Felix Blackman
For a long period of years one of the most prosperous farmer citizens of Grant County has been Felix Blackman. His rural estate in Pleasant Township is popularly known as the Richland View Stock Farm. This farm comprises one hundred and twenty-four acres, and has been brought to a state of improvement comparing Blackman's progressiveness and prosperity as well are indicated in the fact that he owns and uses an automobile, both for pleasure and business. He raises the general variety of crops usually cultivated in this section, and feeds practically all his grain to his own stock.
Felix Blackman was born in Wabash County, January 10, 1855, a son of Alpheus and Eliza (Debricks) Blackman. His father was a New Englander by birth, born in the state of Vermont. His wife came from Virginia, and they were married after both had come by different routes to Wabash County. There they spent the balance of their lives and were respected and honored people in their community. The father for a number of years conducted a store at Young America in Wabash County. The children were: Naomi and Lincoln. Naomi became the wife of Marion McIlvain.
Mr. Felix Blackman spent his youth in Wabash County, where he grew up and had his education in the district schools. On October 8, 1876, at the age of twenty-one he married Letha Barley, who was born in Grant County, and received her education in the schools of her native locality. They are the parents of six children, mentioned as follows: C.C. Blackman, a fireman on the Pennsylvania Railroad, running between Logansport and Chicago; Harry, who is a farmer in Grant County; Netta, wife of Ross Doget, who lives near Swayzee, Indiana; Blanche, wife of Charles Lawrence of Marion; Grace, wife of J.R. Kemm; Clifford, who is a graduate of the grade and high schools, and now a scientific student in the State Normal.
The family are attendants and member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Jalapa, and Mr. Blackman is a trustee of the parsonage. Fraternally his affiliations are with Sweetzer Lodge No. 433, I.O.O.F., of which he is a past noble grand and a member of the State Grand Lodge. In politics his support was steadily given to the Republican cause until the campaign of 1912, when he voted with the Progressives.
Submitted by: Gina Reasoner