Person:Mary Blackfan (2)

BIOGRAPHY: She was an original member of the LaGrange Lyceum, organized on 17 Dec 1846 in Western Twp., Henry Co., Il. Listed as Mary Ann Blackfan Blackfan in 1850 Fed. census for Henry Co., IL, enumerated on 12 Nov 1850, age 9, b. IL. Listed as Mary Ann Blackfan in 1860 Fed. Census for Solebury Twp., Bucks Co., PA, enumerated on 6 Jun 1860, age 19, b. IL, staying in home of Charles Magill & his wife Anna (Trego) Magill; Anna T. Trego-199 is the aunt of Mary Anna Blackfan-11. Their common ancestors are William Trego-137 and Rachel Taylor-138. Therefore, she apparently journeyed back to PA for a visit coinciding with this census. She is listed in the 1870 Fed. Census F/Henry Co., IL, Western Twp., enumerated on 12 Aug 1870 as age 28, Keeps House. She is listed in the 1880 Fed. census in Rural, Rock Island Co., IL as age 38, married, keeping house. She is listed in the 1880 Fed. Census for Rural Twp, Rock Iskand Co., IL, enumerated on 10 Jun 1880 as age 38, Keeping House. Listed as Mary A. Jordan in 1900 Fed. Census for Rural Twp., Rock Island Co., IL, Dist. 124, enumerated on 6 Jun 1900, age 58, b. Oct 1841, IL, married 32 years, 4 children born, 3 still living, both parents b. PA.

The Jordan Memorial shows her name in error as Anna Blackfaw. She was the first [white] girl child to be born in Western Township in what is now the East side of Orion. Her father's family was one of five that constituted Western Township. As a member of the W.C.T.U. in Orion, she was one of a party of Women who raided a saloon, beating in the head of a whiskey barrell and spilling the contents into the street. She was a principal in funding the furnishing of a room in the Industrial Home for the Colored in Boaz, AL, through her church. Jeremy Jordan has a photo of her & Elizabeth Trego Blackfan Lippincott, her sister, w/E.B. Jordan when he was a child.

Following is an excerpt from a letter w/extra page that has become separated from the dated portion, i.e., the letter of 4 Aug 1909 from Eliz. B. Lippincott/Hollywood, CA to Mary Anna B. Jordan/Orion, IL, but is by Eliz. Lippincott’s hand, probably about the same time]: “You know Susan [Susan Trego, RIN-858] has lived in Western Township longer than anyone else now living, coming there in 1841, When her time comes to pass away see to it that the above fact is in her obituary. You come next and Florence next in length of time of having lived there.” [5/2001 - Research on both Florence or Susan are needed]

BURIAL: Western Cem.

1. ↑ Western Twp. Cem.