Burial: Kennard Cemetery, Kennard, NE

Findagrave Memorial: 26239329

#1-Blair Courier 26 September 1906

Richard Blaco

Hon. Richard Blaco, who was thrown from his horse while on his way home from Kennard on Wednesday evening, Sept.19th, as noted in these columns last week, died at 6:30 last Thursday morning, never having regained consciousness. The children were at the bedside when the end came and his spirit passed out into the great unknown.

The funeral was held at the home, about two and one-half miles northwest of Kennard, at 12 o’clock Sunday and was largely attended, many being out from this city, and Hon. John L. Kennedy, ex Gov. Crouse and Atty, F.S. Howell were up from Omaha. Rev. A. E. March officiated at the service.

Interment was made in the Kennard Cemetery by the side of his wife who died about seven years ago.

Richard was born in Lancastershire, England, January 6th, 1844 and came to this country in the fall of 1868, locating at West Liberty, Iowa with his uncle. Two years later he came to this state and settled upon the homestead where he lived the balance of his life.

He was married to Miss. Eliza A. McFadden at West Liberty and of this union four children were born, one son; Harry and four daughters, Nellie, now Mrs. Harry Wardell; Bessie, now Mrs. Al Cook; Myrtle, now Mrs. Herman Wolf and Miss Gertrude.

Mr. Blaco was always a leader in his community and that means he was well liked. He was one of the county commissioners for several years before the change was made to the supervisor system. He was also a member of the state legislature for two terms. Personally he was large hearted and generous and consequently, he had many friends.

His accidental death is greatly mourned and the familiar face of Dick Blaco, as he was commonly called, will be missed by many and in many places for years and years to come.

#2-17 Sept., 1906 - The Pilot - Richard

News reached Blair Friday morning that Dick Blaco had suffered a stroke of paralysis and that his condition was hopeless. It seems that he had been in Kennard on horseback and when within a half mile from home he fall from his horse, and the first known that anything was wrong was when his son, Harry, came home and found the horse at the barn with the saddle and bridle on. He immediately drove back over the road and about half mile from home found Mr. Blaco lying unconscious by the side of the road. Dr. Pruner was called at once and later an Omaha physician was sent for, but no great hope is held out for his recovery. The last news was to the effect that Mr. Blaco had not recovered consciousness, and that in the fall he suffered a fracture of the skull. As we go to press we learn from Ed Heinzerling that Mr. Blaco died last night. Mr. Blaco was born in Lancastershire, England January 6, 1844, and for the past thirty five years has lived in Washington county where he has been a prominent citizen. He was a member of the legislature in 1885-6.

24 Sept., 1906 - The Pilot - Richard Blaco

Dick Blaco died this Thursday morning at his home out in Blair township. Last Thursday Mr. Blaco was in Kennard in the afternoon and about nine o’clock in the evening he started for home on horseback and when within half a mile from home was thrown from his horse. Two hours later his son, Harry, came home and found the horse at the barn with saddle and bridle on and immediately went back over the road to find his father. Half a mile from home he found him by the roadside unconscious. He took him home and called Dr. Pruner, and later called medical aid from Omaha and Fremont, but all had the same story. Mr. Blaco in the fall had suffered such injuries that recovery was out of the question. He lingered till this Thursday morning when he passed away. Mr. Blaco was born in Lancastershire, England January 6, 1844, and has for the past thirty five years been a prominent farmer and stock raiser in this county The family consists of one boy and four girls. The funeral will be held Sunday at 12 o’clock from the home.

24 Sept., 1906 - The Pilot - Richard Blaco

One of the most widely attended funerals ever held in Washington county was that of Richard Blaco out in Blair township yesterday. Every livery team in Blair had been engaged by Saturday evening, and many private rigs were pressed into service. A number of people were up from Omaha; among them being John L. Kennedy, Lorenzo Crounse and F. S. Howell. Mr. Blaco’s long residence in the county, coupled with the fact that at all times his word was as good as his bond, made him a favorite and in all the editor’s fifteen years in Nebraska we never heard a man say a word against Mr. Blaco. His face has been a familiar one, not only in republican conventions - Township, county, congressional and state - but in all conventions where the best interests of the people were being considered. Such was his reliability that his judgement was always sought and usually relied upon. He never forgot a friend nor a kind act, and his was a forgiving nature to that extent that we doubt if Blaco has an enemy on earth. The funeral was held from the house Sunday afternoon, Rev. A. E. Marsh officiating.

Note: Richard is buried in Blk 1 Lot 37 Sp 2 in the Kennard Cemetery.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~