The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-11
DEATH OF CAPT.
G. M. BLACKBOARD.
After a Brief Illness at His Home in lynch
burg Sketch Of This WelFKnown
VIRGINIA Lawyer.
--TT


Especial to The Times .Dispatch.)
LYNCHBURG, VA. March 1o.--Cap-
tain Charles Minor Blackford died At ten
minutes past 2 o'clock this afternoon,
Captain Charles Minor Blackford died
at his home, corner OF Pearl and Harri-
son Streets. Captain Blacktord was taken
|tll on Tuesday Of last week, and at tho
time II was thought that he was suffer
Ing from n severe cold. On Monday no
was not feeling we'll, and spoke to several
OF his friends of his ndisposition. No
ono then dreamed that the end would
como so soon.t On Tuesday he was not
confined to his bed, but on the follow
Ing day the symptoms Of his malady be-
came moro serious. and on Friday even
ing 1t was known that he was suffer-
ing from dangerous form Of penumonia.A
The action OF the heart was the most dia-3
couraging feature Of his sicknes $50, and
on Saturday evening the attending physii--
clan pronounced the patients condi ton
as exceedingly critical. Telegrams were
atgonce sent TO near relatives OF the fami-s arl
L ". On Sunday the report spread through
the city that the Captain had dsii rallied
Slightly, and the hope was entertained
that he would be restored to health and
strength. 5S$ ,.8 @ u II n s3s$ s3$
l3ssDThe Improvement, however, l, pr owed s to
|Ebe only temporary, and the disease pro--jj
gressed rapidly to its fatal termination
On yesterday, the entire city seemed led o, to
feel deep sympathy for tho suffer erer.
and on every hand anxious Inquiries were
made as to his condition. Men. women
and children, wllite and colored. eylnced
the deepest concern, and when itsEwas
known that all hope had been abandoned, /,
the profoundest sorrow was expressed
yrhe closing hours or Captain Blackford's
life were marked by a peaceful resi- igna--88
ton to the divine will \; and in the sad
ness OF the end he was sustained by the
consciousness of Gods love and a. coll-.
Ffidert trust In His mercy. w hen the
news OF Captain Blackford's Is death spread
Through the city It was riversally re-
ceived with expressions i5of grief and res
gret. The entireScit united In lamenttng
the loss Of one whom nj I re egarded as
an honored citizen and n noble man. II
S} II Ills FAMILY. i.. a3
Captain Blackford was born in Fred 4
ericksburg, Va, on October i I, 1913. and
was tile son 8ot William NJ. Blackford. who
later removed to 8Lynchburg. His mother
was Mary Berkeley Minor daughter Of
General John Minor, OF Fredericksburg,
who married Lucy Landon Carter On
February ] O.: 1856. he was married in Al-
ben,arle county to Miss Susan Leigh Col
ston. a daughter Of Thomas Marshall COL
ston. OF FalqulcrS county, and Eliza JAG
quelin Fisher. OF Richmond. Besides his
wife. Captain Blackford Is survived by
two sons, Or. Charles NJ. Ilackford; Jr.,,
and Mr.. r, Colston Bluohford, OF Lynch
burg. Ills only daughter. Mrs. Mamie
5Colston Withers. vito Of Mr.. Samuel r.
Withers, died on February 6, 1884. and
she sleeps lii the beautiful family lot at
Spring Hill Cemetery, In which the Cap
tains remains Will be laid to; rest. The.
Captain \ Is survived by four brothers,
William Blackford, OF Norfolk; Launcelot
M. Blackford, president OF the I5plsco-S
pal High School at Alexandria: Eugene
sBlackford. o OF Maryland, and B. Lewis
Blackboard, OF washington, and one Sis
ter Mrs, Mary Cook. of Prince William
county. IIe was a first cousin OF DIR. Ben
Blnckford, superin tendent of the Western
State Hospital at Staunton, and Of Mr.,
William II. (. Blackford, president OF tho
Maryland Life insurance Company Of
Baltimore. Sse sl2 ~
"a Captain Blackfords career was one Of
notable achievement For many years
his name has been regarded throughout
Virginia and In many othor States as
- Il
lie has heen prominently Identified with
a number OF Important enterprises and
noteworthy undertakings. he was best
known as an attorney. and In this Woca-a
tion he won n distinguished success T
was at the ago of fifteen years that Cap
tain Blackford came to Lynchburg to res
side. and hero he received a. part OF his
education. $l lie attended the law school
of the University Of Virginia. he train
ling school of many eminent jursts. and
was graduated from that institute In 1855.
sEmbarking at once into the practice of
his profession in Lynchburg, he was
rapidly forging to tile front and was
securing a large and profitable business
when tho clash of arms sounded through
the land Recognizing his duty to, Viz!
'ginin8and tho South khe mt once shoulders.
ed arms and marched to the front, where
with his customary carnestness and zeal
he sought to give his country a faithful
service. At tho outset of hostllties he
becnma tho first lieutant Of Company
B of the Second Virginia Cavalry, and IN
tina capacity he sonved gallantly until Au-
gust, 1861, when as u reward for his con-
tspIcuous services no was elected to tho
position Of captain. an Office he filled
with marked ability and conscientious de-
votion until January, 1868, when he was
appointed Judge advocate of tho First
Corps OF the Army of Northern Virginia
commanded by General I.ongstreet, and
In this position. combining the functions
OF both prosecutor and Judge IN the court
gnahtials Of the army, he served
with notable tact and efficiency until the
close Of the war, During his career IN
The army Captain Blackford participated
in$lhe first battle at Manassas, part OF
Jackson's Valley mpagn, Slaughter
Mountain, tho Wilderness, spptsyivAnla
ICourthouse. Gettysburg, and suffolk. He
was paroled at characteristic IN April,
1865. and then resumed tho practice Of
law In his former home, Iynchburg.
X PRACTICE or Law.
In the year 1860 Captain, Blackford en-
tered into partnership With the late Ma
War Thomas J.s KirS pat riclaands In a short