Yesterday, I wrote a post here about the passing of my great grandfather David Lyman Blacker. Today I would like to share two newspaper articles that appeared in the local papers the day after he died.

The articles are interesting and informative – and quite often incorrect. I’ve transcribed both articles and included footnotes so you can see what I mean.

The first is titled “Death Claims David Blacker”. A transcription of the article is below the image.

DEATH CLAIMS DAVID BLACKER

VENERABLE PIONEER PASSES AWAY AFTER LONG ILLNESS LAST NIGHT.

David Lyman Blacker, one of the best known pioneers of Helena died at the family home on Rodney street last evening after an illness extending over a period of several months. He had been suffering with paralysis and this coupled with his his [sic] extreme age was the cause of death. In his passing the city loses one of its most highly esteemed and venerable citizens, and the state one of its oldest pioneers. Mr. Blacker was a native of Missouri¹ and at the time of his death was approaching his eighty-second year. he was married in this city, February 22, 1879, to Miss Ada Buchenau², and leaves surviving him his wife, three daughters, Misses Helen katherine and zetta, a son, Jack, whose home is now in Seattle and a brother, J. C. Blacker, a resident of Radersburg. His family with the exception of his son Jack, was at the bedside when the final summons came, as was Moses Morris, an intimate friend of nearly half a century.

Upon his arrival in the west, Mr. Blacker located in Colorado where he conducted a bakery in several of the mining camps of that state. In 1863, after spending three years in Colorado he joined in the rush to Alder Gulch in this state, where with associates he engaged in the mining business. Two years later he came to Helena³ and has since made his home in this city, although his operations have been extended to different parts of the state. For a number of years he was interested and successfully conducted some mines at Radersburg with John Keating. Later he embarked in the cattle business in which he also achieved considerable success.

Mr. Blacker was a member of King Solomon lodge of the Masonic fraternity and the funeral will be held under the auspices of that order, but as yet the day and the time have not been decided upon.

George F. Ingram, vice-president of the Lewis and Clark society of Montana pioneers has appointed a committee, comprised of A. M. Holter, Con Kohrs, T. C. Power, Henry M. Parchens, Williams Simms, J. C. Sanders, Ben Benson, Harry Hay Sr., S. T. Hauser and J. B. Willson to represent the soceity at the funeral of Mr. Blacker. The vice-president also requests that all members of the society attend the funeral.

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The second article is titled “Dave Blacker Answers Call”. Transcription of the article is below the image.

DAVE BLACKER ANSWERS CALL

Well Known Colorado and Montana Pioneer Expires at Home in Helena.

HE WAS 81 YEARS OLD

Old-Time Resident Had Lived in Helena Since 1865⁴ and Had Numerous Friends Throughout the State–Date Due to Old Age–Date of Funeral Not Yet Decided Upon.

David Lyman Blacker, pioneer of Colorado and Montana, and good citizen, died last evening at the family home, 335 North Rodney street, after a lingering illness, death being due to old age. When the end came, Mr. Blacker was surrounded by his wife, three daughters, a brother and Moses Morris, his friend for over half a century.

Mr. Blacker was born in Missouri⁵ August 29, 1829, and was married in Helena February 22, 1879, to Miss Adah Buckner ⁶. In 1860, Mr. Blacker went to Colorado, where he conducted bakeries in the well-known mining camps of that state. In 1863 he was attracted by the discovery of gold in Montana and went to Virginia City, where he engaged in mining in Alder gulch.

Lived Long in Helena

      Two years later he came to Helena ⁷, and this has been his home ever since, although he has conducted operations in various parts of the state. In Radersburg, Mr. Blacker was interested in mining, being in company with John Keating. Later he branched out into the cattle growing business, in which he was very successful.

   Mr. Blacker leaves a wife and three daughters, Zetta, Katherine and Helenn [sic], and one son, Jake [sic] Blacker, who is now in Seattle; as well as a brother, J. C. Blacker, whose home is in Radersburg.

   Arrangements for the funeral will not be completed until the day of the son’s arrival is ascertained.

   Mr. Blacker was a member of King Solomon lodge of the Masonic fraternity, under the auspices of which the funeral will be held.

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FOOTNOTES

At 4:40 p.m. on this date in 1911, my great grandfather David Lyman Blacker passed away in Helena, Montana. He died at the family home at 335 N. Rodney and according to newspaper accounts was surrounded by his wife Ada, three daughters Muzetta, Katherine and Helen, his brother Jake, and close friend Moses Morris. His son Jack was in Seattle at the time.

The doctor who signed his death certificate – C. B. Miller, M.D. – stated that the cause of death was “senile debility” and that Mr. Blacker¹ had “been feeble for years”.

I know it happens. It happened to my own father. But it’s always sad to think that a man who was so smart and so vital was reduced to “senility” in his later years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On a completely different note, I just want to point out one interesting bit of information regarding the death certificate – which is that his birth date was stated to be January 12, 1830. His brother “J.C. Blacker” is the informant on this record. Of all the sources available for his birth date, this is the only one that states this particular date. All others state either “August 1829”, “August 29, 1829”, or are unclear as to a specific date. I have written previously about this issue (click here) and have concluded – for the time being – that his birth date is most likely August 29, 1829.

