The Professors of Alcorn State: John R. Blackburn

John R. Blackburn
From badahustory

John Randall Blackburn (b. April 1, 1841; d. May 30, 1937)

Virginia. Mulatto.
Education: Dartmouth College
Occupation: teacher

John R. Blackburn was born in Essex County, Virginia. The relationship between John's parents was highly unusual. His father William Blackburn was a successful farmer who used enslaved labor. In 1830, his household included twenty-six enslaved workers, one of whom was John's mother Francis (or Fanny). While it was not unusual for a white farmer to impregnate an enslaved woman, Williams was unusually supportive of Francis. He emancipated her family and moved with them to Ohio, a free state. They were living in Cincinnati in 1850. By 1860, William had left the family and returned to his farm in Virginia. However, a Blackburn family history says that he continued to support Francis financially, although Francis also worked as a washerwoman.

While John's father William freed Francis's family, he continued to hold over twenty other people in bondage. However, upon his death in 1861, he freed his slaves and even included several of them in his will. (An enslaved woman named Betsy received two thousand dollars, a substantial sum).  

John was privately educated in Cincinnati and at Dartmouth College. He attended the college from 1859 to June 1861. He left before completing his college degree because he was offered the position of principal of the "colored" public schools in the town of Xenia, Ohio. He resigned from the position in July 1871 in order to accept a professorship at the newly opened Alcorn University in Mississippi. He served as the university's mathematics professor for two years, until July 1873. He then returned to Xenia, Ohio to continue teaching in the public schools. John was widely held in high regard as an educator. He served as a trustee for both Ohio University (from fall 1885 to spring 1892) and Wilberforce University. The trusteeship at Ohio University was made by Governor Hoadly.

John left Ohio in 1899 and moved to Evansville, Indiana to serve as principal of Clark High School. He remained there for several years, but by 1910, he had returned to Cincinnati and was working as a public-school teacher. He first taught at the town of Lockland and then at the McCall Industrial School in Cincinnati. He retired in 1926 and died of natural causes eleven years later, in 1937. He is buried in Cherry Grove Cemetery in Xenia, Ohio.

The Blackburn family papers are held by Howard University.

Sources

1) Scales, John (Eds.). (1903) Biographical Sketches of the Class of 1863 Dartmouth College with Historical Memoranda of the College, 1859-1863. Published by the class. p. 490-491.

2) The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Cincinnati Ward 6, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: 689; Page: 77a.

2) The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Hanover, Grafton, New Hampshire; Roll: M653_671; Page: 1058; Family History Library Film: 803671

3) Year: 1870; Census Place: Xenia, Greene, Ohio; Roll: M593_1205; Page: 358A

4) Year: 1880; Census Place: Xenia, Greene, Ohio; Roll: 1020; Page: 492A; Enumeration District: 093

5) Year: 1900; Census Place: Pigeon, Vanderburgh, Indiana; Roll: 407; Page: 8; Enumeration District: 0127; FHL microfilm: 1240407

6) Year: 1910; Census Place: Cincinnati Ward 3, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: T624_1189; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0041; FHL microfilm: 1375202.

7) Year: 1920; Census Place: Cincinnati Ward 4, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: T625_1389; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 84.

8) Year: 1930; Census Place: Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0027; FHL microfilm: 2341541

9) Year: 1830; Census Place: Essex, Virginia; Series: M19; Roll: 193; Page: 123; Family History Library Film: 0029672

10) The National Archive in Washington Dc; Washington, DC; NARA Microform Publication: M432; Title: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29

11) The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Essex, Virginia; Roll: M653_1343; Page: 674; Family History Library Film: 805343

12) The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Cincinnati Ward 6, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: M653_972; Page: 8; Family History Library Film: 803972

13) "Ohio Appointments." Democratic Northwest. [volume], April 30, 1885, Image 5

14) "Services." The Dayton forum. [volume], June 04, 1937, Image 2