A newspaper account of the March 1872 mining activities of David Lyman Blacker and his partner John Keating in Radersburg, Montana.
Helena weekly herald. (Helena, Mont.), 14 March 1872. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84036143/1872-03-14/ed-1/seq-7/>
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Quartz Mining at Radersburg.
Keating & Blacker are vigorously at work taking out quartz from the Keating and Ohio lodes. They have nearly 4,000 tons of fine ore on the dump, which will average about $16 per ton. Their mill has been idle since last fall, but it has been thoroughly repaired and will commence crushing in about two weeks.
. . . my great great grandmother Margaret R. “Rebecca” (Loury) Blacker died in Macomb, McDonough County, Illinois. She died of “old age” and was buried on September 16th in Oakwood Cemetery in Block 2, Lot 50.
I know this information based on the record above, which was obtained from Oakwood Cemetery.1
Here’s what else I learned:
Rebecca had at least three siblings: “Chris, Kate (Smith), Lydia, and “others”.
Her maiden name – which I always thought was LOURY – may have been LOWER.
Her mother’s name was MARY ULLERY.
And my great grandfather David Lyman Blacker (listed above as “David”) was one of 14 children. Wow! Prior to obtaining this record, I only knew about three of those siblings, namely Elizabeth, Sarah and Jacob.
Lots and lots of new information! Sounds great, right? Wrong!
Armed with all this new information, I have searched and searched the names of Rebecca‘s siblings and the children I had never heard of and have come up with – absolutely nothing! And I really am surprised by that outcome. Especially since I have maiden names for several of the daughters (i.e., Goudy, Mental and Stone).
One thing I have learned over the years, however, is that I have to be patient. I know my efforts and this “great new information” will result in some good stuff one of these days.
In the meantime, since I’m unable to visit the cemetery where Rebecca was buried, I was able to capture some interesting images using Google Earth and Google Maps.
Image from Google Maps, showing grave stones in the distance.
Image using Google Earth showing an aerial view of the cemetery.
And I can also share this wonderful photo of her grave stone, provided by a descendant of Rebecca‘s daughter Elizabeth (Blacker) Pearce.2
So ever onward. And here’s hoping for some “good stuff” in the near future!
Left to right: Nora, Nina Jean, Katherine, David, Mary and Jack. Photo taken in Oakland, California in about 1933.
Today is the 79th anniversary of the death of my maternal Irish grandmother, Nora Marie (Kieron) Blacker. She was only 36 years old when she died, leaving behind a husband and five small children – two boys and three girls ranging in age from 8 to 14 years old.
Yesterday, my mom – who was 8 years old when her mother died and is now 87 years old – called me and said she wanted to share some of her memories so that no one would forget her mother. So I drove over to her house today and we spent the afternoon together reminiscing.
In her words (with a few clarification edits by me) are some free-flowing memories of her mother —
When I think about Mama, I think of all the little memories she left behind.
Nora Marie (Kieron) Blacker: 1900-1937
She loved to sing while she cleaned the house. I remember watching her make the bed, stopping long enough to belt out a song like she was on stage – just like Judy Garland.
And of course all the chores had to be done on Saturday before we could head out the door, sometimes taking a long walk up to Dry Gulch – stopping to have lunch beneath a big shade tree. Or sometimes we took a walk to the NP Depot for penny candy – her favorite. Oh, and her other favorite was Mr. Goodbar. We kids felt like it was more for her treat than ours.
When it was cold and snowy outside, she would dress me up in my little red snow suit and galoshes – which took some time and effort. Then just before we’d head out the door, I would say, “I’ve gotta go to the bathroom.” Which of course made her so happy.
One time she lost her temper with someone – can’t remember who – and on went the little red snow suit and galoshes. Then out the door and around the block we went – until she calmed down.
Sometimes I’d climb into bed with her in the morning and she’d raise her arms above and behind her head to play a tune on the headboard with her knuckles.
She loved to dance.
She loved baseball on the radio and would sometimes jump up and down on the couch when her favorite team won a game. Once during a long illness in the hospital, the nurses took the radio out of her room so she wouldn’t become too excited.
She loved President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Daddy loved to tease her, saying “FDR is no good!”
