John W. Blackburn
Biography
per Lodge Archivesb. 29 Oct 1870, Middleton, England
m. 8 Nov 1900 Ridgefield, Wash. (Lula Barrow)
d. 24 Dec 1950, Ridgefield, Wash.
Masonic
Ridgefield (Daylight) Lodge, No. 237, unless otherwise noted.Petition: Woodland Lodge, No. 217
(Woodland, Wash.)
EA: 05 May 1920
(Woodland Lodge, No. 217)
FC: 20 Oct 1920
(Woodland Lodge, No. 217)
MM: 21 May 1921
(Woodland Lodge, No. 217)
Offices: unknown
Other Masonic Affiliations (Scottish Rite, Shriners, etc.) unknown.
The Mason
At the age of 49/50, John W. Blackburn was made a mason in 1920/1921 at Woodland Lodge, No. 217 in Woodland, Washington. He petitioned Ridgefield Lodge, No. 237, on October 24th, 1921. His ballot was voted upon one month later on November 21st, 1921. He was installed as Worshipful Master of Ridgefield Lodge, No. 237, on December 15th, 1924.
The Man
John Ward Blackburn was born Oct 29th 1870 in Middleton, England. He married Lula Barrow in 1900 in Ridgefield, Washington.
Blackburn served as postmaster general for Ridgefield from 1900 to 1916, when he left town for Montana "with Thos. Blackstone and their wives." The newspaper reported that he "told them all that he expected to get rich in Montana and come back here and be happy once more." Indeed, Blackburn had returned to the area by 1920, being made a Mason that year in Woodland Lodge, No. 17, and then petitioning Ridgefield Lodge, No. 237, in 1921, and sitting as its Worshipful Master in 1925.
On Dec 24th 1950, at the age of 80, Bro. Blackburn left this plane for the Celestial Lodge, his body now resting at the Ridgefield Cemetery.
And
When The Ridgefield Light & Power Co. formed in 1921, John was listed as one of its five trustees (four of which were Ridgefield Masons).
Also
He was at one time Secretary of the Ridgefield Commercial Club.
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