This bit of information was sent to me by my Great Aunt ODELL.
I am not sure what the source is exactly but it was from the Texas State Archives in Austin Texas. I am copying this exactly like it was sent.


WAYNE BLACKBURN


Here is a family name that has been identified with Washington County since 1836. It waws only a short time after the battle of San Jacinto, and the winning of Texas independence, that ANDREW JACKSON BLACKBURN arrived in what is now Washington County. Since then the various members of the family have proved themselves important factors in community upbuilding and development, ANDREW JACKSON BLACKBURN was of one of the splendid old types of pioneer settlers. His son WAYNE BLACKBURN has lived for a great many years in the Burton community, and from his home in that town have goone forth his influence and activities not only into buisness affairs as aa stock man, but into the public life of his home locality county.
The founder of this honored family was ANDREW JACKSON BLACKBURN, who was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, July 14, 1813, while the second war was in progress with Great Britain. His parents were country people and of Irish blood. His father HUGH BLACKBURN, came to Texas about 1845 and spent the rest of his life as a farmer, and died about 1853 at the age of seventy-five. Many years before he had taken part in the War of 1812 as a follower of General Jackson, and his admiration for thatt great military leader and politician caused him to give his son the name ANDREW JACKSON. He spent his last years in what is known as the BLACKBURN settlement og Washington County. HUGH BLACKBURN married MARGARET EMILY BOYD, who is buried beside her husband on the old farm. Their children were: ELIZA, who married THOMAS REED and spent her last years in Leon County, Texas; ANDREW J.; JERRE, who died in Alabama, leaving a family around Broomtown; FRANKLIN, who died in the BLACKBURN settlement of Washington County; JANE, who married Mr BLACK and died in San Saba County, Texas; and SARAH. who married JOHN HENDERSON and died soon after her marriage in Fayette County.
ANDREW J. BLACKBURN was a vigorous young man at tthe time he came to Texas. Though the independence of the state had already been won when he arrived, he subsequently participated in defending the settlement from Indians, andalso took part in one or two expeditions against the Mexicans along the border. He was a member of Colonel Moore's expedeitioon out to the Red Fork of the Colorado River, where the Indians were routed. He also took part in the Indian battle in San Saba. At various times for a period of years he was again and again called out to perform this militia duty, and he was always ready to serve. Finally the tide of settlement became to strong for the Indians and the forces of barbarisom to uphold, and he spent the rest of his years in comparitive quiet, After coming to Texas he worked for a number of years in "whipsawing" lumber on Raab's Creek in Raab's pinery. He left that to engage in farming, andin later yeaarrs he set up shop for the repair of guns. He had his little gun shop in operation during the Civil war, and it was located about five miles north of Burton in what was known as the BLACKBURN settlement. He had moved to that locality in 1851, and lived there until his death on June 7 189, when at the age of eighty-six years.
He was widely known as "Squire"BLACKBURN because of his long service at justice of the peace. So far as schools were concerned he was a man of little educatioon, but he was a reader of books, an observer of men and of motives, and proved himself a very useful man in the community. He was especially skilled in the execution of legal documents affecting transfer of real estatte, and such other documents as were required in the community. He was also pronounced a fine judge of the law, was widely read, and his mind was a storehouse of historic facts. History was indeed his favorite theme, and he knew not only local and state history, but much of the worlds affairs, and could discuss intelligentlyy much that went on beyond the horizon of his own life. He had an interesting fund of anecdote and was regarded as a very entertainong conversationalist. He also had a wide acquaintance in a number of counties in South Texas, and always kept in close touch with the old leaders of Texas independence and was a sincer admired of the early Texas stattesmen and leaders. Though opposed to the seperation of Texas from the Union, he went with his statte into the Confederacy and served as a captain of a Home Guard during the war, About twenty years before his death he united with the Christian Church. The maiden name of his wife was MARY JANE COTTRELL, daughter of CALEB COTTRELL, who came to Texas from Illinois in 1845. Her death occured in February, 1901, at the age of seventy-three. Her children were: MARTHA, who married THOOOMAS MOORELOCK and lives in Lee County, Texas; WAYNE; MARGARET, who married HENRY SRUCK of Kaufman County; SARAH, who married WILLIAM ELLIOTT of Somerville, Texas; MARY, wife of TRAVIS D. GARRETT of Milam County; JEROME of Lampasas, Texas; and FRANK, of Port Arthur.


I also have a document (photo copied) from the General Land Office Austin Texas March 8, 1954 addressed to Mrs DAVID WHITFIELD of Lubbock Texas inquiring in regard to a land grant in the name of ANDREW J. BLACKBURN and HUGH BLACKBURN. The land office finds A.J. BLACKBURN, by certificate No. 564, recieved a grant of 320 acres by virtue of Certificate No. 68. dated June 27 1839. The land was patented in two seperate surveys of 160 acres each located in Hood County. Certificate No. 564 is dated November 19, 1849 and states thatt A.J. BLACKBURN resided in the Republic three years and performed all the duties required of him as a citizen.
There is no record of a land grant in the name of HUGH BLACKBURN.
signed by Dennis Wallace, Chief clerk acting commissioner of the General Land Office
CRL:jw
File: Milam 3rd 1799


I do not know what the last two lines are suppose to be and please excuse any mispelled words. I am terrible at typing.



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