKBURN'S grave is the grave of his negro body servant who followed him throughout the war.
One child, six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and nine great great grandchildren were present. The grandchildren are: R.T. POLK, R.T. BLACKBURN, Miss Alice BLACKBURN, Mrs. Fannie McCORCLE, Mrs. Ida FRY and Mrs. M.D.GILLILAND of Killeen. The great grandchildren are: Miss Annie FRY and Gid McCORCLE of Killeen, and Mrs. Lila BIRD, Mrs. Ada SMITH, Jim ROBERTSON, Will ROBERTSON, Miss Charlie ROBERTSON< Miss Eva Lee ROBERTSON, Miss Alice ROBERTSON of Granger, and Mrs. Harry HYMAN of San Antonio.The great great grandchildren range in age from six year to seven months.
BLACKBURN CEMETERY, Bell County, TX
John Porter Blackburn (Captain Jackson's Guards 1812)
B: 20 Apr 1786 (Stokes Co. N.C.) Bell Co, Tex
D: 17 Apr 1855
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