Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-31
WILL OBSERVE
GOLDEN WEDDING
Mr.. AND MRS. JOHN w. BLACK.
FORD OF HILLsBoRo MAR.
RIED FIFTY YEARS.

Hillsboro, May 2S-(SpeciaD John
W. Blackford and wife Nancy Altland
Blackford will celebrate their golden
wedding anniversary Monday, May 80,
Memorial day.
pioneer settlers of Van Buren, county.
Mr.. Blackford is one of the best
known men in this section of the
state and has for years been promi-
nent and foremost in the life of his
community. The celebration of the
golden wedding anniversary is an
event of the first magnitude in the
family and the eleven children will be
gathered together beneath the par
entail roof tree for the> first time In
many years.
John w. Blackford was born in
York county, pennsylvania, March 4,
1887 of Scotch-Dutch parentage. He
was reared to boyhood In the locality
of his birth and secured the rudiments
OF a we'll founded education in the
common schools of the community
and at York County academy. Later
on for number of years he rendered
excellent service as q school teacher.
A$cASy AlI10Au W00 UOl Ill JuC 0NAAS
county Of Dutch parentage, Sept. 25,
1910. She was married with Mr. Black
ford May 30, 1860 The couple came
to Iowa four years later in 1864, and
went into the new western land as far
as the trains could carry them at that
early day. They stopped at Mount
Pleasant and then drove by team forty
miles to the southwest to a location
about seven miles north of Bonaparte.
One year later Mr.. Blackford pur-
chased farm in Harrisburg township
where he has lived and reared a large
family of children, eleven surviving to
join with the parents in the observ-
ance of their anniversary. Mr.. Black
ford was hard worker who combined
excellent Judgment with sound bust
ness methods and he prospered. He
has enjoyed the reputation Of owning
and operating one of the best fine
stock farms not in Van Buren, county
alone, but in all Iowa. Hereford cat
tie and Poland China swine we're his
specialties and few have equalled him
in the excellence of his product. He
was at the head Of the American
Poland China association for years
and as president he became known in
all parts of the land The influence
of his stock has been felt in many
states. He is still retained as treas
urer of the association
Mr.: Blackford was elected presi-
dent of the Hillsboro Savings bank In
1900, which position he still holds and
is now devoting his time to the con-
duct of this business. The weight or
his Judgment and counsel has also
been known quantity, in county and
state politics. He is a Republican OF
the old school, man who has adhered
to the tenets of the party and Repub-
lican principle from the first.
The children who will be present on
the day of the home coming and an
niversary celebration are as follows:
Winfield Scott Black of Bonaparte.
Mrs. Clara B. Early Of Hillsboro.
Mrs. Eff1e c. Smith of West Branch.
Ray l.. Blackford, Oskaloosa.
Mrs. Matte Logan of Hillsboro.
Mrs. Rose Dull Tully Montevista,
Colorado.
Aaron Vale Blackford Of Bonaparte.
George W. Blackford, st. Louis.
Will P. Blackford Of Oskaloosa.
Philip A. Blackford, of Hillsboro.
Mrs. June Boley of Hillsboro.
Among the grandchildren of the
aged couple are Misses Dell and Pearl
BIackfOrd of OttumWa.