RITES HELD FOR MRS. BLACKBURN LAST SATURDAY

Arlington Business Men Honor Widow of Pioneer

Funeral rites for Mrs. J. C. Blackburn, long time resident of Arlington, were conducted at the Arlington Congregational church Saturday afternoon with Rev. Hugh C. Van Valkenburgh and Rev. David Simpson officiating. As a mark of tribute to Mrs. Blackburn who was the widow of one of Arlington’s earliest pioneer businessmen, all business houses were closed between two and three o’clock.

As Delilah Moorhead, Mrs. Blackburn was born on January 28, 1846 in Beldon, Pa., and on January 10, 1869 she was married to J. C. Blackburn. That spring the couple came west, and after a few weeks in Arlington (then Bell Creek) they took up a homestead near Fontanelle. They returned to Arlington three years later, and Mr. Blackburn was in business there until his death in 1929. The couple celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary in the year preceding his death.

Mrs. Blackburn was unusually active for her years, her interests always centered around her home and church and in the affairs of the day. She was in good health until early January, but soon after observing her ninety fourth birthday she became bed-fast and passed away on February 29th. She is survived by two sons, R. N. Blackburn of Chicago and Jay C. Blackburn of Arlington; two daughters, Mrs. A. W. Ayers of Whiting, Indiana and Mrs. R. A. Davies of Arlington; also seven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Out of town relatives who came for the services were Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Blackburn, Mrs. A. W. Ayers; Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Dillner and daughter of St. Joseph, Missouri; Miss Angeline Ayers of Jefferson City, Missouri; Mrs. Robert Gardner of Whiting, Indiana; Mr. and Mrs. Russell Gibson and son of Lincoln; and a large number of Fremont friends.

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

Find a Grave Memorial #53185446