JOHN BLACKBURN
TEACHER TO OUR ANCESTORS
CLERK OF FORSYTH COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
FROM 1849-1876
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BIOGRAPHY OF JOHN BLACKBURN
Research by Sally Jones
John Blackburn was born September 9, 1804 in Rockingham County, NC. His parents were John Blackburn (1742-1845) and Zelpha
Elizabeth Harper (1785- ). In 1849, Forsyth County was created from Stokes County. Forsyth's first US Census taken in 1850 lists John
Blackburn as Head of Household with wife Nancy, and children James G., Edwin A., John F., Newton W., Lewis W. and Aephaus L.
Blackburn. His wife, Nancy Harper Blackburn, was born in 1807 to Edgar Harper (1780-1861) and Esther Baugh (1784-1862). She
died in1884.
John's occupation was Clerk of Superior Court for Forsyth County, a county elected position. At the time of his death on Sept 7, 1876,
Blackburn had served Forsyth County's Court System for 25 years. The fact that the community continued to elect him to this position was a
testament to his abilities and popularity. He lived out his life in the Lewisville Community of Forsyth County, and is buried in the Old
Harmony Grove Cemetery on Marty Lane in Winston-Salem.
Salem's newspaper, The People's Press, reported Blackburn's death as follows:
"Blackburn, John Esq., aged about 71, March 18, 1876, at the residence of his son, in Winston.
Mr. Blackburn served his county well, commencing life as a public school teacher, serving as
magistrate for many years, was elected to the House of Commons of this state, and afterward
was chosen by the people as their superior court clerk, which office he continued to hold for
upwards of twenty-five years, very acceptably to the public, until the infirmities of age caused him
to retire. He nevertheless was employed occasionally by the present clerk, who considered
his advice and assistance most indispensable." (3-23-1876)
In 1876, Blackburn died intestate. On September 3, 1877 the division of John Blackburn's estate of 298.3 acres was registered in Forsyth
County. His children mutually agreed on the division of his land and real estate
Deed Book 12, pages 458-461. The following children and heirs at law are listed below. [His widow, Nancy, was not mentioned?]
a. J. Granville Blackburn (married Mary E. Marshall October 1869)
Lot no. 1, 115 acres, known as HOME TRACT, composed of two tracts containing 220 acres ... allotted to J.
Granville Blackburn subject to the Dower therein of the widow of the said Intestate, etc.
(In 1886, DB 22/389 J.G. Blackburn and Wife, M.E. Blackburn, deeded land to the Trustees of
Harmony Grove M.P. Church, 1 acre on the East side of Clemmonsville Road, adjoining the lands of
J.G. Blackburn (present location Styers Ferry Road). The first Blackburn School was nearby.
b. Newton W. Blackburn (Married Nancy Brinkly, parents listed as William & Paulina Sheets )
Lot No. 3, known as the Hartman Tract, 70 acres $700.00
c. Aephaus L. Blackburn (married Margaret C. Harper)
Lot No 4, Payne Tract 5.8 acres, $150.00, and a Lot known as the Clemmonsville lot,
d. Eppsy A. Vogler, (nee Blackburn, widow of Augustine Vogler)
Lot 2, known as the Whitman Tract, 107 1/2 acres $400.00
On June 13, 1879, Deed Book 28, pages 59-61 recorded another transaction of Lot No. 1, known as the Home Tract.
Blackburn's Estate papers listed his large collection of books, which isn't surprising as he was once a school teacher.
The March 1957 edition of the Lewisville Citizen reported, " Many years ago a one-room log building known as Blackburn's School stood
near Harmony Grove Church. Mrs Henrietta Reynolds taught in this school. Years later the school moved to a nice frame building
nearer Muddy Creek. When it was no longer used as a school, the building was remodeled into a lovely house by Mrs. Alec Jones."