Nora and her daughters, (left to right) Nina Jean, Mary and Katherine, on a camping trip near Lincoln, MT in 1934
I shared this picture [on the right] with my brother David one time. He said it made him feel sad that there were no pictures of him and his brother with their mother.
When we made the long car ride moving back to Montana from California – shortly after a long hospital stay for my mother when she was suffering from phlebitis – Daddy would stop every so often and he and the boys would help her out of the car and walk side-by-side with her, just a few steps at a time. By the time we got to Helena, she could walk pretty good. Daddy was so gentle with her.
I can still feel her touch and smell her fragrance as she fixed my hair into Shirley Temple curls.
My mom then called her only surviving sibling, Katherine – affectionately referred to by her nieces, including me, as “Auntie Katherine”. She was 12 at the time her mother died and is now 91 years old. We explained what we were up to and Auntie Katherine graciously shared some of her memories with us, as my mom and I chatted with her, handing the phone back and forth. (And oh yes, a few of my aunt’s memories triggered a few more of my mom’s memories, which are in shown in brackets below.)
Mama was always happy. A beautiful woman who loved life. She had beautiful auburn-colored hair. But I think she added the color herself, with a henna rinse. [We had a good laugh at that. And my mom added that she thought the added color came from the beauty shop. Another good laugh. My mom also remembered receiving a perm herself, not realizing at the time that it made her hair curly. And then wondered what happened to her “naturally curly hair” after her mother died. My mom: “I guess 4-year-olds aren’t the smartest kids on the block.” More laughing.]
Nora and daughter Mary in 1924
Mama called us ‘her kiddies’ and loved to skip up and down the street with us. She was like a kid herself. And she was a wonderful cook and especially liked to bake cakes and cookies.
On the night of the earthquake [October 18, 1935], Mama had a premonition and wouldn’t let any of us go to bed. She was ironing when the quake began and the walls began to cave in all around us. Our neighbor from across the street was with us and she headed out the door first, with the five of us kids right behind her. Mama was the last one out. [My mom chimed in again and said she remembered her mother going back into the house and the neighbor pulled her out just before a wall fell in.] It was a good thing we didn’t go to bed that night. The bed upstairs where all the girls slept fell in on top of the stove on the main floor. There wasn’t a thing left of our furniture.
The doctors told Mama she would never walk again after having phlebitis – but before she died, she was walking again – in high heels!
After Mama died, we five kids went looking for her in the funeral parlor. We finally found her covered body in the basement. We uncovered her to make sure it was our mother. At the funeral, she was in a bed rather than a casket. I’m sure Daddy would have had them do that.
Nora circa 1923
There is no denying that life was not easy for my grandfather and his five children after Nora died. And I believe the sadness of her death and the absence of her presence in our lives has even touched her grandchildren.
But thanks to two of her daughters, who have so generously – and joyfully – shared their precious memories, I feel certain that no one will forget Nora Marie (Kieron) Blacker.
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”, undated clipping from unidentified newspaper. Privately held by Nina Jean (Blacker) Dalin. 2016.
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.
The second article is titled “Dave Blacker Answers Call”. Transcription of the article is below the image.
“Dave Blacker Answers Call,” The Helena Daily Independent, 18 Apr 1911, page and column unknown. Copy provided by Historical Society of Montana Library, 14 Aug 1980. Privately held by Nina Jean (Blacker) Dalin. 2016.
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.
FOOTNOTES
After a careful review of all sources for his birthplace and birthdate, of which there are many, I believe it is more likely that “Mr. Blacker” was born in Pennsylvania. I previously wrote a blog about this issue which you will find here. At this time, I think the basis for the statement that he was a native of Missouri may be that he spent a number of years there prior to moving on to Colorado and then Montana. ↩
David and his wife Ada were married in Doniphan County, Kansas on February 22, 1871. See Doniphan County, Kansas, Marriage Records, Book A, p. 80, David Blacker-Ada Buchenau, 1871; Probate Judge’s Office, Troy. ↩
Numerous records, including the birth records of his first three children, and a newspaper article stating he was moving his family to Helena in 1882, indicate he did not move to Helena until some time in late 1882. ↩
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