James Hanson Blackburn[Much of the information here was taken from a biography in History of San Luis Obispo (1883)]
James Hanson Blackburn was born on September 8, 1820 in Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, Virginia. His parents were Joseph Blackburn and Margaret Drew.

In 1822, when he was only two years old, his family moved to Springfield, Clark County, Ohio. His father, Joseph, died two years later. This left his family dependant on their mother Margaret to support them with little help from the older children.

“The struggle was necessarily a hard one, but such as laid the foundation of a future character of self-reliance, frugality, industry and forethought upon a natural energy and inate principles of right.”

James lived in Logan County, Kentucky about 1834 to 1837 to attend school. In 1837, he moved to Oquakee, Illinois where most of his family lived, including his brother Daniel Drew Blackburn. His brother worked as a carpenter at the time. At age 17, he also worked as a carpenter although he never served an apprenticeship to the trade. Instead he became handy enough with the tools and working with his brother while going to school acquiring a fair education. (more…)