Interesting Arcadians: The Blackmars

History - Newark

Interesting Arcadians: The Blackmars
By Robert Hoeltzel, Arcadia Town Historian

Even the most casual reading of Newark history of the last century will disclose many references to the name Blackmar. At a closer reading, it is obvious that there were several contemporaries with that name who made things happen in this area.

Who were these folks and why has such a large family left no descendants here today? I will attempt to answer those questions.

The Wayne County progenitor of this excellent family was Abel Blackmar, born in 1771 in Freehold, Greene County. Abel was the son of Joseph Blackmar and his first wife, Polly Barnes.

The Blackmars of Newark were direct descendants of the 1620 Mayflower Pilgrim William White, through his son, Perigrine White, the first white child born on this continent.

Joseph and his third wife, Eunice Curtis, moved to Newark in 1855 to be near his children. He died in 1863 at 92 years of age. Their home was on the west corner of West Union and Mason Street.

Abel and his wife Polly Trowbridge were the parents of ten children:

Ruth (b. 1798), Anna (b. 1801), Ransom (b.1803), Esbon (b. 1805), Lucy (b. 1807) Lavinia (b. 1810), Daniel (b. 1813), Abel T. (b. 1816), Orrin (b. 1819), and Edwin (b. 1822). Abel died in 1845 at 74 years and Polly in 1861 at 82 years of age.

Ruth Blackmar married Andrew Dodge of Greene Co. and never came to this area to live. Lucy married a Mr. Teets and resided in Greene Co. all her life. Daniel died in infancy in Greene County.

Anna married Henry Winans of Caledonia who died in 1845, leaving Ann a widow for 37 years until her death in 1882. A son, Dighton Winans, a promising young man, worked for his uncle Orrin until the Civil War, after which he lived in Chicago. At his death in 1902, his body was returned to Newark and interred in Newark Cemetery.

The first of the Blackmar brothers to come to Newark to reside were Ransom and Esbon, in the fall of 1826. With the possible exception of James P. Bartle, the tiny settlement of Newark had never in its brief existence seen the likes of Ransom and Esbon Blackmar.

Their first endeavor was to open a general store, Newark's second, in a building on the NW corner of the 'four corners.' This was supplemented by the purchase of produce from area farmers for shipment via the Erie Canal to the New England states, New York City and a ready market in Europe. Not only did this prove a profitable business for the Blackmars, it also was a great boon to farmers in an area reaching from Lake Ontario to the Finger Lakes, providing cash, previously in short supply hereabouts, but badly needed to pay taxes and interest to the land office to which many were in debt for the purchase of their homesteads.

When the cost of shipment became a major expense, the Blackmars decided to own their own fleet of canal boats. For several years they kept the boat-building shops of Col. Bartle in Newark and the Lamoreaux family in Lockville ('East Newark' now) building boats, the first of which was The R. and E. Blackmar. All the while, the store was doing a good business.

The busy life of Ransom Blackmar was cut short by his death in 1841 at age 38. His death, so early in his life and the life of the village, left little information concerning his personal life and personality. We do know that he had a wife, Adeline, who died in 1830 at age 19.

A volume could be written about the accomplishments of Esbon Blackmar during his 31-year residency in the busy little village of Newark. In addition to the activities briefly noted above, Esbon made a name for himself as Newark's first banker - in an un official way. It seems that, when farmers sold their produce through the Blackmar enterprise, if there was no immediate need for the money, all or part of it would be left with Esbon, who paid interest on the sum until called for. Village folk also entrusted their savings to Mr. B. after Fletcher Williams, who began his own business career as a clerk for Esbon Blackmar, established the Bank of Newark, a state bank, in 1841. This became the First National Bank in 1863.

On the formation of the 5th Horse Artillery of the state militia in 1831, Esbon became its quartermaster, the adjutant in 1832, and lieutenant colonel in 1834.

Esbon, in partnership with Col., Bartle and Joseph A. Miller, son of Newark's founder, built a plank road over the flats north of the village. Known as the Newark and Sodus Road, it was extended on the approximate present site of Route 88 N, from Harrison St. corner to Fairville. Toll booths were maintained at both ends. While never a financial success, and later turned over to the town, the road was a great improvement over the ankle-deep mud encountered seasonally by earlier travelers.

