Dunbar Saga #13 – Mary Dunbar Blacker

Although you’ve seen that most of the Dunbar family lived (and still most do) to very ripe old ages, Mary Dunbar and her brother whom you will read about next week do not fit that bill. Mary was born 22 April 1845 and passed away close to 37 ½ on 2 Oct 1882. She is buried with her husband, Jacob Newton Blacker (26 April 1841 – 17 Jan 1891 Civil War Co H 3rd Ind Calvary) in the Union Cemetery at Clarks Hill. Jacob was born and also died in Colfax and was a farmer in the area. His sister, Rebecca married Mary’s brother, Simon.

Children of Jacob Newton and Mary Dunbar Blacker began with Ezra Newton Blacker, seeing his first light on 20 Feb 1868 in Clinton County and died 7 Oct 1960 age 92 Bakersfield, Kern County, California. Ironically, he is buried in Union Cemetery, also, but way out in California, along with brothers, sisters and about the whole family. His wife was Idabelle Beatrice Cave whom he married in 1891 (she passed 14 years prior to him), following him across the country the next year. Not long after this couple went to California, a horrible happening occurred with Idabelle. A tramp stopped at their home and said he was hungry. She invited him in and was fixing him a meal when he attacked her. It was bad but she finally got away and ran to the neighbors. A posse went after the man and planned to hang him. The sheriff stopped that but couldn’t stop the group from beating him up and fixing things so he’d not bother any other women. He lived but it was certainly a horrible affair. Ezra lived in California 68 years and was a long-time realtor in that area. His obituary noted, “Mr. Blacker crossed the continent in 1892.” This couple had two sons Carroll Lynne, graduate of Stanford in Engineering and returned there to superintendent the Buildings & Grounds. During WWII, he supervised the construction of a naval hospital in Santa Barbara and was a Captain in the Naval Reserve. He too is buried in Union Cemetery in Bakersfield. His brother, James Haven (1894-1925) was a musician in an orchestra and served in the 54th Balloon Company.

Next up was Prince Albert better known as “Al” who was born in August 1869 here in the area and passed away 1 August 1919 after a lengthy illness. Elizabeth Ellen (Saffell), his wife and two grown daughters, Alice and May Rebecca survived him at his death. He, too, rests in Union Cemetery in Bakersfield.

Next up for Mary and Jacob Blacker is Nora Junetta who was born near Colfax 8 June 1871 and passed away young, at just age 40 on 7 Oct 1911 in Indianapolis. She is buried at Crown Hill. In 1891, she married Frank Allen Venis who died 4 Jan 1961 at age 91. They had at least two sons, Harry Elwood 1892-1966 who was a teamster and was the father of three children (Ken, Norma and Helen). He was born in Colfax June 8, 1892 and was described in his WWII card as being of medium height, slender; blue eyed; with dark brown hair. He also had a brother, Francis Earl born 14 Nov 1894 in Indianapolis and passed in Pinellas County, Florida in April of 1982. He married Margaietha Vogel and don’t think any children. He was in the Navy during WWI.

Then Charles was born 14 April 1873 in Clinton County and passed away Christmas Day in 1951 in LA. He too is buried with the others in Union Cemetery. He was a bartender, married to Norma and don’t believe there were children for them either.

Lora Alice was born in 1874 Clinton County and died 27 Dec 1910 in Reno, Washoe County, Nevada but buried in Union Cem with her brother and other family members in Bakersfield, California. In Anderson, Indiana, she married Claud K. Couse 6 March 1903. By the 1910 census she was in the Sparks Hospital

(Reno) for Mental Diseases. Her notations from the census: Couse, Alice patient, age 35. 0 children, 0 living, born in Indiana, married and can read/write. Then, as you can see, she lived but a few months after the census. Love to know more about this gal, but I couldn’t find a death record or an obituary.

Robert Elwood Blacker was born here on Aug 8, 1876. He was in the Spanish American War, Co. G, 6th California Infantry. He served as a foreman at the Kern County Land Company. Married to Gertrude Marshall, he was father to Robert and May Blacker Thomas.

Mary Dunbar Blacker’s tombstone is not in good shape, but most of her children went across the country, or had no children of their own, so guess it’s good to be in the shape it is in (see photo taken by Colleen Broyles – FindAGrave). Just 37 years old, she left six children, ages six to 14. Sadly, her husband passed away just nine years later at the young age of 49, leaving their children at still a fairly young age to have no parents (15-23). But, as you can see, each went forth, made their own lives, mostly wonderful, but as with any family, troubles, too. Rest in peace you all!

Karen Zach is the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. Her column, Around the County, appears each Thursday in The Paper of Montgomery County. You can reach her at [email protected].