THE HOUSE ON BLACKFORD HILL

This summer we featured John and Mary (Call) Blackford in the Riverview Cemetery walk that is held each year during the Founders’ Day celebration.  The Blackfords were among the very earliest settlers of Algona.   As a part of that research project I was lucky enough to make contact with several of the Blackford descendants. They were so generous with the information they shared and even allowed us to scan and preserve dozens of photos from their collection to be preserved as part of our local history – a history in which the Blackfords played such a big part.

John and Mary (Call) Blackford Family

Even before they arrived in Kossuth County, a claim had been procured for the Blackfords to the west along the river, just outside the “city limits” of Algona at the time.  Their cabin was perched on what became known as “Blackford Hill” and it would later be replaced by the house that they would call home for the rest of their lives.  I was thrilled to find several photos of the Blackford home in the collection that was shared with us and the family has kindly given me permission to share some of the photos on my blog.

WHO WERE THE BLACKFORDS?

John Ellison Blackford and Mary Minerva Call Blackford were both born in Ohio.  When just a boy, John’s family moved to Indiana where he grew up.  His schooling was limited due to the frontier conditions, but he did attend the district school for two terms.  There he developed a love of reading and learning.

Mary was the fifth of eight children born to Asa and Mary Call.  Her father died when she was five years old, leaving her mother to raise the children on her own.  Left destitute, the family struggled to survive.  Due to her hard work and faith, their mother managed to keep them together. 

John and Mary were married September 28, 1845 in St. Joseph County, Indiana.  Their first two sons were born there.  In 1854, Mary’s two brothers, Asa and Ambrose Call, established a town located on the east fork of the Des Moines River in north central Iowa.  Soon after, the Blackfords received a letter from Mary’s brothers urging them to come and help settle the new town. 

John came from a long line of pioneers from whom he inherited a spirit of adventure.  He and Mary decided to answer the call of the frontier.  They began to prepare for trip during the summer of 1855.  They must have spent hours deciding what to take with them.  They started with a yoke of oxen and a canvas-covered wagon.  It had a good box, but no spring seat, which must have been uncomfortable for Mary who was expecting a child at the time.  The wagon carried a heavy load which included a cast iron stove, a large clothes chest made of cherry wood, and a solid wood bedstead made of beech and hard maple, along with clothing, bedding, dishes and food for the trip.  There also had to be room for them and their two boys, Edwin, age 9, and Ernest, age 3. 

The family began their journey of over 500 miles from northern Indiana in early September with a can of pine tar for the wheels swinging beneath the wagon and a long, single-barreled shotgun their lone protection.  They camped along the way and ate meals cooked over an open fire.  When they neared the Mississippi River, John traded the oxen for a team of horses and ever afterward said that he had made a very poor trade.  He had hoped to make better progress with the horses, but they did no better than the sturdy oxen.

After crossing the Mississippi near Lyons, Iowa, they began to travel by compass to the West and North, as dependable trails were scarce.  In some places John would have to go ahead to select a route along a ridge, to avoid sloughs, and when he had found it, he would place his hat on the barrel of his gun and hold it up so that Mary could see his location over the tall prairie grass and drive the wagon to him.  Their objective point was Clear Lake where they would get directions as to the best route to take to the Call settlement. 

SETTLING IN ALGONA

Although the Call settlement was almost directly west of Clear Lake, they were advised to go around the south end of the lake and across the flat country to avoid wetlands.  Near the current location of the town of Livermore, they began to follow the Des Moines River to the north, crossing the river just south of what we know as Irvington.  They finally arrived in Algona on October 10, 1855.  Although a cabin had been built for them on their claim in anticipation of their arrival, another family was living there while they were working on their own cabin.  An addition was hastily added to Asa Call’s cabin and the family moved in where they remained through the winter.  Their daughter, Ella Algona, was born there on January 18, 1856, the first white child born in Algona.   

That spring after a particularly severe winter, the family moved to their own log cabin.  Ambrose Call set up a saw mill that summer and John was put in charge as sawyer.  As new settlers came, he was kept busy providing lumber for construction.  In 1857 during the Indian scare following the Spirit Lake Massacre, he worked round the clock at the mill sawing planks for use on the fort built in Algona for protection of the settlers.  During this time he sent his family to stay with Asa and Sarah while he stayed at the mill, catching what little sleep he could.

He used to tell the story of an incident which occurred during this time.  At a meeting of area citizens, they had agreed upon the firing of two shots in rapid succession after dark as an early warning signal of the approach of Indians.  Two men who were close neighbors of the family had been away and knew nothing of the signal that had been decided upon.  While crossing the river, their guns got wet and so when they got home they fired them to clean and reload them.  John, hearing the signal, grasped his gun and told Mary to run with the children into the darkness of the brush surrounding the cabin and to remain there until he returned.

The youngest son, Ernest, refused to leave the house until his shoes were put on and laced.  Fearing an outcry which would alert the Indians, Mary held her nerves in check while kneeling on the floor, in the light of the fireplace, laboriously picking out the knots in the hard leather shoestrings and then putting on and lacing the little shoes.  Once that was done, she hurried out into the shelter of the brush until John arrived home and called to them to come out, that all was safe.

