Obituary of Luther M. Blackman
The
Journal and Tribune,
Knoxville, TN, Tuesday July 15, 1919.
L. M. Blackman Answers Call
Veteran Dies at Ripe Age of 85
Years.
Was Soldier, Business Man,
Law-maker, Editor, Student.
Buried Here.
Major L. M. Blackman, aged 85 years, members of the Fourth Tennessee
cavalry regiment in the Civil War, died at his home in Monroe county July 11,
and the body was interred Saturday in the National cemetery at Knoxville. The
deceased is survived by one son, Wilbur D. Blackman, of Philadelphia, Tenn.;
and three daughters. Mrs. M. H. Rausin, Philadelphia; Mrs. S. J. Tipton,
Friendsville and Mrs. Lee Leslie, Madisonville.
Major Luther Mead Blackman was born in Sandy Hook, a suburb of Newton,
Litchfield county, Conn., Feb. 14, 1834. He attended the common school of the
city until the age of nine years when he emigrated to Michigan with the family,
locating in Tecumseh, Lenowie county, where he resided and attended the schools
of that locality when opprtunity afforded.
In the autumn of 1855 he removed to Tennessee locating in Knoxville,
where he engaged in the marble business as a letterer and engraver for the firm
of Miblo & Smith. Afterward he found an opening for the marble business in
Monroe county, where he went and opened a quarry on Bat Creek near Eve Mill.
Here he established a yard and built a mill for the production of marble for
the trade. He soon established a good business with every indication of a
prosperous future.
When the war started, Major Blackman at once aligned himself on the side
of the government.
After many trying experiences, the Major enlisted in Company C, under
Col. Edwards, who was recruiting what was afterwards known as the Fourth
Tennessee Cavalry. The Major being a man of some business qualifications Col.
Edwards made him his quartermaster. He served in this capacity until he
received his commission as Major, serving in that rank until the close of the
war. He made a record of conspicuous gallantry.
Major Blackman returned home to find his business utterly destroyed. He
did not attempt to rebuild it, the state of the country being not flattering
for the business. He turned his attention to politics and was trice elected
representative of his county in the lower branch of the legislature. He was a
member of that body that elected Governor Brownlow to the U. S. Senate and is
the last surviving member of that legislature. After his service in the
legislature he was appointed Assistant District Internal Revenue Assessor,
serving about one year. He was then appointed Special Internal Revenue
Commissioner 1870, serving in this capacity about four years. He then engaged
in the newspaper business as editor at Clinton for about a year, being a strong
supporter of Hon. L. C. Houk. He then retired to private life and bought a farm
near where he first engaged in the marble business and settled down to quiet
life, prosecuting claims for the Departments at Washington in connection with
his farming.
He was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Cook, daughter of Jacob and
Jane Cook of Monroe County. To them were born four daughters and two sons, one
son and one daughter being dead. Mrs. Blackburn [sic] died in March, 1908.
While Major Blackman was an efficient and useful business man he was also
an honorable and respected citizen. In his last days he lived a quiet and
unostentatious life, surrounded by his books, papers and magazine. He was
broadminded, and a liberal thinker and was fully abreast of the current events
of the day and the advanced thoughts of the age. He was an extensive reader and
a student of the ideas of the times.
East Tennessee pension and miscellaneous military claims
