Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-01-19
RESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT TO
DR.. BEN. BLACKBOARD.

The following resolutions were read
| by Mr.. r. S. Turk, member OF the
Western State Hospital board, before
the General Board OF Hospitals of the
State, which met at Petersburg On the
10th inst. aud adopted by that board:
Benjamin Blackford was born at Is
abella Furnace, in Page Co., Va, on
the Sth day Of Sept 1884, and departed
this life at his home in StauntOn, Va -,
on Dec. 18th, 1905, at O'Clock p. H.,
after an illness of about four days OF
pneumonia. His parents were DR..
Thomas L. Blackford, and Caroline
Blackboard. whose maiden name was
Steenbergen. His wife's maiden name
was Emily Nelson. and they were
married in Baltimore on the 10th day
of January, 1871, and by their marriage
loft six sons-Thomas A., Benjamin
Ogle, Robert Nelson, Charles Minor,
William Arthur and George Tayloe.
Lis funaral took place from Trinity
church i'll Staunton. on Dec 18th, and
that afternoon his remains were in
tered in the family lot in Spring H
cemetery at Lynchbuag, beside his
wife whs had died just two weeks be
fore. The only surviving member OF
his fathers family is Col. VIM. A.
Blackford, a prominent citizen Of
Baltim,r re.
When \ boy his father moved to
Lynchburg, whore surrounded BY
comforts, and amid the most refined
associations, he grew and acquired
those rudiments in the training of
character and mind 80 essential to ex.
allied manhood. Among his school tel.
lows were such men as John W. Dan.
lei, now United States Senator from
Virginia, his cousin, Launcelot M.
Blackford, now Principal OF the Epis
cOpal High School. Alexandria, another
cousin, the late Charles NJ. Blackford,
an eminent lawyer of Lynchburg, Ca
mlllus Christian, = prominent citizen
of LynchDurg, Sam uel Garland, 3 Con-
fedsrat General killed during the war,
the late Peter j. Otey, member of
Congress, and others, who like him
self, have hOnOTed their names and
their State. Later he attended the
University OF Virginia; and later grad
uated in medicine from the Jefferson
Medical College Of Philadelphia, then
tho most noted school Of its kind in
this country.
He began the practice of his profes
sioh in Lynch burg, and except for the
caused by the war when
he was in charge of Confederate hos.
pitfalls. be continued the practice there
until he was on the 18th Gay of April,
1889, chosen to be superintendent of
the Western State Hospital for the in.
sane At StauntOn. Upon this duty be
entered with all the vigor of a strong
body and mind, and INCREASINGLY from
the day OF his Inauguration in office
until the day his lab0rs ended by death,
he centsrod his every force in his work. |
Few occupying public trust ever
held it In more reverenes or executed
it with more fidelity. He felt its great |
response bility. He realized that those
under bis care were not ordinary pa
tients. He know that to be sick of |
body u a sore grievance, but to be sick |
both of body aud mind, 10 the limit in |
aff1ictlon, and knowing this, be ad.
to such with sympathy,
charity, patience. and the
best OF that skill with which nature |
and education had endowed him.
Those of Us who knew him best, and |
law him often, bear testimony that |
never did we hear harsh word fall |
from his lips. Amidst the cares of |
governing twelve hundred people, sane |
and insane, who were under his i'm |
mediate supervision, there was often |
much to try his patience; but he main
tained his poise, his dignity never de- |
parted, and at all times be commanded |
their respect, confidence and esteem,
10 much 80 that whom be himself was |
stricken, sorrow pervaded all parts OF |
the hospital, and when his summons |
came, and his death was told, many |
wept, and all capable Of understand
ing were deeply grieved. As an evi |
dsnce of how he was regarded a note |
Of sympathy from patient to the
family bore these words: Preach DIR. |
B lackfOrd's funeral from this text,
NJ ark the perfect man, and beh old the |
upright; for the snd of that man il
peace.
His types were always lofty, his
Ideals high; Christian gentleman in
the truest sense, at all times and under
Ill circumstances, mindful of his duty
40 citizen, as husband, as father, as
public functionary, enrolling any call
ing and elevatlng any work.
So grateful do We feel for our inter
course with him, that we, The Board
OF the Western State Hospital, do now
and here Resolve:
That in bis death we have suffered =
affection; We have lost a CO.
laborer in whom we had the utmost
= friend of whom We were
Justly proud; and we tender our sym
patty to the State in its loss of 80 val
ued public servant, and to bis family
in the Bereavement they have suffered,
in the death Of a father who 30 hOnored
the State and them, by his nobility of
character, and his faithful public
service.