John Wilford Blackstone Jr. – Wikipedia

before-content-x4

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

after-content-x4

American lawyer, politician, and judge. Wisconsin state senator.

The Honorable

John W. Blackstone Jr.

Judge John W. Blackstone Jr.png
In office
January 1, 1880 – January 1, 1882
Preceded by Joseph B. Treat
Succeeded by Archibald N. Randall
In office
January 1, 1879 – January 1, 1880
Preceded by Bernard McGinty
Succeeded by Bernard McGinty
In office
January 1, 1873 – December 31, 1874
Preceded by Joseph H. Clary
Succeeded by James R. Rose
In office
January 1, 1862 – December 31, 1869
Preceded by L. P. Higbee
Succeeded by Philo A. Orton Jr.
Born (1835-12-22)December 22, 1835
White Oak Springs, Michigan Territory
Died October 22, 1911(1911-10-22) (aged 75)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Resting place Evergreen Cemetery
Shullsburg, Wisconsin
Political party Republican
Spouse

Ellen E. Hardy

(m. 1861)

Children
  • Roccey (Prince)
  • Jessie Edna Blackstone
  • (b. 1867; died 1931)
  • John Wilford Blackstone III
  • Ralph Hardy Blackstone
  • (b. 1880; died 1956)
Parents
Alma mater Beloit College
Brown University
Profession lawyer, judge

John Wilford Blackstone Jr. (December 22, 1835 – October 22, 1911)[1] was an American farmer, lawyer, politician, and judge. A Republican, he represented Lafayette County for one term each in the Wisconsin State Senate and Assembly. He also served two four-year terms as County Judge for Lafayette County.

after-content-x4

Biography[edit]

Born in White Oak Springs (then part of the Michigan Territory) Blackstone read law with John K. Williams and was admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin in 1861. He was elected County Judge in Lafayette County that year, commencing his term in January 1862. He served two terms before losing re-election in 1868. In 1873, he returned to office as District Attorney.[2][3]

He served in the Wisconsin State Assembly in the 1879 session and in the Wisconsin State Senate for the 1880 and 1881 sessions.[2] He also worked as an agent of the Bureau of Pensions for three years. Later in life, he moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where his daughter, Roccey, resided. He died there in 1911.

Personal life and family[edit]

Blackstone is a direct descendant of William Blaxton (Blackstone), one of the first colonists of the Plymouth Colony, and the first English resident at Boston (1623) and Rhode Island (1635). The name “Blackstone” appears on many landmarks of New England due to his noteworthy ancestor.[2][3]

His father was John Wilford Blackstone, Sr., one of the early pioneers of Lafayette County, who served in the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature and was a judge for Iowa County during the time it was organized under the Michigan Territory.[2][4]

John W. Blackstone Jr. married Ellen E. Hardy, of Platteville, Wisconsin, on June 20, 1862. They had at least four children:[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ “John Wilford Blackstone”, Minnesota Death Records, 1866-1816
  2. ^ a b c d Butterfield, Consul Willshire (1881). History of Lafayette county, Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical Co. pp. 492–493, 653–654, 735. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c “John Wilford Blackstone”. Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa, and Lafayette Wisconsin. Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co. 1901. pp. 345–347. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  4. ^ The Blackstone Family

External links[edit]

Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by

Bernard McGinty

Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Lafayette 2nd district
January 1, 1879 – January 1, 1880
Succeeded by

Bernard McGinty

Wisconsin Senate
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 12th district
January 1, 1880 – January 1, 1882
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by

L. P. Higbee

County Judge of Lafayette County, Wisconsin
January 1, 1862 – December 31, 1869
Succeeded by
Preceded by

Joseph H. Clary

District Attorney of Lafayette County, Wisconsin
January 1, 1873 – December 31, 1874
Succeeded by

James R. Rose

after-content-x4