A BIGGER HOUSE

Their family continued to grow.  James Clarus was born in 1858, Mary Kate in 1862 and baby George in 1869.  To accommodate their growing family, a larger two-story home was built on the site where the log cabin had stood. 

Blackford Hill

The house was a large dwelling that stood majestically on Blackford Hill along with a barn, stable, and windmill.  Many large trees provided shade during the hot Iowa summers.  I was unable to determine the date the house was originally built, but we know that none of the pioneers remained in their log cabins for long, so I would estimate the house was constructed sometime between 1857 and 1860.

The center main section faced south with a wing on each side, all two stories in height.  A one-story addition was attached to the west wing of the structure.   We do not know if the house started smaller with additions added at later dates or if it always had the same floor plan, but the house shown in the pictures would have accommodated not only a large family, but many social gatherings as well. 

On the south side of the house were several porches separated by a sunroom with large pane glass windows.  During the long cold winters, it is likely that the sunroom provided much light and perhaps some warmth to the dreary days.  It appears that Mary was quite the gardener.  There is a picture of her standing in front of the house during the summer.  Much of the residence is covered with an ivy or a vine of some sort that grew clear up to the peak of the roof and many potted plants line the edge of the porches, soaking up the sunshine. 

The home was located on the north side of McGregor Street somewhat west of the drive now leading to Blackford Park which is on the south side of the street.  There was no entrance to the homestead from the south—in fact their drive began where West Nebraska Street ends and wandered back to their building site.  As a visitor, you would approach the house from the east, and after tying up your horse to the hitching post, climb up the steps placed in the side of the hill and then walk toward the house.  When greeted by John or Mary after a knock at their door, you would likely have been welcomed with the warm hospitality for which they were known. 

The sitting room is featured in one photo with John and Mary seated with a guest between them and George at the piano.  The room is tastefully decorated for the time with floral wallpaper, luxurious lace curtains and art work hung from the picture rail.  Mary has a large book on her lap which may be a photo album or perhaps a Bible.  From the wistful expressions on the women’s faces, I imagine George is playing a hymn or other ballad that brings them comfort or reminds them of days gone by.

Aunt Mary, as she was known to the community, was an excellent cook and housekeeper, so it is likely that she was always prepared for guests.  One can almost smell the aroma of fresh baked bread or cake coming from the kitchen.  Mary had a large garden and a flock of chickens as did most homemakers at the time and her jellies, preserves and pickles won many awards at the local fair.  Besides being a wonderful mother to her children, she helped to raise Asa’s youngest children after his wife died.  She also assisted Ambrose’s wife, Nancy, to learn the ways of homemaking after her marriage, since Nancy’s mother had died young and was not there to guide her.  Since Ambrose and Nancy’s home was nearby, whenever they needed help, they would hang a red blanket out the window and Mary would soon be at their side.

John was elected the first justice of the peace and from that point on became very involved in politics.  He served two terms as representative from this district in the Iowa Legislature.  He often commented that “My district at this time comprised seven counties and in making my canvass I frequently traveled 40 miles to see a single voter.”  He served one term as County Treasurer.  He was one of the members of the Iowa delegation to the national Republican convention that nominated Lincoln for president the first time, although he was not able to attend in person.  John was a charter member of the Grange and served as Worthy Master of the Iowa State Grange for about 10 years.  He also ran a store in Algona called “The Grange.”  It is easy to imagine that these positions did require the couple to entertain constituents or groups in their home often. 

The location of the home was a wonderland for their children.  They spent many hours running through the woods, sledding down the snow covered hills, fishing in the nearby river and playing with the other children in town.  In later years the Blackford children often spoke of the wonderful memories they had growing up in that house. 

The Blackford family relaxing

Both John and Mary were able to remain in their home until their deaths, despite failing health.  Mary died on March 30, 1905 at the age of 77 as the result of a stroke.  John passed from this life on August 20, 1911.

FAMILY LEAVES THE COMMUNITY

After the death of their father, the Blackford children who had remained in Algona gradually left the area.  Mary Kate had died of cancer in 1910 and one by one, the others moved to other locations.  In August of 1915 the Presbyterian Church held a special gathering bidding George, Ernest and Ella goodbye.  An article in the August 11, 1915, edition of the Upper Des Moines newspaper describes the message given by Ben Reed at the event. “He spoke of the social and political leadership of the father of the family in the early days and the sterling character of the mother, who sympathized with all pioneer enterprises, and expressed his regret that the Blackford family was at last to leave the community with which in had been uninterruptedly connected since 1855.”

The property on which the family home was located was sold to George Platt who resided there for a few years before selling it to Dr. J.O.F. Price, a local veterinarian, in 1920.  Dr. Price eventually razed the Blackford house and built a new home for his family.  Thus, the Blackford era in Algona came to an end – well, except for Blackford Park which still lives on, but that is a topic for another day. 

I want to thank Blackford family members, Donna and Larry and Dennis and Janice, for their desire to see the Blackford name live on in Algona and their generosity in sharing photographs and documents of great historical value to our community.  Rest assured, they will be lovingly cared for.

Until next time,

Kossuth County History Buff

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