The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-05-28
+. B. BLACKSTONE DEAD.
The Branford Philanthropist Expires

The Branford Philanthropist Expires
Suddenly in Chicago-A Native OF
Branford.
Timothy B. Blackstone, formerly OF
the Chicago and Alton Railroad COM
pany, and one of the oldest railroad ex-
eeutive officers in the country, died sud
denly at his residence in Chicago Sat
urday. Mr.. Blackstone was we'll known
in Connecticut, and was the donor of
Branfords magnificent public library,
which was built and is maintained by
funds given by Mr.. Blackstone.
Timothy B. Blackstone was born in
Branford, March %, 1929 in the little
house now occupied by the children of
his brother John, in Blackstonevile,
which was settled by the Blackstone
family In 1713. and where five genera :
lions of Blackstones have lived and
died. He was the youngest son Of
Captain James Blackstone, a farmer; a
man of sterling qualities and great force
of character, He spent his younger
days in the old town, was educated first
in the district school, during which time
tered the old academy, and taught a
short time in the district school at
Plantsville, in the western part of the
town. His health falling. he left school
to engage in outdoor work, and accept
ed a position as rodnan with the engin-
eering corps then engaged in surveying
and locating the New York and New
Haven railroad in 1S4S, when a young
man of eighteen.
In 1S49 he became assistant engineer
of the Stockbridge and Pittsfield rail
road, now a part Of the Housatonic or
Berkshire division, Rapidly he arose,
taking one important position after
another. In 1851 he went to La Sale
and located and constructed railroad
between Bloomingdale and Dixon. In
1894 he was elected mayor of La Sale
the only civil office he ever would take.
In 1856 he became chief engineer of the
Joliet and Chicago Railroad company,
in which road he became financially in
terested and afterwards became it's
president in 1861 This road was in
1854 merged into the Chicago and Alton.
Mr., Blackstone became a director in the
new company, and three months later
was elected it's president, which position
he held until April l, 1899, when he re-
tired from all active life after manag-
ing with consummate skill the affairs
of the most successful of all the great
railroads of the west for a period of
thirty-tfve years.
In 1868 Mr., Blackstone married Miss
Isabella Norton Of Norwich, who sur
wives him, The probability is that the
interment will be in Norwich, where
We're buried the twin boys of the de-
ceased. The only surviving member of
the Blackstone family now living in
are two nleces and one
nephew; also distant relatives of the
same name.
1t was in the year 1896 that Timothy
E. Blackstone gave to Branford the
marble palace that bears his name built
at a cost of S400, 600 and endowed with
100000 more, also 5000 volumes and
In 1895 he sent on to the
president of the board of trustees of
The library an additional endowment of
100000. The library was a free gift to
he town, built in memory of his father |
The last time Mr.. Blackstone was in |
he old town which he loved, some two |
FEARS ago, he was hale and hearty and
gave promise of living many years.
In lSss than one year three members