CHARLES BLACKLEDGE

"GOODSPEED'S HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI,
Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888."

Charles Blackledge, farmer and successful stock dealer at Avon, was born April 27, 1856, the son of Hiram and Mildred (Coffman) Blackledge. Hiram Blackledge was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, October 19, 1811, and was of Scotch descent. He attended the high schools of New Libson, and graduated from Jefferson College, Penn. He read law with Andrew Stewart, of Uniontown, Penn., and practiced law in company with him. While Mr. Stewart was in Congress Mr. Blackledge took charge of the whole business of the firm. In 1844 he located in Ste. Genevieve, and here practiced his profession a few years. He was married in 1846, and afterward located on a farm in Saline Township. Here he remained a few years, and then returned to Ste. Genevieve and followed the banking business as cashier until his health failed and he retired from active business. He returned to his farm, and there died June 7, 1881. His wife was born November 5, 1822, in Albemarle County, Va. She is the daughter of Col. Joseph and Mary (Yancy) Coffman. Her father is a native of Lancaster, Penn., born in 1785, was married in 1811, and followed the milling business in connection with farming. He was the contractor and builder of the turnpike road, running from Scottsville to Charleston in the State of Virginia. In 1832 he moved on a farm in Ste. Genevieve County. His wife was the daughter of Charles Yancy, of Albemarle County, Va., who was born in 1791. To Mr. and Mrs. Coffman were born eight children: Ralph, Elizabeth (Mrs. William Watsman), Charles, John, Jane (Mrs. Bernard Pratte), Mildred, Mary and Joseph. The mother of these children died in 1836. The Colonel had accumulated considerable property - several thousand acres of land and 120 slaves. He represented Ste. Genevieve County in the Legislature, and was a delegate to the national convention of 1844. He died in 1855, honored and respected by all who knew him. His daughter, Mildred, was educated in Ste. Genevieve College, and was married in 1842 to W. Smith, of St. Francois County. He lived but eight months, and she returned to her father's home, where she remained until her second marriage to Mr. Blackledge, in 1846. When her father died he willed her a farm of 700 acres in Ste. Genevieve County, and 2000 acres in Scott and Mississippi counties, also a number of slaves. At the breaking out of the late war she owned 50 slaves. By her marriage she became the mother of three children: Mary (Mrs. C.W. White), Charles and Dr. H.T. Blackledge. Mrs. Blackledge sold all but 400 acres of her land in Ste. Genevieve County and divided the proceeds among her children. Her son Charles attended the public schools of Ste. Genevieve and also the Missouri State University. At the age of eighteen he took charge of his mother's farm, and has since had control of it. He was married January 6, 1886, to Miss Ada Parkhurst, of St. Louis, born in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1856. To them was born one child, William H.N. whose birth occurred May 3, 1887. Charles Blackledge is a young man of push and energy, and is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, holding the office of vice-president in the same.
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