MABEL ROSS HUBBARD

 

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 THE STORY AS I KNOW IT.

Mabel Ross Hubbard was born April 4, 1880 in Caldwell County Kentucky. Her parents were Robert Patterson Hubbard and Anna Louisa Nichols Mabel was fifth of seven children. The family lived in the country near Farmersville on a farm. When Mabel was just nine years old, her mother died of cancer leaving her father with six children ranging from 5 to 17. One child had died, but the remaining six were strong farm kids and could run the farm with their dad.  The dates are all found in the Hubbard Family Bible.  I have the bible.  The front cover says "A.L. Hubbard's Bible Presented by Margret Nichols".  Margaret Nichols was Anna Louisa's mother.

One story from the years before Anna died, was when the children were directed to clear the field of rocks. As they piled rocks onto the existing rock pile, they found copperhead snakes were living there. The older boys placed then 6 year old Mabel standing on top of the rock pile with a stick while they ran back to get dad and a gun. She beat any snake that stuck its head out of a crevice until her anxious father arrived. She was never afraid of anything and always worked hard at any job given to her.

Robert P. Hubbard was known by his oldest daughter to be a womanizer after Anna died. He was seeing a married woman in 1894. The woman’s husband drove up to the farmhouse one afternoon and shot R.P. Hubbard through the window, leaving the children orphans. The oldest sister, Elmary was 22 at that time, but the county would not leave her responsible for the family. They decided to divide the children up and have them live with various kin in the county. Joe Hubbard, Robert’s bachelor uncle, stepped in and offered to live with the family. With the help of Elmary the family stayed together in their home till they were grown. It was beneficial to both parties as Joe now had a home and family. When all the children were grown, Uncle Joe made the circuit, living with each for a month or so at a time. They were known as the "Uncle Visits".

Mabel Hubbard married James William Addison Blackburn on Dec. 26, 1899 by eloping to Metropolis, Illinois. They were married by Thomas Siggell. Their wedding certificate hangs on our wall. If anyone would like a copy CONTACT US .  The date is also in the Hubbard Family Bible.

Jim and Mabel Blackburn had a farm near a crossroads called Rufus. Piney Creek ran through their farm. There was a hickory grove, typical farm animals and produce. Mabel’s particular domain was the turkey flock, egg layers and tobacco, all cash endeavors. There were still a few scattered bands of Indians in the area. Jim and Mabel allowed them to camp for indefinite periods along the creek bank. Mabel said their property was never looted or damaged in any way

Mabel and Jim had 4 children. They were listed in the Hubbard family bible .
1. Alta Pauline, born Dec. 17, 1900 but died within 3 weeks on Jan. 3, 1901.
2. Alla or Allie Reba, born in March 13, 1902 married Fletcher Farmer, also of Caldwell County.  She died in May 1971.
3. George Oscar, born in July 1904 died a few months old in Sept 1904.
4. Clinton Hubbard, born August 24, 1916 lived to 1993

In December 1919, Jim decided the family had to move to the county seat of Princeton. The specific reason given was that Jim was rather short and round and found summer farm work always produced an extensive heat rash. He built 2 houses near the edge of town, one to live in and one to rent. Mabel refused to look at them until she moved in. She regretted leaving the farm for the rest of her long life. Years later, she admitted that the primary reason she agreed to the move was so that Clinton could get an education. They also owned one other rental house in the poorer section of town. Jim joined the local police force and eventually became the Chief of Police

During Prohibition days there was a "War" in southwestern Kentucky. The stills in near-by Golden Pond shipped high-level moonshine to the eastern cities and Europe. The Feds worked to stop it. Still raids led to gun battles, which led to a series of dynamited buildings, including the courthouse and the home of the Prosecuting Attorney. When that last explosion blew out the windows of the Blackburn home, Mabel sent Clinton across the street to safety, but she crawled all around the base of their home to find any dynamite to remove before it blew up. Fortunately, they were not a target.

Jim Blackburn developed diabetes in 1925. He dieted but did not take insulin. One Saturday afternoon he returned home from work complaining of not feeling well. Sunday morning, Jan 25, 1931 Jim told his son he had a virus and sent Clinton on to church alone. Before church was over, Jim went into a coma and died that night. He was 54 years old. The houses were paid for, but he had cosigned a loan for a brother. The brother never paid it and Mabel was left with a $5000 debt in the middle of the Depression. What little insurance he had only paid for his funeral and burial. He was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Princeton.

Mabel and Clinton moved into 2 rooms of their 5-room house. She rented out the other side. The fifth room was the shared bathroom.  At one time Mabel's sister Mag and her husband's house burned. They moved into the two rooms until they had rebuilt their home. Her daughter, Reba lived across the street with her growing family.

Mabel could make a quarter last forever. She had a garden, cow, chickens and her 14-year-old son went to work in the construction business for 25 cents an hour. That and the rent paid for the few items they had to buy.

When Clinton became old enough to go to college, Mabel went with him. She rented a large house in Bowling Green and ran a boarding house for students of Western Kentucky State Teacher's College. However, she couldn't make the money stretch far enough and he was only able to attend college for one year.

Both her children moved away to find work, ending up in southern Indiana at a wartime industrial plant. Mabel continued renting one half of her house and living in two rooms. In the winters she lived alternately with her two children in Indiana.

She had arthritis that crippled her ability to walk easily and she rarely left the house. She listened to the radio church services on Sunday morning and spent that day talking with her children and grandchildren and reading the bible. The other six days were workdays. She mended clothes, washed dishes and did a lot of the cooking. She quilted a new quilt every year. For many years she used a hanging contraption where each side of the quilt was attached to a wooden bar. She would begin on the edge, sewing and moving the chair around the quilt. When the edge was done, each side was rolled so that she could reach the next area. Her grandchildren loved to play under the quilt while she worked.

Her house was finally sold in the 1960s. Mabel Hubbard Blackburn died August 4, 1971 at the age of 91 at a nursing home in Jeffersonville, Indiana. She is buried next to Jim Blackburn in Princeton, Kentucky in the Cedar Hill Cemetery.  Her tombstone reads "Resting Mable 'Ma' Blackburn April 4, 1880  Aug 2, 1971".  Her Indiana Death Certificate is #71-028351

 

 

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Date created: 10/26/2006
Date Edited 1/21/2014
Date Edited 8/11/2016