John Porter Blackburn

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 1757

Notes:

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

Buried:
Blackburn Cemetery

John — Nancy Elizabeth Churchwell. Nancy was born 29 Mar 1800, Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky, USA; died 28 Mar 1866, Texas, USA; was buried , Bell, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 1769

Notes:

Buried:
Blackburn Cemetery

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• Find-A-Grave: 18188598
• Reference Number: 1747

Notes:

Buried:
Blackburn Cemetery

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 1755

Notes:

Buried:
Blackburn Cemetery

John — Mary A Chambers. Mary was born 9 Sep 1831, Tennessee, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 1771

W — Sarah A R. Sarah was born 1843, Georgia, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 1766

Notes:

«u»M. W. BLACKBURN «/u» Self M Male W 42 TN Farmer SC KY «u» Julia A. BLACKBURN «/u» Wife M Female W 37 TX Keeping House TN TX «u» Price W. BLACKBURN«/u» Son S Male W 18 TX Laboring On Farm TN TX «u» William S. BLACKBURN «/u» Son S Male W 14 TX Laboring On Farm TN TX «u» Richard T. BLACKBURN <«/u» Son S Male W 12 TX At Home TN TX «u» Geo. O. BLACKBURN «/u» Son S Male W 9 TX At Home TN TX «u» Mary C. BLACKBURN «/u» Dau S Female W 7 TX At Home TN TX «u» Marcus D. BLACKBURN «/u» Son S Male W 5 TX At Home TN TX «u» Anna BLACKBURN «/u» Dau S Female W 3 TX At Home TN TX «u» Ara A. BLACKBURN «/u» Son S Male W 2 TX At Home TN TX
Source Information:
«b»Census Place«/b» Precinct 7, Bell, Texas

http://www.rootsweb.com/~txbell/nannie4.htm

«b»Book II page 122«/b»
He Fought Indians in the Early Days-Late M.W. BLACKBURN of Killeen one of Hardy Pioneers of Texas. Was Ranger Under ROSS-Biographical sketch of beloved citizen of Bell County, Who died recently, Is Given-Was Present at Rescue of Cynthia Ann Parker-Indian Fights in this Section Recalled.

"You know, those men weren't afraid of Indians in those days-they weren't afraid of anything" - This was the expression of Richard T. BLACKBURN of Killeen in recalling events in the life of his father, the late Merriweather Whitley BLACKBURN, a member of Captain ROSS' rangers, who were so famous in this part of Texas 70 years ago, and an ex-Confederate veteran. M.W. BLACKBURN died at his old home near Killeen on July 9, and now lies buried in the BLACKBURN cemetery near his father, Captain John Porter BLACKBURN, one of the five veterans of the War of 1812 buried in Texas. A beautiful monument was erected to mark the resting place of Captain BLACKBURN on June 4 by the Daughters of the War of 1812.
The story of the life of M.W. BLACKBURN is like a personal history of central Texas events since 1851.

He was born in Murrah County, Tennessee, June 4, 1836, and moved to Texas with his father, Captain John Porter BLACKBURN, in 1851. They settled in Bell County four miles north of Killeen. He was present at the unveiling of the monument for his father on June 4, but died hardly a month later at the age of 87 years. He joined the Texas rangers in the early 50's under Captain L.S. ROSS, and he and a few others in this part of Texas who survive him brought down to their children the stories of Indian fights along all of the rugged and rough country which is now interlaced with highways and has become a common picnic ground.

Mr. BLACKBURN was with Captain ROSS when Cynthia Ann PARKER was taken from the Indians. After a terrible battle, the rangers found a young woman among the Indian captives and she was crying, fearing that the wolves would get her child. Captain ROSS talked to her a few moments and noticed that she had blue eyes and knew at once that she was not an Indian girl, for Indians never have blue eyes She knew nothing of her early history, as she had been stolen from her parents by the Indians as a babe and had been reared by them. But her parents were located in east Texas later and she was taken home to them. She had one son, Quannah PARKER.

BLACKBURN was in Colonel Rip FORD'S company of ranges when the wold Indian chief "Iron Jacket," was shot. He joined Colonel FORD at San Antonio and in an engagement with the Indians at Fort Belknap a tame Indian by the name of Placide shot Chief ? Jacket through the heard. The Chieftain had a shield which was bullet-proof and was exhibited as a curiousity for many years. It was finally taken to Austin and is believe to have been destroyed in the burning of the capitol.

After the redmen killed the RIGGS near Brookhaven, Colonel FORD received word from a courier that the RIGSS had been murdered and their children stolen and he took 30 of his best men, including BLACKBURN, to trail the Indians. They rode all night and stopped the next morning at Beehouse Creek to make a fire and fix some coffee. Here they missed the Indians, but slipped up on a few of them as they were watering their horses. One Indian was shot, but the most of them escaped. The RIGGS children were recovered later new Lampasas.

After the RIGGS case the Indians came down off of the Cowhouse mountain and found a boy hauling cedar with a yoke of oxen. They captured the boy and badly whipped him, but he escaped later. After that he was known among the pioneer citizens as "Indian Dave."
Scores these stories are brought down about Bell County's early history by the children who heard Mr. BLACKBURN talk and by few survivors who know of those wild days as well as he knew of them. Dick PARKS, an old-time resident of the Killeen section, said at the funeral of Mr. BLACKBURN, as he looked up form the casket with tears in his eyes; "I wrapped his brother in a blanket at Atlanta, Ga., after he was killed in the war."

One of the Sturdy Pioneers of Texas
The late M.W. BLACKBURN who died at his old home near Killeen on July 9, served with the ROSS Texas Rangers over this part of Texas in the early 50's and was a veteran of the Civil War under Co., Walsh JONES. He was the son of John P. BLACKBURN, one of the five veterans of the War of 1812 buried in Texas, whose grave at Killeen is marked by a new monument erected by the Daughters of the War of 1812.

This send to me.

May be June 4, 1923), from the Temple Telegram? It has been retyped from the paper and there is a crease where 4 words cannot be read.

MOMUMENT TO HERO OF 1812 (Newspaper Clipping)

Mrs. W. E. Bradford's grandfather was Captain John Porter Blackburn, one of five heroes of 1812 who are buried in Texas. Her father, Merriweather Whitney Blackburn, 87 years of age June 4th, lives near Killeen, and the following brief history of the family and of the unveiling of a momument to the 1812 hero is an excerpt from the Temple Telegram:

Killeen, Texas, June 5 - 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 way (sic) of 1812, was unveiled by his descendents 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, Chancey Johnson near Bastrop, and Mr. Noblett at Navasota. A marker has been issued to Mrs. J.A. Walker, of Brownwood for one of her ancestors.

June 4th 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 Whitney Blackburn of this place who was 87 years old yesterday. This day is also the 56th birthday of Richard T. Blackburn, grandson of the American patriot.

Mrs. Harry Hyman, 617 Hammond Avenue, San Antonio, great granddaughter, was in charge of the ceremony. She displayed a ___ ____ __ _______ which Mr. Blackburn had fashinoed 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 stars 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 way (sic) of 1812 and Miss Guion 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 Clackburn (sic) 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 settleing 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.
---------------------------End of article---------------------------------------

Buried:
Blackburn Cemetery

Merriweather — Julia A (Unknown). Julia was born 1843, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 1768