Blackburn, Roy, 1879-1958, Coal Miner & Commissioner

Although, Lee Roy Blackburn’s origins are a bit fuzzy, I believe it can be said with some certainty that he was born on June 9, 1879 in the area of Galatia, Illinois in Saline County. His father was Archibald Blackburn and his second wife, and most likely his mother, was Julia Ann Wicks. Roy’s father, Archibald, remarried a third time to Ida Ferrell in 1881 and then passed away in 1898 with burial at Brushy Creek Cemetery in Saline County.

In the 1900 census Roy shows up as a 20 year old stepson to the head of household, 35 year old widowed Ida (Ferrell) Blackburn and her five daughters Lela, Sadie, Gertie, Nellie and Allie. They were a farming family living in the Northern Precinct (now Corinth Township) in Williamson County.

On January 22, 1905 25 year old Roy married 22 year old Lettie Ozment of Herrin, Illinois. Lettie was the daughter of Richard Lee Ozment and Millie Elizabeth Mandrell. Roy’s home place at the time was listed as New Hope, a small unincorporated village about 5.5 miles southwest of Galatia, Illinois in Saline County. By 1907, the couple had moved into Marion and were living at 900 N. McKinley according to a Marion street directory.

When the 1910 federal census was taken, the couple were still living in a home they owned at 900 N. McKinley Street. 31 year old Roy was working as a coal miner and his wife, 27 year old Lettie, reported that they had birthed one child and that child was living with them, Fred aged 2.

In 1917, the local paper reported that their second child was born, a girl named Mary Katherine.

By the time the 1920 census was taken 40 year old Roy and 38 year old Lettie had moved from McKinley Street to 307 E. Warder Street which they owned with a mortgage. Roy was working as a coal miner. Children then listed in the home were Art 17 and a coal miner, Fred 12 and Mary aged 2. Art being listed as a son has to be a mistake and is likely a family member reported incorrectly.

In May of 1921, the Herrin Masonic temple was dedicated and Roy, an ardent Mason, attended the dedication service. It was also noted in the newspapers that Roy was the retiring Worshipful Master and had assumed the position of Secretary for Fellowship Lodge 89 in Marion. By 1922, he was also listed as chaplain for the Marion Fellowship Lodge 89.

An article in the local paper indicated that in April of 1922 the couple had a third child, their second girl named Julianne Ruth who went by Ruth throughout her life. An article from later in that year, noted that Roy had attended the Southern Illinois Fruit Growers of Ozark gathering.

In 1923, Roy was nominated as part of an election slate to run for city council under the Law and Order party put forth by the Law Enforcement League during the Ku Klux Klan times, however, most coal miners weren’t happy with the slate and it went nowhere.

In the spring of 1927, Roy was elected to the city council of Marion under Mayor Elisha M. Thurmond and served as commissioner of streets and alleys. An article in the local paper noted that in 1930, Roy tried to get an ordinance passed called the “kid whistle” law. Apparently, Roy was not happy with children being noisy in the streets after 8 PM. His ordinance would require a curfew for children after that time. Most commissioners were opposed and wanted to let kids be kids, the ordinance failed.

While a commissioner in 1929, the city voted to add an additional 50 acres to the Marion airfield which used to be where the soccer fields are on E. Main Street. This raised their acreage to about 114 acres for the air field.

When the depression hit in 1930, a local organization was formed called United Charities, which was designed to help unemployed families out. Roy served on the soliciting committee of the Marion Unemployment committee.

In the 1930 federal census, 50 year old Roy and 48 year old Lettie were still living at 307 E. Warder Street which they owned and valued at $4,000. Their children in the home were Fred O. 22, Mary 17 and Ruth aged 7. Roy listed himself as a timberman at a coal mine and Fred was working as a city street grader. The family had a radio in their home.

An article appearing in the Marion Weekly Leader in 1933 announced the worklist of men going to work at the Franco No. 1 coal mine and their occupations. Roy was listed as being one of the timbermen at that mine. This means that his occupation involved attempting to stabilize the mine roof with timbers after explosives had been used to loosen the coal face. The Franco No. 1 mine would have been located near Stiritz, NNW of Johnston City, Illinois and was owned by the Cosgrove-Meehan Coal Company.

Another article in 1934 mentioned Roy being honored as a past master when the local Fellowship Lodge 89 held its 13th Annual Past Masters night.

In the 1940 census, Roy 60 and Lettie 58 were still in their home at 307 E. Warder Street which they owned and valued at $3,000. Roy claimed to have worked 48 hours in the previous week to the census and that he had worked 52 weeks out of the previous year of 1939. His income in 1939 was stated to be $630. Still in the home were daughters Mary 22, who was working for the C.I.P.S. Power Company and Ruth aged 18. Roy indicated his education level was completion of 8th grade, Lettie had done 4 years of high school, Mary had 2 years of College and Ruth had 1 year of college so far.

By the 1950 census, Roy had quit working the hard life in coal mining and had started working at Anna State Hospital. This is reflected in the 1950 census where 70 year old Roy was working as an attendant there. His 68 year old wife, Lettie, was also working there as an O.T. aid when the census was taken. They were still living in their home on Warder Street.

In the 1950’s the Blackburn’s moved to St. Cloud, Florida to be in proximity to their son Fred Blackburn. Roy passed away their on April 23, 1956 and was buried at Mount Peace Cemetery in St. Cloud. He was followed by Lettie on January 23, 1965. Burial was with Roy in Mount Peace Cemetery.

Notes on Children:

Fred Ozment Blackburn, born in Marion in 1907, married Ellouise Impson in 1937 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, they moved to St. Cloud, Florida where he operated Blackburn’s Electrical Appliance Store, he died in November 1960 in St. Cloud.

Mary Katherine Blackburn Allen, born September 3, 1917 in Marion, joined the Marines in 1943, married John Ellison Allen, died September 11, 2007 in Chula Vista, California.

Julianne Ruth Blackburn Ragsdale, born in Marion in 1922, married Edward M. Ragsdale in 1944, died April 12, 2013.

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