Tomorrow I will post two newspaper articles that were published in the Helena papers in the days following Mr. Blacker’s death.

Copyright (c) 2016, Lark M. Dalin Robart

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NOTES

My great grandfather David Lyman Blacker (1829-1911) and his partner, John Keating, were quite busy with their mining prospects in the fall of 1871.

I came across a wonderful article from The New North-West, Deer Lodge City, Montana, dated October 28, 1871, which details their endeavors.

Below are a few excerpts.

FROM KEATINGVILLE.

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Mining and Other Items.

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Editor New North-West:

QUARTZ.

     In a former letter I gave you a sort of birds-eye view of the county-seat of Jefferson, and then promised an account of the quartz interest of this locality in the next issue, which, consequent upon a change of base. I have failed to do until the present. At this time even only the lodes most prominent and developed can be noticed, for were I to undertake a full account of all the leads staked and surface-developed in this vicinity, the list would be too lengthy for publication.

THE KEATING LODE.

For one of the owners of which the town of Keatingville received its name, has probably gained a wider notoriety than any other mine in the district, not because of its excessive valuation, but its name and thorough development. The discovery was made in 1866, by Mr. John Keating and David Blacker, its present owners, and worked with arastras until the spring of ’70, when the Postlewait mill was purchased and put up and reduction commenced in earnest, and since June of ’70 its 15 stamps have continued to hammer away almost incessantly, not a day having been lost for want of ore. Two levels have been run in this mine, one at 100 feet and another at 172 feet depth, which have been worked north of discovery shaft 370 feet and south of it 600 feet, taking out a body of ore which has averaged $20 per ton from a crevice varying in width from 20 inches to 2 ½ feet. The mill is under the superintendence of Mr. Saulsberger, has a capacity of 25 tons per day, and has paid $9000 to $10,000 per month from the date of starting up. Mr. Geo. Richards, to whose courtesy we are indebted for much valuable information, has charge of the development, and is prosecuting the work with most encouraging success. Keating & Blacker are also owners of the

OHIO AND LEVIATHAN MINES,

Which have given incontrovertible evidence of hidden treasures. The Ohio has a 70-feet shaft on No. 1 south, and has been worked to that depth, uncovering a 3 feet crevice of No. 1 ore. They are at present driving in a 250-feet level and letting the ore rest awhile.

     It is said the Ohio yields $50 per ton, and is finer gold than the Keating. The Leviathan has a 180 feet shaft, the ore from which has paid upwards of $50 per ton. Messrs. Keating & Blacker, both hard working, substantial men, have delved year after year in Colorado and Montana under the most adverse circumstances after the goal which has at last been reached in their present locations, and for their indomitable perseverance and pluck, deserve the thanks of every one who has the interest of the Territory at heart. The firm give employment to nearly 100 men.

THE LEFT-HAND LODE,

Situated in close proximity to the Keating, is owned by Messrs. Clancy & Davis, and not a man who is familiar with the past history of never varying hard luck with which the efforts of the former have been attended, but will join us in congratulating Judge Clancy upon his present prospects. The Left-Hand was discovered in January 1871 by the present proprietors and the ore from Discovery from the top to 25 feet down yielded $21 per ton. They have since stoped out 150 tons from the top to 25 feet down, which run $35. Within the past two months a second 60 feet shaft has been sunk and connected with discovery by a 200 feet level. The present developments on the Left-Hand indicate it will prove one of the richest mines in the Territory. The crevice averages only 20 inches, but descend the shaft, take a lighted candle and hold it to the vein and you will find it fairly freckled with free gold – an artery of wealth coursing the hill from east to west, and running up to within 50 feet of the Keating, which runs northerly and southerly. Keating & Blacker had the Left-Hand in litigation as a spur of their lode, but the suit was amicably adjusted before trial, and the mine development continues to progress.

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Source: The new North-west. (Deer Lodge, Mont.), 28 Oct. 1871. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84038125/1871-10-28/ed-1/seq-1/>

This very sophisticated looking fellow is my great grandfather, David Lyman Blacker. He was born in Huntington, Pennsylvania in 1829, the oldest son of Lewis Blacker and Margaret R. (Loury) Blacker.

According to the document below, he married my great grandmother, Ada Cordelia Buchenau, in Doniphan County, Kansas, in 1871. He was 28 years old at the time and she was 18.

Wait – what???  If David was born in 1829¹, he would have been 42 years old in 1871 – not 28.

Needless to say, the discrepancy between David’s birth date and the marriage record raises a few questions.

• Was he perhaps embarrassed to marry a woman who was 24 years his junior?
• Could the clerk have made an error?
• Did Ada know how old he was?
• Did Ada’s parents know how old he was?
• Is David’s birth date of August 29, 1829 incorrect?²

In any event, assuming David was 42 years old and not 28, and he appeared in person to obtain the license, I can only imagine the clerk may have thought he was stretching the truth just a bit.

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NOTES