BLACKBURN (VETERAN CSA), JAMES ALEXANDER CAMERON - Benton County, Arkansas | JAMES ALEXANDER CAMERON BLACKBURN (VETERAN CSA) - Arkansas Gravestone Photos

James Alexander Cameron BLACKBURN (VETERAN CSA)

War Eagle (War Eagle) Cemetery
Benton County,
Arkansas

James
PRIVATE
4 Arkansas Cavalry
Civil War Confederate
August 22, 1841 - April 5, 1919*

Son of Sylvanus W & Catherine Brewer Blackburn
Born War Eagle AR

*Obituary
Rogers Democrat
Thursday, April 10, 1919

BLACKBURN, James Alexander Cameron - J.A.C. Blackburn died at the family home on North 4th street at 12:25 Sunday morning, the result of old age and a general break down, at the age of 77 years and 8 months. Mr. Blackburn was born and raised at War Eagle, east of Rogers, and came to this city about 1891. Funeral services were conducted at the family home Tuesday morning, conducted by the Masonic Lodge, of which he had been a member ever since the Civil war. Mr. Blackburn was one of the best known men in Northwest Arkansas and was beloved for his kind and gentle manner and honest business methods. He leaves his wife and two daughters, Mrs. E.J. Kruse and Mrs. Arthur Miller, besides other relatives and friends to mourn his death. Immediately after the funeral service the body was taken to War Eagle where interment was made.

*Obituary
Benton County Record
Friday, April 11, 1919

J.A.C. Blackburn, one of Benton county's most distinguished citizens, died at his home in Rogers Sunday at the age of 77 years. Mr. Blackburn was one of Benton county's oldest sons having been born at War Eagle in 1841. The body was taken to his birthplace Tuesday for burial. Mr. Blackburn's career was a prominent one. As a miller he built and operated the flour mills at War Eagle and Van Winkle's Ferry. As a land owner he owned at one time over a thousand acres of pine land in Madison county; at politics he represented the county as state senator for two years; and as a real estate man he sold many farms. His death, due to old age and a general breakdown, was a shock to hundreds of people who loved and respected him.

*Obituary
Gentry Journal-Advance
Friday, April 11, 1919

J.A.C. Blackburn of Rogers, one of the most prominent citizens of Benton County, died at his home Sunday. Mr. Blackburn was a member of the State Senate about 20 years ago when the district included this as well as Carroll, Madison and Washington counties.

