Wife: Emma Ellen (Puddy) Blackburn

Married: 12/18/1880, Hamilton County, TX

OBITUARY: PRINTED IN THE HAMILTON HERALD-RECORD, JANUARY 11, 1929:

W. D. BLACKBURN - DIED DECEMBER 31

William Dulaney Blackburn died in this city on Monday, December 31, 1928, at the age of seventy-three years. Dissolution came after a long season of ill health caused by kidney and heart troubles.

The body was conveyed to the Blackburn home in Vista community to await the funeral hour, Tuesday afternoon, January 1, 1929, when he was laid to rest in the Murphree cemetery near Evant. His grave was made beside that of the four children who had preceded him to the Glory Land. Comforting services were held beside the grave, conducted by Rev. J. T. Gardner, pastor of the Methodist church in Evant. Many friends gathered about the grave to pay a last tribute of love and respect to this good man. The lovely offerings were eloquent proof of their affection and esteem for him.

He walked amongst us in uprightness and lived a life that won him many friends and universal respect and there are many who will read with sorrowful interest the following brief biographical sketch of this man who has gone to his reward in the eternal home.

W. D. Blackburn was born in the state of Tennessee. He came to Texas with his parents when he was a young man. They settled first for a few years in Bell County, then came to Hamilton county where he was married to Miss Emma Puddy in 1882. [note: marriage was Dec. 18, 1880] They settled in the southern part of the county on a quiet, beautiful farm in the Vista community, where they lived happily together for forty-seven years. Their union was blessed with twelve children, eight of whom with their lonely, sorrowing mother survive. Those left behind to await the reunion above are: Mrs. W. B. Beach, Hamilton; Mrs. W. T. Walker, Sherman; Mrs. W. M. Glover and Mrs. T. M. Braden, Spearman, Texas; James Blackburn, Brownwood; Chester, Jack and Jauline, of Hamilton. There is also a sister, Mrs. M. E. Napier, Menard, Texas, and six grandchildren, among whom are two dear little ones who are orphaned, Norman and Lois Blackburn, of Riverside, California, who live with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. N. E. Curry.

Mr. Blackburn was one among the many good men that Hamilton County has been blessed to claim as citizens, and now is among the goodly numbered that she has had to give up in death within the past few years. He professed religion some sixteen years ago, but had not united with any church organization until three years ago when he became a member of the Methodist congregation at Vista. He had been a patient sufferer of the dread disease that slowly devoured his temporal body for some twelve months. All that loving hands could do and all that medical skill could offer was employed in an effort to restore him to health, but scarcely any relief came until death claimed his body and his soul changed worlds.

He has traveled on to another shore but his memory will guide and bless his family and friends until at last they, too, shall lay down their lives to answer the summons home.

Many offer tenderest sympathy to the bereaved ones.

Shared by Leannell Ingraham