While listed in the 1850 census as a farmer, with real estate valued at $60,200, the largest assessment of anyone in the township, a more accurate description would likely have been "gentleman farmer." His many activities would seem to leave him with little time to sow, tend and harvest farm crops himself.

Somehow, Esbon Blackmar did manage to find time to give of his talents to civic duties. He served as Supervisor of the Town of Arcadia from 1834-35 and 1852-53. (Those were the days of one-year terms.) He was a member of the New York State senate in 1838-39 and 1841-42. Elected as a Whig to fill a vacancy in the Thirteenth Congress Mr. B. served in the U. S. House of Representatives from Dec. 4, 1848 to March 3, 1849.

With Esbon as senior partner, the Blackmar produce firm expanded its business to Michigan, Iowa and Illinois, hiring agents to buy produce to be sent via the Great Lakes and the Erie Canal to Newark and the eastern markets. This activity improved the economy of those developing areas.

In 1834, Esbon built a fine Federal-style brick house on Palmyra (West Union) Street, where on July 22, 1851 "a few persons" assembled to organize St. Mark's Episcopal Church. At that meeting Mr. B was elected one of the vestrymen and remained so for the remainder of his life. Esbon and his wife, Arabella, were generous supportersof the church in its early days. Mrs. B. died in 1864.

This chapter in the story of the Blackmars ends on a tragic note. The Panic of 1847 left Mr. B. unable to fulfill his obligations to those who entrust their savings to his care. Perhaps none were more distressed by this turn of events than Esbon himself. He ended his life by committing suicide by drowning in the cistern of his home. This "supreme sacrifice" only confirmed in his fellow Newarkites their confidence in his honesty and integrity. It was written of him that, 'No man in Newark commanded the respect and confidence of the community to a greater degree than did Esbon Blackmar.'

Esbon and Arabella had four children, Jane, Lucy, Arabella and Frank, but there are no descendants here today.

In the meantime, brother Abel T. Blackmar came to Newark in 1833 and Orrin in 1835. Both joined their brothers in the mercantile and produce business.

After only a few years, Abel T. (he always used the initial to keep from being confused with his father) struck out on his own, opening a store in a brick building he built on the north side of VanBuren Street - the first brick building north of the canal. The location of the store, like the one continued by Ransom and Esbon, was convenient for both village folk and travelers on the busy Erie Canal. Although competitors, the two stores both did a good business and the relation of the brothers were, apparently, harmonious. Abel T.'s store was sufficiently profitable for him to build splendid home next to his place of business. The red brick house in the Greek-revival style, featured a portico supported by two-story columns.

By 1840 Abel T. purchased a 40-acre farm northwest of Ninham (now the South End). With the assistance of brother Esbon, the property was platted into streets and building lots. In 1840 the Road Commissioners accepted Madison, Mason, Jefferson and Franklin Streets as village streets.

A widower, Abel T. took for his second wife Lucy VanDusen, a teacher at the school in Ninham. Abel T. and family were members of the Presbyterian Church, where he served as a trustee.

On the formation of the 39th Infantry of the State Militia, Abel T. was commissioned captain.

While still a resident of Newark, Abel T. Blackmar became an extensive land-owner in and around Saginaw, Michigan and was believed to have profited handsomely from the development of that city.

In 1857, Abel T., Lucy and their children moved to Buffalo, where he used his banking experience to organize the First National Bank, and later the Third National Bank. Following a successful business career in Buffalo, Abel T. Blackmar died there in 1880.

He was remembered in Newark as a "cheerful, happy business man of the strictest integrity." Sometime after her husband's death, Lucy and her children moved to Saginaw, where in 1889, she was murdered by her son Charles who was described as a "drunkard and dope fiend." Apparently even a family with the Blackmar genes can produce a black sheep.

Lavinia Blackmar married Mead Allerton in 1834. Mr. A., distantly related to the Wayne County Allertons, was also a native of Greene Co., but already a prosperous merchant in the (then) busy settlement of Port Gibson. The couple lived in Port Gibson until retirement in 1860. They then moved to Newark and lived for the remainder of their lives in the house which had been built for Abel T. Mead Allerton was President (mayor) of Newark from 1867-68 and died in 1884.

