Person:William Blackfan (1)

BIRTH: Hunterdon Co., NJ is across the river, i.e., state line, from Bucks Co., PA.

BIOGRAPHY: He was an original member of the LaGrange Lyceum, organized on 17 Dec 1846 in Western Twp., Henry Co., Il. He was mustered in as a Private (elsewhere Jeremy Jordan has a record as "Recruit"), to Co. C, 102nd IL Vol. Inf. on 5 Aug 1862, listed as William Blackfan, residence as "Western, Illinios", i.e., Western Twp, Henry Co., IL, mustered out in Washington , DC on 6 Jun 1865. Listed as William Blackfan in 1850 Fed Census for Henry Co., IL, enumerated on 12 Nov 1850, age 13, b. NJ. Listed as William Blackfan in 1870 Fed Census for Western Twp., Henry Co., IL, enumerated on 16 Aug 1870, age 37, farmer, w/wife & 1 child. Note: The age on the census image is apparently in error, age should be about 34. He went to Lonoke, Prairie Co. [now Lonoke Co.], Arkansas with his wife and started a small industrial facility, apparently for Cotton production, milling, etc. As to when this occured, is unknown, nor is the place of birth of their three children. Jeremy Jordan obtained a copy [Deed Book AA, page 37] at the Prairie Co. Courthouse, Des Arc, Arkansas of the land purchase by William Blackfan of 160 acres located in SW quarter, Sec 15, Range 7W., Twp. 2N, of the Fifth (5) principal meridian. Filed for record on 2 May 1873. This places it near the present day [2006] I-40 Carlisle interchange. The Little Rock and Memphis Railroad (later the Rock Island) came through Carlisle prior to 1860. Elevation of Carlisle is 230 feet. The 1880 population of Carlisle was 159, so probably was less when William and his family resided there. Carlisle was platted in 1872 in Sec 22, immediately S. of Sec 15. William and Laura then sold off 10 acres per deed [Deed Book HH, page 483-485] and filed on 24 Feb 1874.

DEATH: Month & year confirmed by data obtained on 7 Feb 2002 from "Old Carlisle Cemetery 1872" burial listing on WEB [see additional notes]. His wife Laura & their three children are also named with birth & death dates and is first evidence that the entire family left Henry Co. to Arkansas, for reasons unknown and first that children are identified, though prior data indicated they had 3 children, un-named, no dates, who died as infants. The cemetery is identified at Raborn Road, Carlisle, Lonoke Co., AR. Cemetery notation from the WEB is that they left Henry Co., IL in 1874. Actual date of death was 6 Oct 1875 per letter in Jeremy Jordan's posession from Jas. W. McCormick, 7 Oct. 1875, addressed to Samuel Blackfan in Orion, IL. The date of 5 Oct. is in error. The letter reads: "Carlisle Prairie Co. Ark, Oct 7th 1875, Mr. Samuel Blackfan, Orion Illinois, Dear Sir: I regret exceedingly that the painful duty falls on me of announcing to you the death of Mr. Wm Blackfan your brother. As I have from some papers now in my possession, And on the evening before his own death, his little boy died. Mr. Blackfan died yesterday morning at about four o’clock and was buried yesterday evening at about 6 o’clock. They were both put in the grave. Now as Mr. B. has considerable property here You should come and make arrangement." Susanne Burt Danubio rec'd confirmation from a Dr. William R. Boone, tamatora@yahoo.com that confirms that there was a flu epidemic at the time of the death of this family. There was a 1873-5 North America and Europe Influenza epidemic. Note: At the time of the death and burial of this family, Carlisle was in Carlisle Twp., Prairie Co., but later in 1882 about 10 sq. miles were transferred to Lanoke Co.

BURIAL: Old Carlisle Cem. 1872. Jeremy and Cleis Jordan visited this cem. 6 Oct 2006 and took photos.