The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-12-05
TO THE MEMORY OF
HON. JOHN S. BLACKWELL
Resolutions Of The Lafayette County Bar Association
on The Life and Character of One of Our Pioneer
Lawyers.

llIe WOIk Tue pTdCtlce Ol ~ INV.
Our brother, Mr. Blackwell.
read and studied law in the office
and under the tutorship, OF Hon
Thomas H. Williams, Attorney
General of California, was admit
ted to the bar and practiced his
chosen profession for several year.
in California.
In 1865, upon the dark trail Of
the Civil War, he came to Missouri
visiting relatives IN Lafayette
county, and, seeing restitution
bleak and unbending from the
ravages of wal among loved ones
who had placed their all upon the
altar of fidelity and integrity to a
beloved cause aud lost, then rob
bed by the bullet Of the midnight
assassin, constitution manned and
weakened and privileges impeach-
ed and mangled, his self-reliant
steel, energy, intrepid manhood
and southern chivalry could but
respond to the silent penetrating
call for assistance and protection,
aud he at once opened an office
and practiced his profession at
Wellington in this county, until
the spring of 1877, when he came
with his family to Lexington,
where he resided and practiced his
profession continuously until the
messenger of death fitting across
the horizon, dulled the steady fires
that had buried so brightly and en-
veloped his intellect in approach
ing mystery Withholding him from
that forum he so much loved and
had so long adorned as an advo.
cate.
At Lexington he rose rapidly II
, his profession, securing a lucrative
practice, and, in 1878, was elected
Prosecuting Attorney for Lafayette
, County, at the close of which tern
6 he was again reelected, serving
. his constituents for eight years.
The universal esteem of his fel
! low-citizens speak louder thai
pen can portray Of the faithful
. conscientious and efficient man
ner in which he discharged hi
trust.
d He served his people during
period when their welfare demand
ed the ablest efforts of the indie
IL fatigable and uhtlring lawyer an
advocate and his metal rang on
n true and clear in response to tn
10 call, yielding to his constituent
" fruits that we're characteristic II
a. suits of the able lawyer and di'
tinguished advocate that he was.
o. He became a member of til
o. Masonic Lodge in California at tt
so age of twenty-one years and col
l. tinued an active, Jealous, and hoI
40 ored member of the order unit
10 his death, filing for years tt
30 positions of Worshipful Master
Id Lexington Lodge No. l49, of whic
a. until recently he continued to !
81 Treasurer High Priest of Lexin
N ington Chapter R. A.. NJ, al
Cd Eminent Commander of DeMoli
-. Commandry X, I.
ed He was until the time of b
re- death a leading member of the |
he dependent Order of Odd Fello'
and for years filled the position
IL. Noble Grand of Wellington Lod
EAR No. 81, l. 0. 0. r.
Ill He was politically an ardent al
aggressive democrat and for mo
,th than sixteen years was a memb
led of the Democratic Central Col
ers mlttee Of Lafayette County, fro
,he Clay and Lexington Township
tu- during the greater part of WIN
nd time he served as chairman of t
al committee.
ian In 1892 he was chosen as a d
.os- egate from his congressional d
asst trict to the National Democra
the Convention held at Chicago,
,ws ways active, earnest and inhu'
- r