*Obituary
Rogers Democrat
Thursday, April 17, 1919

Back to the scenes of his childhood; back to the scenes of his early manhood and early successes, and back to the graves of his forbears, the body of J.A.C. Blackburn of Rogers was carried Tuesday to War Eagle Mills. The funeral cortege, simple, yet elegant beyond the most fanciful of the day dreams of his boyhood of what a funeral might be, passed over roads and along the wooded trails, every foot of which he knew; passed by the place and house of his birth, and then to the cemetery where relatives for several generations past have been laid to rest. There all that was mortal of one of the most charitable, distinguished and loved citizens Northwest Arkansas has ever produced was laid away. His grave was garlanded with flowers but today they have faded and withered. The little fringe of grass surrounding has sprung up again despite the trampling underfoot by the many who gathered to pay their last respects to him in the flesh, but it also will wither. The stately trees that waved and beckoned at the assemblage will in the years to come die and decay but the memory of Jim Blackburn will live, not forever, but as long as flows War Eagle river, along the north of the little cemetery, in which as a youth he was wont to disport himself with his playmates. Like sleep comes to a child rocked in his mother's arms came death to the man whose lifetime was devoted to expending seemingly endless energy. Of a rather nervous temperament, it seems strange that the end should have been marked by quiet resignation, but it was not until after a tenacious fight for life had proven futile. This he realized, for conscious to the last, he remarked that "my time is short" and was gone. Surrounded by relatives and friends, who for weeks and months had ministered to his every want, he voiced no vain regrets. His house had been put in order and he was not afraid to join those who have gone before and meet his Maker. Death came at 12:25 Sunday morning, April 6, 1919. He was almost 78 years of age. Funeral services, held at his late residence on North Fourth street Tuesday morning, April 8, were most impressive. In attendance were men, women and children from all stations in life, for they were all his friends. All business houses in Rogers, by the proclamation of Mayor H.U. Funk, were asked to close their doors during the funeral hour, and did. He would not have wished for such honor for he asked that his departure cause not even a ripple on the walks of life. A solo, sung by Mrs. Lee Harris, was, in accordance with his request, the only musical feature. Following was the short though brilliant address of W.F.D. Batjer, whose eulogy over the departed omitted nothing. He spoke of the love of Mr. Blackburn for his fellow man, his disapproval of sham and cunning business methods and his approval and moral and financial support for every good undertaking, whether it benefit some individual, his home city, the state or society in general. The services were closed by the Masonic lodge, of which he had been a member since the Civil war. Knights Templar, who had watched at his bier since death, acted as a guard of honor at the funeral and escorted the body to War Eagle where a large concourse had gathered to pay homage. The Masonic lodge of War Eagle, of which he was once a member, attended in a body but the services were conducted by the Knights Templar. By the side of his first wife, the former Ellen Van Winkle, in accordance with a mutual decision with his widow reached many years ago, he was laid to rest. Mrs. Blackburn, at her demise, is to be placed by the side of her first husband, Mack Harris, at Springdale. James Alexander Cameron Blackburn was born at War Eagle Mills August 22, 1841 in the house which still stands on the west side of the river at the bridge approach. He was the sixth child in a family of nine and was the last surviving member. Many of them have been laid to rest in the cemetery at War Eagle where rest his father and mother and both his grandparents in graves adjoining his. With his father, he engaged in the operation of a grist 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 1867, 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 operation. He also erected the large two story store, which he conducted, and many residences in War Eagle, the majority of which are still standing. He was married to Ellen Van Winkle on January 29, 1868 and to this union four children were born, Mrs. Ed J. Kruse and Mrs. C.A. Miller, both of Rogers, surviving. Fortune smiled in a financial way also, for with his farming and various other milling operations he acquired considerable wealth. In 1884 he acquired the Van Winkle milling interests at Van Winkle Mills, including some 17,000 acres of pine timber land, and moved to the old Van Winkle 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 meantime built a large yard on the present site of the union station. By the operation of the larger companies in the south, Mr. Blackburn found he could supply his yards here more cheaply than by operating the Van Winkle plant, and closed it down. It was really a large mill in its time, having a capacity of 20,000 feet daily. Operation was never resumed but the mill was not dismantled until a year or so ago. Coming to Rogers in 1890 with Mrs. Blackburn, to whom he was married April 1, 1886, his first wife having passed away November 10, 1884, he at once took an active interest in the upbuilding and advancement of the city and county. In addition to his lumber business he was an active factor in the old tannery, the water works, flour mills, the fair associations and every enterprise that tended toward the public good. In 1895 he was elected to the state senate and the title of senator was his to his death. An impulsive man, yet one to whom every sacred thing was tender, he made many friends and he was perhaps the most widely known man in this section of the state. Rogers will miss her J.A.C. Blackburn, or Uncle Jim, as he became known, for never did he turn a worthy cause down, but often embarrassed himself financially to aid it. Following the closing down of the Van Winkle Mills the property became a white elephant on 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 given up but not he, for with energy born of intuition he emerged through loop holes trusting that his hardwood interests would yet be valued at true worth. When the property was finally sold he showed his faith in Rogers by buying every hotel in the city but one and trying to get that. He later disposed of them and bought residence property, owned a number here and elsewhere at the time of his death. Though not a member of a church there is probably no man in Benton county who has done more to aid religion in a financial way than he. In the hey-day of his prosperity he gave one-third of the bill to any church for which he supplied the lumber. The deduction was the same when he sold lumber for a little country school house. When fortune was still smiling on him he paid for the casket at each funeral he attended and they were many. He has bought shoes and clothing for many a poor child whom he never saw before until he met them on the street and saw they were in need. Many a child has been made happy by sacks of candy or popcorn or other little gifts. While operating the Van Winkle mills property he realized the need of better educational advantages there and erected a school house, hired and boarded the teacher and insisted that his workmen's children attend. Every worthy cause that was brought to his attention he aided financially and many there are who can tell of individual cases that organized charity know nothing of. His one eccentricity, if that it might be called, was his aversion to neckties. He had not worn one for years and his wishes were obeyed when his body was prepared for burial. The white stiff bosom shirts which he has favored since the Civil war, even while working in his various mills and other enterprises, were his one hobby and the only one he gratified. In addition to his widow and two daughters, one granddaughter and an only great-grandson, he leaves to mourn his loss a great many other relatives, and taken in all, probably the family and its connections is the most influential in this section of the state. Many are men of wealth and fame but the fame and good name of J.A.C. Blackburn is not dimmed by their lustre. His time was well spent, his race was well run, he fought a good fight, and he came to the end of a life, the aim of which was perfection as he saw and interpreted it and only He above can say that the goal was missed.

Ellen
April 27, 1849 - November 10, 1884
Daughter of Peter Van Winkle
Born AR

Married January 30, 1868 Benton Co AR

Contributed on 8/22/09 by wfields55
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Record #: 226333

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Submitted: 8/22/09 • Approved: 6/17/18 • Last Updated: 6/20/18 • R226333-G226333-S3

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