Edgar L.Blackwell (1894-1978)

Edgar L. Blackwell was born on December 27, 1894 in Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.  He was the son of Marshall Needham Blackwell and Mary Catherine Lehman.  Edgar was raised on the family farm in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

Edgar registered for the draft for the First World War on June 5, 1917 in Sloan, Woodbury County, Iowa.  At that time, he was employed as a farmhand for Herman Johnson in Sloan.  Edgar was described as tall and of medium build, with black hair and brown eyes.  He was a veteran of the war.

Edgar married Millie Blanch Kilburn on March 2, 1918 in Woodbury County, Iowa.  He was 24 years old and she was 18 years.  Millie was born on January 14, 1901 in Hinton, Plymouth County, Iowa, the daughter of Archie Clayton Kilburn and Effie Pearl Benscoter.

After their marriage, Edgar and Millie made their home in Liberty, Woodbury County, Iowa, where they lived and worked on a farm.  They didn’t have any children.

In 1930, Millie’s brother, Floyd Kilburn, and his wife, Loretta (Wheeler) Kilburn, were listed in Edgar’s household.  Also listed was Silas Lehman, a cousin.  Silas was the son of Richard Thomas Lehman, and grandson of Harrison Lehman.

Edgar and Millie moved to a farm in Elk, Buena Vista County, Iowa, sometime between 1935 and 1940.  They lived out the remainder of their lives in Buena Vista County, Iowa.

Edgar L. Blackwell died in August 1978 in Alta, Buena Vista County, Iowa.  He was 83 years old at his death.

Millie Blanch Kilburn Blackwell died four years later, in March 1982 in Alta, Buena Vista County, Iowa.  She was 81 years old at her death.

Notes for Edgar L. Blackwell

Birth & Death:  “Edgar Blackwell,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.

1900 US Census: “Edgar Blackwell,” Year: 1900; Census Place: Court House, Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Roll: 545; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0066; FHL microfilm: 1240545.  Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

1910 US Census: “Edgar L Blackwell,” Year: 1910; Census Place: Courthouse, Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Roll: T624_497; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0081; FHL microfilm: 1374510.  Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

Military:  “Edgar L Blackwell,” Registration State: Iowa; Registration County: Woodbury; Roll: 1643417.  Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

Marriage:  "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch  (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDS-5TWZ : accessed 13 July 2015), Edgar L Blackwell and Millie Kilburn, 02 Mar 1918; citing Woodbury, Iowa, United States, county courthouses, Iowa.

1920 US Census:  “E L Blackwell,” Year: 1920; Census Place: Liberty, Woodbury, Iowa; Roll: T625_520; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 185; Image: 63.  Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

1925 Iowa Census:  “Edgar L Blackwell,” Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

1930 US Census:  “Edgar L Blackwell,” Year: 1930; Census Place: Liberty, Woodbury, Iowa; Roll: 689; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0014; Image:193.0; FHL microfilm: 2340424. 

Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

1940 US Census:  “E L Blackwell,” Year: 1940; Census Place: Elk, Buena Vista, Iowa; Roll: T627_1143; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 11-6. Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Notes for Millie Blanch Kilburn

Birth & Death:  “Millie Blackwell,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.

1910 US Census:  “Millie B Kilburn,” Year: 1910; Census Place: Westfield, Plymouth, Iowa; Roll: T624_418; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0122; FHL microfilm: 1374431.  Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

1915 Iowa State Census:  “Millie Kilburn,” Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.