JOSEPH CLAY STYLES BLACKBURN
BLACKBURN, JOSEPH CLAY STYLES, farmer's son, graduate of Centre college, Danville, Kentucky, lawyer in Chicago, Confederate soldier, member of the Kentucky legislature four years, representative in congress, 1875-85, United States senator, 1885-97, and from March 4, 1901; was born on his father's plantation in Woodford county, Kentucky, October 1, 1838. His maternal ancestors came from Ireland. His father, Edward M. Blackburn, was an extensive farmer and stock raiser in Woodford county and his mother, Lavinia St. Clair (Bell) Blackburn was the daughter of Captain John Bell of Kentucky, who commanded General Washington's escort during the Revolution. His grandfather, George Blackburn, came from Prince William county, Virginia, to Kentucky, about 1780. He was brought up on his father's farm and became strong and healthy through horseback riding, hunting and the games played at B. B. Sayre's school, Frankfort, Kentucky, where he was prepared for college. He was graduated at Centre college, Danville, Kentucky, A.B., 1857, A.M., 1860. He studied law in Lexington, Kentucky, with George B. Kincaid, was admitted to the bar and practised in Chicago, Ilhnois, 1858-60. He was married February 16, 1858, to Theresa, daughter of Doctor C. C. Graham and Theresa (Sutton) Graham of Harrodsburg, Kentucky. He returned to his father's home in 1860, and early in 1861 joined the Confederate army and in his four years of service attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel. During the first half of the war he was on the staff of General Wm. Preston and participated in all the engagements fought by his division, including Chicamauga. After that time, and until May, 1865, he commanded a squadron of cavalry under Generals Dick Taylor and Bedford Forest. He practised law in Versailles, Kentucky, 1865-71; was a member of the Kentucky legislature, 1871-75; representative from the seventh district of Kentucky in the forty-fourth and forty-eighth Congresses, 1875-85; and he served on the committees on Appropriations, on Public Expenditures, on Rules, on Ways and Means with McKinley (in which he
