Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-12-24
j. +. BLACKBURN.

j. +. BLACKBURN.
The subject of this sketch was Dor,
IN Clinton, Iowa, Nov. &c, 1868, wher
he resided with his parents until the,
moved to Des Moines in the fall of 1875
where he first entered the public school a
the age OF seven. and, not feeling lik,
being wholly dependent upon his father
ne sought position as carrier for tn,
evening News, which position he filled ii
a very creditable way. as he carried hi!
route for more than one year without 8
complaint, after which he resigned his
position as carriea and accepted posi-
ton as clerk at the cigar stand in the
Aborn House, then the leading hotel in
the city, where he remained for more than
year and attended school al the same
time. At the close of school, Frank" as
ne is commonly called. left the ciga1 stand
and worked for the Phoenix Insurance
company OF Brooklyn, N. Y, giving
thorough satisfaction to his EMPLOYERS.
lie left the Insurance company, and &C.
copied place with W. F. Crawford, then
proprietor of tie Aborn House Pharmacy.
There he stayed for one year, when he
resigned to go to Wilberforcs University
at Wilberforce, Ohio, where he remained
hve years. and then returned to Des
Moines, to be immediately re. employed BY
vWY
mr.. W. +. Crawford in the Slavery House
PHARMACY, where he at once took up the
study OF pharmacy, He studied hard, As
he knew that the registered pharmacist
was necessity and the profession high
one, and that another round in the ladder
will have been climbed to obi terate tho
caste of prejudice against the race.
lie pushed onward and completed his
work, passed very credible state exami-
nation and was admitted as Registered
Pharmacist.
he IS the second colored man to be ad.
mltted in the state of Iowa. The first and
only one in this city, mp to date.
Prank" was married December 80.
1891. to Miss Lucy McClinton of Spring.
field. Ohio. They first met at Wilbeforce
and formed an attachment for each other
during their school days, which continued
10 grow and eliminated in their marriage
on the above date at the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. ). L. Blagburn's.. Mr.. J. T. Blag-
burn, the father of Frank was one of
the most popular and widely known hotel
men IN the west. He has met with mis-
fortune in being stricken blind which &C.
CURED four years ago Yet with his
blindness he is one of the busiest mon in
the city.
We desire to call especial attention to
Mr.. W. F. Crawford, now deceased. for
the interest be took in Mr.. BIagburn, our
young friend. Mr.. Crawford was one of
the foremost druggists of the state, and
was very careful to assist MIR, BIagburn
10 the years he was with him. Four years
ago Ms. Crawford sold out his place of
business. Mr.. Blagburn continued with
tho new firm for one year and a half. He
then left them to 90 in business for him
self. He is now proprietor of the Aborn
House cigar and news stand. he also
occupies the position Of collector and dis
tributor for Charles Scribner's Sons, book
publishers. of New York. He has just
completed his first year with them and
signed contract for another year.
He is an officer in North Star Lodge
No.. 2, of Masons. occupying the position
OF j. W., member of St. Pauls A. NJ. E..
church, organizer and president of the
Paul Laurance Dunbar Literary society,
which promises to be of the leading liter
airy societies of the state. Frank is one
of the most enterprising young man of
his race in this city. and We predic. a
bright future for him.