The Springdale news., 1919-04-18


to rest in the cemetery at War Eagle
where rest his father and mother and
both his grandparents in graves adj
Joining his. With his father, he en-
gagged in the operation of grlst mill
east of War Eagle during his youth,
gaining the knowledge that later was
to become of inestimable value to him.
At the outbreak of the Civil war
he enlisted in the Confederate service
and served four years with distinction.
Then collecting his scattered business
resources, which required until 1851
he established himself in War Eagle
where he built and operated the water
power grist mill which still stands on
the east side of the river at the bridge
approach and which is still in opera
ton. He also erected the large two
story store, which he conducted. and
many residences in War Eagle, the
majority of which are still standing.
His marriage to Ellen Van Wrinkle
occurred on January %, 1868, and to
this union four children were born,
Mrs. Ed ]. kruse and Mrs. c. A. Mil
Ter, both of Rogers, surviving. For
tune smiled in "a financial way also,
for with his farming and various
other milling operations he acquired
considerable wealth. In 1884 he ac-
CURED the Van Wrinkle milling inter
ests at Van Wrinkle Mills, including
some 1900 acres of pine timber land,
and moved to the old Van Wrinkle
home. This investment almost proved
to be his financial Waterloo in later
years but he finally pulled through
and left his estate in order. He
lived at the mills until 1890. and then
moving to Rogers conducted a lumber
business here, having in the mean
time built large yard on the present
site of the union station.
i By the operation Of the larger lum
Der companies in the south Mr.. Black
i burn found he could supply his yard,
here cheaper than by operating tht
/ Van Wrinkle plant, and closed It down
1t was really a large mill in its time
having eapicity Of 10000 feet daily
Operations was never resumed, bu
the mill was not dismantled until {
year or so ago
Coming to Rogers in 1890 with Mrs
Blackburn to whom he was married
April /, 1856, his first wife havins
passed away November 10, 1881, he a
once took an active interest in the up
building and advancement Of the cit!
and county In addition to his lam
Der business, he was an active fac
ter in the old tannery, the waite
works, flour mills. the fair assoeia
tons and every enterprise that tendet
toward the public good In 1895 h
was elected to the state senate AM
the title of senator was his to hi
death. An impulsive man, yet on
to whom every sacred thing was ten
der, he made many friends and he wa
perhaps the most widely known MAJ
in this section of the state. His hom,
life was happy, and by his deeds ant
! actions, he endeavored to impart chez
and good viii into the homes of 9th
ers. He may have had enemies, bu
If any they were few, and certainly
not of his making. Discord was no
contemplated in his general schem,
of things as they should be and as h,
tried to make them.
Rogers will miss her j A. c. Black
burn, or Uncle jim, as he became
4 known, for never did he turn a worthy
cause down, but often embarrassed
himself financially to aid it, He va.
one of the first citizens of the town
IN all good things, yet withal, he was
as unassuming as a spring rose anr
as diffident as school boy when
undeserFed flattery was showered or
HIM
Following the closing down Of the
Van Wrinkle mills, the property be-
came white elephant Oh his hands
and not until he had sold it the third
time did anything but financial ruin
stare at him. He was becoming an
old man but his faith in Northwest
Arkansas was still supreme and he
held on. Other men would have Civ
en- up but not he, for with energy born
Of intuition he emerged through loop
holes trusting that his hard wood in
terests would yet be valued at true
worth. When the property was sold
he showed his faith in Rogers by buy
ing every hotel in the city but one and
trying to get that. He later dis