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.

Marshall Needham Blackwell (1866-1939)

Marshall Needham Blackwell was born in March 1866 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.  He was the son of John Bailey Blackwell and Mary Susan Wyatt.  Marshall was raised on the family farm in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.

Marshall married Mary Catherine “Mollie” Lehman on March 8, 1893 in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.  Marshall was 27 years old and Mollie was 26 years.  Mollie was born on July 1, 1866 in Penrod, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, the daughter of Harrison Lehman and Delima Moore. 

Marshall and Mollie were the parents of four children:

Edgar L. Blackwell                  born December 27, 1894

Maude Bernice Blackwell       born June 3, 1898

Orella P. Blackwell                 born 1902

Clarence M. Blackwell            born May 13, 1907

After their marriage, Marshall and Mollie made their home on a farm in Courthouse, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky.  Like his father, Marshall was a farmer by trade.

In 1920, the family farm was located on Main Street in Greenville, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. 

Marshall and his family moved to Iowa in 1921 and by 1925 had settled on a farm in Liberty, Woodbury County. 

In 1930, Marshall and Mollie were living and working on a farm in Little Sioux, Harrison County, Iowa.  Their daughter, Maude, was also listed in the household.

Marshall Needham Blackwell died in 1939 in Harrison County, Iowa.  He was buried in the Little Sioux Cemetery in Little Sioux, Harrison County, Iowa.  Marshall was 73 years old at his death.

Mary Catherine Lehman Blackwell went on to live another 27 years after the death of her husband.  She died in 1966 in Cherokee County, Iowa.  Mollie was laid to rest beside her husband in the Little Sioux Cemetery in Little Sioux, Harrison County, Iowa.  She was 99 years old at her death.

The following is from an obituary for Mary Blackwell, posted on a family tree on Ancestry.com:

Mrs. Mary Blackwell

Mrs. Mary C. Lehman Blackwell, 99, believed to be Cherokee County’s oldest resident, died here Monday at 4:30pm at the home of her daughter, Miss Orella Blackwell, 17 Souix Valley Drive. 

            She had made her home here since 1950.

            A former resident of River Sioux [Iowa], she was born July 1, 1866 at Penrod, [Kentucky], and was married to Marshall N. Blackwell on March 8, 1894 in Muhlenberg County, Greenville, Ky.

            The couple moved to Iowa in 1921 where Mr. Blackwell was engaged in farming.

            She was a member of Meyers Chapel Methodist Church at Penrod.

            Surviving are the daughter, Miss Blackwell of Cherokee; two sons, Edgar Blackwell of Alta and Clarence of Toledo, O.

            She was preceded in death by her husband, Marshall in 1939, and also by a daughter, Mrs. Maude Young in 1963.

            Funeral services are to be Thursday at 11am at St. Paul’s Methodist Church.  Rev. Victor V. Shuldt is to officiate.  Burial is to be in River Sioux Cemetery.  Boothby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Notes for Marshall Needham Blackwell

Birth & Death:  “Marshall N Blackwell,” Ancestry.com. Iowa, Cemetery Records, 1662-1999 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.

1870 US Census:  “Marshal N Blackwell,” Year: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 3, Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Roll: M593_490; Page: 490A; Image: 347; Family History Library Film: 545989. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

1880 US Census: “M N Blackwell,” Year: 1880; Census Place: Court House, Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Roll: 435; Family History Film: 1254435; Page: 108A; Enumeration District: 137; Image: 0422.  Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

Marriage:  “Marshall N Blackwell,” Dodd, Jordan, comp. Kentucky Marriages, 1851-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001.

1900 US Census: “M N 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: “Marshal M 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.

1920 US Census:  “M N Blackwell,” Year: 1920; Census Place: Greenville, Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Roll: T625_593; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 99; Image: 426.  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:  “M N Blockwell,” Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

1930 US Census:  “Marshal Blackwell,” Year: 1930; Census Place: Little Sioux, Harrison, Iowa; Roll: 658; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0018; Image: 537.0; FHL microfilm: 2340393.  Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.

Burial:  “Marshall Needham Blackwell,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi) accessed 11 July 2015

Notes for Mary Catherine Lehman

Birth & Death:  “Mary Catherine Lehman,” Ancestry.com, “Mitchell-Massie Tree,” (http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/29081754/person/12589926848) Accessed 11 Jul 2015

1870 US Census:  “Catharine Leaman,” Year: 1870; Census Place: Precinct 3, Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Roll: M593_490; Page: 466A; Image: 299; Family History Library Film: 545989.

Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

1880 US Census:  “Mary Lehman,” Year: 1880; Census Place: Myers, Muhlenberg, Kentucky; Roll: 435; Family History Film: 1254435; Page:157A; Enumeration District: 139; Image: 0520.  Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

1940 US Census:  “Mary C Blackwell,” Year: 1940; Census Place: Little Sioux, Harrison, Iowa; Roll: T627_1166; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 43-18.  Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

Burial:  “Mary C Lehman Blackwell,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

(http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi) accessed 11 July 2015