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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Churchill H. Blackburn. The agricultural affairs of Desha County, Ark., are ably represented, among others, by the subject of this sketch, who comes of a prominent old family, the Blackburns of Kentucky, some members of which family have for generations been well-known planters and stockmen of the famous Kentucky Blue-Grass regions, of whom Col. Edward M. Blackburn, the father of Churchill H., is one of the foremost. He was born in that State in 1787, and died at the ripe old age of eighty-three years, having become, during his long life, well and prominently known for many miles around. He was educated for the profession of law, but this not being congenial to his tastes, he abandoned it to become a tiller of the soil, and found that the excellent education which he had received was essential to the successful conduct of his chosen calling. He was one of a large family of children, and all his brothers were professional men. Church, one brother, became an eminent physician; Luke and William became noted attorneys; Jonathan was also a lawyer of prominence, and George was a Baptist minister of note. Col. Edward M. Blackburn was married to Miss Lavinia Bell, also a Kentuckian, and by her became the father of the following children: George E. (born July 6, 1810, received an excellent education in his youth, graduating from Transylvania College, of Lexington, Ky., when nineteen years of age, and after leaving school adopted farming as his calling, and spent the greater part of his life in his native State, but died in Washington County, Miss., in 1853, at the age of forty-three years), John B. (died in infancy), Frances A. (was born in 1813 and died, in Desha County, Ark., several years since), Luke P. (was born in 1815, received excellent educational advantages, and started out in life for himself as a physician; he became prominent in politics, and was elected governor of Kentucky, which capacity he served with distinction. During the yellow fever epidemic in Cuba, he was employed by the English Government as a medical expert to examine and report as to the best methods of treating that fearful scourge, and in this as in all other cases, he discharged his duties faithfully and well. In every walk in life he was true, honest and upright, and he wielded a powerful influence for good over all with whom he came in contact. He died in Louisville, Ky., in 1887, at the age of seventy-three years), Edward L. (was born in 1817 and died in infancy), Mary P. (was born in 1819, and became the wife of Judge Morris, of Chicago, dying in 1885), Elizabeth J. (was born April 3, 1821, and became the wife of Gen. T. B. Flournoy, who distinguished himself in the Confederate army, dying in 1861; his widow resides in Greenville, Miss.), William E. (was born in 1823, was a graduate of Oxford College, and chose the law as his profession, and although he died quite young, he had become well-known as a lawyer of prominence), Henry B. (was born in 1825, was also a graduate of Oxford College, and became a well-known and prominent physician, this calling receiving his attention for fifty years; he died when about sixty-two years of age), Churchill H. (was next in order of birth, and was born in Woodford County, Ky., in 1827, a short sketch of his life is given below), Edwin M. (was born in 1829, graduated from Transylvania College, and chose the medical profession as his calling; he made an enviable reputation for himself as a surgeon, giving that part of his practice the most of his attention; he pursued his investigations for four years in Europe, and although he died at the untimely age of thirty-six years, he had become eminent; his death occurred in Natchez, Miss.), Breckenridge L. (was born in 1832, graduated from Danville College, and prior to his death, which occurred in Memphis, Tenn., he had acquired a large legal practice, and was a well-known attorney), James W. (was born in 1834, also graduated from Danville College, and although he is now engaged in planting, on the old homestead, in Woodford County, Ky., he is a lawyer by profession and is a well-known politician of that State, having represented his county in the State Legislature, once in the House and once in the Senate), Joe E. Stiles (was born in 1838, graduated from Danville College and became a lawyer; he has attained great prominence, not only in his profession but as a public man, and besides representing his county in the State Legislature, was a member of the United States Senate for six years; he is a man who wields a wide political influence, for he possesses a brilliant intellect, much personal magnetism, and is of dignified and commanding bearing, and fully deserves the popularity and honor which he has gained). Churchill H. Blackburn, the immediate subject of this memoir, spent his youth in his native State, and his knowledge of the world of books was acquired from a private tutor. When about twenty years of age he was united in marriage to Miss Frances J. Hale, and immediately began life for himself as a merchant, in Frankfort, Ky., continuing there for two years, when he abandoned this work to devote his attention to agriculture, this occupation receiving his attention for five subsequent years. At the end of this time he came to Laconia, Desha County, Ark., purchased a farm, and was engaged in tilling the soil until the opening of the war, his attention being also given to merchandising. In 1862 he joined the Confederate service. Company B, Shank’s regiment, Shelby’s brigade, and took part in the battles of Helena, Little Rock and numerous skirmishes, but at the end of two years was detailed for scouting duty, and in this capacity served until the final surrender, at which time he returned home to recuperate his shattered fortunes. He resumed his former occupations and gradually fortune smiled on his efforts, and he is now the owner of 500 acres of fine land, and has under cultivation about 350 acres, which will average about 300 bales of cotton each year. He also raises some stock, but has found his greatest profit in cotton. He contributes liberally of his means in the support of worthy movements, but only takes a quiet interest in political matters, although he always votes the Democratic ticket. He is a man who would be an acquisition to any community, for, throughout his career he has endeavored to follow the teachings of the Golden Rule, and has kept his illustrious name pure in the sight of God and man. A family of four children has been born to his union: Henrietta (wife of Capt. J. T. Warfield, the present sheriff of Desha County), Fannie (deceased), Lullie (at home), and Jilson (an enterprising young man, in business for himself). Mrs. Blackburn’s parents, Louis and Letitia (Flournoy) Hale, were Kentuckians.

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This family biography is one of 80 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Desha County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Desha County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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