Parents: Joseph Blackwell and Mary "Polly" Wilkins Blackwell; w#1-Fannie Blackwell; w#2-Jane W. Morris Blackwell, 15 children: Jesse Allman, James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, (twins who lived a short time), Jeremiah William (Dick), Samuel Benton, Richard Solomon, Nancy Elizabeth, Perniecie Paralee, Joseph Rosa, Henry Yowell, Mary Mahala, Clement Washington, Martha Jane, John Lyon, and Leona Emmaline Blackwell.


"A History of Baker, Grant, Malheur and Harney Counties"

CLEMENT C. BLACKWELL - To the esteemed and patriotic citizen whose name initiates this paragraph we are pleased to grant a representation in this volume of the chronicles of Grant county, since he has been a forceful factor in the development of the resources of the county and instrumental in materially augmenting the wealth of the same, while his abilities as a stofckman and agriculturist have been marked and manifested in the success that he has enjoyed while he has labored in those industries and his integrity and uprightness are patent to all.

To Joseph and Mary Blackwell, on April 6, 1826, was born Clement C., on Wolf creek, near Centerville, Tennessee, where he was educated in the common schools and worked on a farm with his parents until 1850, when he went to Franklin county, Arkansas; four years later he went to Tarrant county, Texas, and two years following that he removed to Newton county, Arkansas, where he remained until the fifth day of April, 1875, when he started across the plains with teams. The journey was consummated without accident or exceptional incident and their first winter in Oregon was spent in Fox valley, there being but one other family there at that time. He rented a farm near John Day and in the fall of 1877 entered a homestead, on his present ranch three miles east from Longcreek. He bought four hundred and eighty acres more, which he sold subsequently. He set himself to improving his property and raising stock, cattle, sheep and horses. During the Indian trouble of 1878 he lost all of his horses but one, the labors continued unremittingly here until 1899, when on account of ill health he sold his stock and retired from more active life. His home place is well improved, being well tilled and having a comfortable house, large barn, and a fine orchard. During the Civil war he offered himself for service in the Union army, but was rejected on account of rheumatism. Later he offered again, and while his case was pending the war closed and so he did not succeed in gaining the opportunity for fighting for the flag that he loved.

On September 6, 1846, he was married to Jane W., a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Samuel and Mahala Morris, near Beardstown, Perry county, Tennessee. The following children have been born to them: Jesse A., married to Matilda Hudson, and living in Newton county, Arkansas; James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, twins, deceased; Jeremiah W., married to Mary Parkerson and living in Sparta, Baker county; Samuel B., married to Clara Ethel, living near Glens Ferry, Idaho; Richard S., married to Maggle [sic] Cobb, living near Hamilton, Grant county; Nancy E., wife of Samuel F. Branson, near Longcreek; Bernice P., wife of William M. Carter, near Longcreek; Joseph R., married to Sarah, and living at Sumpter; Henry Y., a cattle buyer, of Burns; Mary M., wife of B.O. Dustin, of Sparta, Baker county; Clement W., married to Fannie Shield, living near Walla Walla; Jane, wife of James Criswell, near Longcreek; John L., living at home; Leona E., wife of Edward Turk, of Sumpter, but now deceased. It is of note that from the time Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell lost their twins until the death of their daughter Leona fifty years had elapsed without a death in the family. It is also interesting to know that the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of this worthy and venerable couple now number over one hundred that are living. Mr. Blackwell has been strong and rugged until recently, and Mrs. Blackwell is hale and hearty and active in the duties of the household. They have seen the hardships and deprivations of the pioneers in a number of places and they have reared a family in this community wherein principles of uprightness have been exemplified and their children are all respected members of society. For forty years Mr. Blackwell has been a disciple of Nimrod and was very fond of the chase in days of more vigor, claiming many triumphs in large game, as deer, elk, bear, etc. Mrs. Blackwell's father was reared in Maryland and her mother in North Carolina. They removed to Tennessee, and the father died there, while the mother went to Arkansas and remained until the time of her demise.