Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-01-11
WHOLE NO. 9O4.
or JuDGE BLACKBOARD.

We announced yesterday the death ei
Iudee Isaac BlackfoTd. perhaps the most
distinguished J urist who has ever occupied
the bench in this State. The State Senti-
mel Of yesterday gives short biogrsphical
.ket.h of him, from which We extract the
following: mrs m
Judge Blackford was about seyenty-nve
years of age. He was bern near Ne"
Brunswick, Now Jersey. He was an ohiy
child. His father died whea no was quite
Young, and he was left TO the sole guidance
Of his mother, a woman Of fervent piety
Who superiptended his education, and to
whom he was devotedly attached. He was
a graduate of Princeton College. New Jer
sey, an institution then aud now OF high
repute.,
Judge Blsckford removed to Indiana as
near as we can ascertain, in the. year ieo''
he pursued tie study Of Law at Lawrence
burg and at Brookville. where he removed
in 1912, and during thatyear he and Judge
John Test, a resident Of the latter place,
and who was few years his senior, went
10 vincennes TO procure license to prac-
tice. For short time, about this period.
be held the Office of Cashier of the old Ter
ritorial Bank of Indiana. located stVevay.
On The l4rh of September. 1914. he was
appointed by Gov. Gibson-ths last Terri
torial Governor--Judee Of the first Circuit
Court, which he held until the Oath of jan
uary, 1916. In that year. rpon the organ
issrion of the State Government, he was
elected Representative in the Legislature
from Kn. county. and upon the organiza'
tion of the frst House Of Representatives
he vas elected its Speaker. This was thr
only legislative Office he ever filed. On
the l0.h Of September. 1917, he was aP-
pointed one Of the Judges Of the Supreme
Court of Judicature, in the place of Judge
John johnson, deceased, having for his
associates James Scott. of Clark county,
and Jesse L. Holman, Esq. of Lawrence
burg. he continued in this position. un-
iptsrrup.edly. until the year 1852. a period
ofthirty Eve years, " hen he was succeeded
byJudee Perkins. Upon the establish
meut Of the Court Of Claims in 1855, with
reference to his high professional reputs-
siou and unimpesched Probity, Judge
Blsekford was voluntarily selected by Pre-
sident Pierce as one OF its Judges. 10 this
poeitieu he closed his long and useful ca
rser.
l~lsc5 be was the Democratic candidate
for Governor, but was beaten by bis oPpo
uent, James B. Ray. In le27-s he was a
candidate for United States Senator. and
was beaten only one vote by Governor Hen
drck.. He was also defeated as a cabdi-
date for Representative in the Legislature
from this county in 1854. We mention
these facts to show how lily he was fitted
for political contests by his reserve and
modesty, and how oft true worth ard use
fulpess is unsppreciated in the excitement
of heated political canvasses-
Judge Blackford married a Miss Melon.
aid. a New Jersey lady, about the year
1914. This relation proved unfortunate
and ushappy. In few years they sepa.
rated. The result of this union was son,
Of fine promise, but who died some twelve
years ago upon the threshold of manhood.
This event deeply affected him, and left
him without near relative.
Such. in brief, was the career Of one OF
the eminent men of his times. Educated
to habits OF strict economy and integrity
he never departed from them. They were
apart Of the man, and governed him through
life. He made it a principle to I'VE no man
pecunia.ily or otherwise. Absorbed in hi;
profession I, he mingled but little in society
He was reserved, and confded but little tc
any one. From this cause he was Otter
wrongly Judged and unjustly censured. ID
was pure man, free from social vices, anc
simple in his life and tastes.
In his Reports of the7cases determined by
the supnG 'f Indiana. he has lef
an end 1ument 10 his fame. They
are modsl terseness and accuracy il
all their details. His style was severely
cha.te. No redundancy OF expression, nc
verbiage, and every word nicely chosen t.
express the idea, with perfect punctustion
His decisions were written and rewritten
until they were pruned of all extrantou
matter. His Reports are authority every
where. They have not only an American
but a trans Atlantic fame. They have re
ceived the just need Of praise from IN
most eminent iurists at home and abroad
Judge BIsskford was just. sincere and con
sciens inus. His honesty OF purpose an
integrity Of action were irrerroachable. !
purity of life. in integrity, in indusIry-a'
subseryient to the accomplishment of usef'
ends-his example is eminently worthy
imitation and emulation by the young me
into whose hands the destiny of the coul
try 10 to be placed.
By his frugality, Judge BlaekfOrt ial
the foundation of the great wealth he al
auired. His estate is estimsted at quartz
NJ million of dollars. AS he often remarI
ed. he did not know how to spend none.
His salary has remained IN the State lre'
sury ss long as four years uncalled for an
near that time in the Federal Treasury. L
aid not reek accumulation by investing b
large income. For year. he has permitte
large sans to remain unpro iuetive. II
disposition Of his vast estate is unknow
Thus another Of Indiana's eminent sol
has been gathered 10 his fathers, ripe
years, with an honorable fame, and the !
cord Of useful life.
The remains Of Judge Blackford will
brought to this city for internent. Th
will rest within the borders Of the State
has done so much to honor.
Mrs. John Condit, Of this city, is t
half sister of Judge Blackford, and perha
his only heir.
II uNotwithstsnding the South has
most determined to stop all business re
tions With the 5srth, (snd thereby ~
the North,) there was at the Il. d. q
~sf Waduaadau- r.