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 THE STORY AS I KNOW IT.

William Washington Blackburn was born in Nov. 11 1823 in Caldwell County, Kentucky His parents were Zebulon Blackburn and Lois Asherst.

William Washington Blackburn married Catherine Street of Union County, KY on October 23, 1845. It is not known where they married, possibly her home county. Her sister, Elizabeth Jane Street married his Uncle, Lewis Blackburn in Caldwell County 2 years later. Catherine and WW. Blackburn made their home on a farm in Caldwell County.

Their marriage and children were noted in an article for the Caldwell newspaper by William H. Wilson under Historical Tidbits - The Blackburn Family. Four children were listed in the article with their spouse. From that article and from the Caldwell County Marriage Book the children of William W. and Catherine Blackburn were:
1. Sarah A.F. born Aug 1849 wed Houston Jones in 1866
2. Nancy E. born May 1850 wed E.P.Crowder in 1865
3. George Walter born Dec 1852 wed Rose Bell Crowell about 1876
4. Mary C. born 1854 wed Z.T. Blackburn in 1871
5. Martha S. born Nov 1859 wed Thomas Williamson in 1885
The month and year were from the 1900 Census in Caldwell County KY

The 1850 Caldwell County Census lists the household as"
William W. Blackburn age 26
Katherine S. Blackburn age 27
Nancy E. Blackburn age 1
Katherine Street age 61

Sarah is not mentioned. Note that her mother was living with them at this time.

The 1860 Census gives the family as:
W.W. Blackburn age 36 farmer with RE value of $1100, personal $810
Catherine age 37
Sarah age 11
Nancy age 9
George age 7
Mary age 4
Martha 7 months

Catherine Blackburn died January 5, 1861. It was reported in Caldwell County Ky Vital Statistics – Deaths compiled by Brenda Joyce Jerome. "Catherine Blackburn, age 29, white female married seamstress died of dropsy, now called Congestive Heart Failure, on  Jan 5 1861, born Kentucky, parents Nimrod and Catherine Street." There seems to be an error in her age. We believe her to have been 39 at the time of her death. It is not known where she is buried, but she is listed in the Caldwell county Cemetery Book. It reads "Catherine Blackburn 1822 - 1862". The paper was wrong on the year. She is buried in Farmersville Cemetery, now called Morse Cemetery #1..

William W. Blackburn married a second time. On Jan 1, 1863 in Caldwell County he wed Martha M. Traylor. This is listed in Caldwell County Marriage Book #5, page 417/8. They had six more children. They were also listed in the newspaper article Historical Tidbits as:
1. William C. Blackburn born 1865 wed Sarah E. Morse in 1895
2. John C. Blackburn born 1866 died that same year.
3. Theodore Anderson Blackburn born 1867 never wed
4. Laura Blackburn born 1869 wed Henry Brown in 1886
5. Spurgeon Blackburn born 1872 wed Rose Lee Ray
6. Albert Hoy Blackburn born 1875 wed Alma J. Morse
7. Nona Blackburn born 1880 wed Yancey Hollowell
8. Kerling Blackburn born 1884 died 1895

Wm. W. Blackburn served as a justice of the peace from 1872 to 1880. On April 17, 1900 W. W. wrote a piece 4 legal pages long. We have a copy. It is in his handwriting. He tells the history of his family beginning with his grandfather William Henry Blackburn. In this piece he gives the date of his marriage to Catherine and the date of her death. He ends the piece with "I have been a member of the Baptist Church since April 1841." His residence is given as Rufus.

Wm. W. Blackburn wrote a will, Caldwell County Will Book C, page 118-121. We have the second page where he added an addendum dated March 13, 1901. The will directs George his son and executor to pay outstanding debts, most of which was listed, and distributes to his children specific sums of money or animals. Each daughter by Catherine was to get $65, except Martha who got a horse, and George got a mule. The children of Martha received sums as follows:
W. C. $230, T.A. a horse, Albert Hoy $100, Laura $60 and Nona a filly. He gave 100 acres to his wife Martha with farm equipment and furniture specified. She gave a quit claim deed for it. Then everything else was divided between George, Sarah, Nancy and Martha.

William W. is listed in the Caldwell County Cemetery Book "Wm. W. Blackburn 1823 - 1902" He is buried in the Morse Cemetery #1.  His tombstone reads
"W.W. Blackburn born Nov. 11, 1923 Died May 26, 1902"  There is other writing, but i can't make it out from the photo of Find a Grave.  At the top are two hands in a handshake.

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Date created 11/17/2006
Date edited 7/24/2016