NEGenWeb Project
Burt County
Biography
Biography of Matthew Blenkiron
Sep. 3, 1897 Oakland (Nebraska) Independent. (pg. 5, col. 2-3)
End of a busy life.
Review of the Earlthy Doings of the Late Matthew Blenkiron.
Matthew Blenkiron, the son of William and Elizabeth Blenkiron, was born near Richmond, a noted city in the county of Yorkshire, England. His father, who was a farmer by occupation, died when his son Matthew was but a youth. When at the age of 22 years, he, with his mother emigrated to America, landing in New York in 1839, thence by rail and stage to Chicago, and from there sometimes by stage but mostly on foot arriving in British Hollow with but little of this world's goods. Undaunted with the trip and hardships endured at that time and in the early days of Wisconsin mining he went to work with a will, his occupation being a smelter, and he has the honor of being the first slag smelter in the United States. After leaving British Hollow he with his mother moved to New Diggins township and engaged in farming and mining. In the year 1846, July 13, he was married to Mary Harker, whose father was Jas. Harker, who came from England at the same time that Mr. Blenkiron did, they being among a colony of seventy five who came to the New World. After successful years of farming and mining and with care and economy they bought a farm adjoining the village of Benton and built thereon a substantial rock house and made other improvements which was a monument to their pluck and enterprise. There was born to them a large family of children of whom we shall speak later.
Having a desire to move west to a larger field where the privileges were greater and the opportunities larger, he with his wife and children, with the exception of Mrs. Jos. Harker, came to Missouri Valley, Harrison county, Iowa in the year 1870 and bought a large farm and kept adding until he owned nearly three thousand acres of the highest bottom land in the famous Missouri valley. His time was mostly devoted to stock raising, feeding cattle, etc., of which success attended his well earned efforts, but not without the care and study of a stern mind with the assistance of a never faltering and tireless wife. In 1879, Dec. 13, his mother at the ripe old age of 89 passed to the other world.
Desiring to give his boys a chance he gave to them each a farm and to the girls each $1,500., then moving to the city of Missouri Valley he rebuilt the Grist Mill at that point, which had been formerly destroyed by fire. Having conducted this mill for a time he sold his interst to L.M. Kellogg. In the year 1884 was established the First National Bank of which he was a Director and the principal stock holder. He was for a time the Vice President and still retains his large interests there. He also owned a great deal of real estate in the city and at other points and especially in Nebraska where he owns and controls upwards of 6,000 acres of land, besides a large amount of stock in the Bank at Bancroft, also having four lumber yards at different points in Nebraska and owning a large herd of cattle.
At this time the majority of the family had married and gone to other parts. He therefore resolved to sell his beautiful home in Missouri Valley, which he did, and in the year 1895 moved to make his home with his daughter at Oakland, Nebraska. He with his wife frequently visited their three daughters, who werre located in South Riverside, California remaining during the winter and returning again to their Nebraska home and to look after his interests there which had grown to immense proportions, amassing a wealth of upwards of a quarter of a million dollars.
As to Matthew Blenkiron's character--that it is unspotted no one will deny. He was firm, undaunted, and honest in all his dealings, not easily persuaded from his true convictions, never allowed himself to take advantage of any one's ignorance and never would accept more than the legal rate of interest from anyone. He loved his home and his family with a perfect love and delighted to be at home with his family more than any place on earth. He was a man of good habits, temperate in all things, never abusing himself. Mrs. Blenkiron's health failing some they were led to visit one of their daughters at Colorado Springs during last summer, and about three months ago they again went to Colorado Springs in the interst of Mrs. Blenkiron's feeble condition and to visit their daughter. After a time he desired to return to see his boys, and bidding them a farewell, pronounced on them his last benediction--God Bless You. These were the last words they heard him utter. He was a true friend to all religious enterprises but especially to the M.E. church and the hymns he delighted in were "Jesus, Lover of my Soul," "Rock of Ages," and "Shall we Gather at the River," etc., which he was frequently heard to sing when he was all alone. He arrived on his homeward journey from Colorado Springs to Oakland, Neb., his home, on Aug. 7, apparently in good health and partook of his food as usual and on Sunday morning ate a hearty breakfast but at the hour of 11 o'clock AM was attacked with a stroke of Paralysis and never recovered consciousness only for a few moments at a time and passing quietly away without much suffering Aug. 25, at 8 pm. His wife and all the family of eleven children were permitted to see him alive and to see the last of this noble, eventful life. He was interred in the Oakland cemetery in a beautiful casket in a large vault, the best that earth could give.
The funeral took place from the residence of C.J. Swanson, his son-in-law. The funeral sermon as preached by Rev. Roderick, late pastor of the M.E. church of Missouri Valley, now of Charlton, Iowa. His age was 80 years, 1 month, 7 days. Mr. and Mrs. Blenkiron are the parents of thirteen children as follows: William Blenkiron, born May 14, 1847, was drowned at the age of fourteen mos; Matthew W, now resides in Wausa, Neb. Elizabeth A. Harker, Mitchell, So. Dak; Mary E [K]Nowlin, Isabella Burton, Esther Kennedy, South Riverside, California; Johyn C, James Harker, and Leonard, Belden, Neb; Sarah J C Swanson, Oakland, Neb; Joseph E, Bankcroft, Neb; Emeline Forbes, Colorado Springs, Col; Mr. Blenkiron was a staunch Republican, and was a subscriber to the Galena Ill., Gazette for over fifty years.