MILITARY
16081 Blitch, James E. Cpl
Baker County Georgia Military 24th Battalion 7th Georgia Cavalry CSA

OCCUPATION
School Teacher
Missionary Baptist Preacher
Ordained by the Hopewell Church on Sep 30, 1860

A headstone was recorded by the WPA in 1940-1941

DEATH/CEMETERY
The location of his burial has yet to be found. Various sources give conflicting information. One source gives his death location as:
"Died at Benjamin N Johnston's Reserve in Alafia, FL".
Hollingsworth Card #1453 gives his death location as Hillsboro FL.
One source gives his burial in Lake Baptist Church, Hillsborough County, FL. No marker or records have been found.

"The Heritage of Escambia County, Florida Volume 2, page 266"
After serving as a corporal in Company G of the 7th Georgia Cavalry, Confederate States Army, Rev. James Elias Blitch was a historian, minister, missionary, and evangelist. He spent himself in the work, became ill, and was 'persuaded at last to visit Florida" to recover from debilitating rheumatism. He died in Hillsborough County on 24 Oct 1876 at Benjamin N. Johnston's Reserve in Alafia. He was buried at Hurrah Cemetery at Lithia. A headstone recorded by the WPA in 1940-1941, does not remain today.

Letter written by his daughter, Susannah Elizabeth 'Susie' (Blitch) Marble. Courtesy of James Blitch's Great Granddaughter.

Last Days of Rev. James Elias Blitch
Confederate Veteran - Georgia

Rev. James Elias Blitch went to Alafia, Florida, 1874, upon advice of his physician and friends, Benj. N. Johnston, the Tatums and others of Tampa. He was the organizer, founder and first pastor of Alafia Baptist Church. The original and only Baptist Church in the community was called the Lake Church. His was the first grave made at that church. He died Feb. 3 1876 at the home of Benj. N. Johnston, after a stroke of paralysis, losing use of both legs. Left his family of wife and six children at home at Haslam (Harlem), Ga., in care of his father Rev. Benj. Blitch. He homesteaded a tract of land of the U.S. near Tampa and Alafia, Fla. and was planning to remove his family to his new home when stricken.

Susie Blitch Marble
730 N. 15th Ave.
Pensacola, Fla.
May 14, 1941