Although a woman of exemplary character, the mores of her day kept Lavinia in the shadow of her menfolk until June 12, 1910 when she observed her 100th birthday. Her life continued for another four years when she died in 1914 at the age of 104. She had outlived all nine of her siblings. She also set a longevity record for this township. She left a daughter and an adopted daughter, but no later descendants.

The Blackmar-Allerton home, one of Newark's finest, was razed in 1915 to make way for the "extract building" (the red brick building on VanBuren St.) of the C. H. Stuart Co. The house had taken two years to build, 1836-37, and all wood was hand-fashioned.

Orrin Blackmar was only 16 when he moved to this area in 1835. He attended school in Palmyra for a time, then entered the employ of,his brothers in the store on the corner, learning both the mercantile and produce businesses. It appears that he never got into banking or real estate development.

Orrin formed a partnership in the dry goods business with a cousin, Horace Blackmar, under the firm name H. & 0. Blackmar. Thomas Barnes, Newark farmer and N.Y. State Assemblyman, joined the business as Blackmar & Barnes. With the withdrawal of Horace and Mr. Barnes, Orrin took in his nephew Dighton Winans as a partner.

Orrin retired from business from 1866-78 because of ill health, but entered the produce business with Frederick Allerton, Mead Allerton's nephew, in 1878. This continued until Orrin's death.

In 1847, Orrin married Harriet Hurd, a member of a family then prominent in Newark. Mrs. B. died in 1854. There were three children: Anna, Abel E., and Orville H. After the death of Esbon, Orrin moved with his children to the house Esbon had built on W. Union St. This house remained in the Blackmar family until the death of Orrin's daughter Anna.

The house was the residence and funeral home of Wm. Roche from 1900 to the 1940's. A three-story addition was added to house Roche's furniture store. The house was razed by Urban Renewal in the 1970's.

Orrin Blackmar and family were active in the Presbyterian Church where Orrin was an elder from 1867-97, a trustee 1865-74, a longtime superintendent of the Sunday School and a liberal supporter.

Abel E., Orrin's son, graduated fromHamilton College, which later conferred on him an honorary L.L.D. degree. He studied law and moved to N.Y. City. Rising in his profession, he was Justice of the Supreme Court from 1908-22, and a member of the Appellate Division for the last five of those years. He was President of the Union League, a Trustee of Hamilton College and Counsel for the N.Y. Produce Exchange - a real credit to his family.

Orrin Blackmar died in 1897 at 78 years. His obit referred to 'his uprightness, integrity, manliness, and magnanimity.'

Edwin, the youngest of the Blackmar siblings, came to Newark in 1835. After graduating from an eastern college, he studied law for a time. With an apparent change of interest, he entered the employ of Col. Lathrup Bristol, Newark's leading merchant-tailor. Having learned the trade of clothier, Edwin took in James Hankenson as a partner under the firm name of Blackmar & Hankenson. After the death of Edwin, the Hankensons, father and son, carried the business under their own name. The firm, diminished and under other ownership, ended business with the 'help' of Urban Renewal.

Edwin Blackmar and his wife Catherine were the parents of a large family, Lavinia, Edwin, Earnest, Walton, Emma, Helen, Arthur, Mead, Harriet and Bert, several of whom died young. Emma became the mother of George Richmond, long-time president of Bloomer Bros. Company. Harriet was the first wife of Charles T. Bloomer, a founder of the same company.

Catherine Blackmar died in 1896 and Edwin in 1898. Their home was on the W. Miller St. site of the current IGA parking lot.

Horace Blackmar (b. 1815), a nephew of Abel, came to Newark in 1835 and soon proved himself worthy of the Blackmar name. After a clerkship with Ransom and Esbon, he formed a partnership with cousin Orrin as H. & 0. Blackmar, as noted above. It has been written that, 'The firm ... was long considered the largest mercantile house in the county.'

Horace invested in farm lands outside the village and purchased the farm of Dr. Cyrus Button, which ran roughly from south of Maple Court nearly to East Maple Ave. (then South St.) and from Main St. to east of the site of Colton Ave.

Williams and Grant Sts. and extensions of East Ave. (Charles St.) and Colton Ave. (Norton St.) were laid out and building lots offered for sale. Landmarks of Wayne County (1895) says 'Most of the land on which Newark is located is shown by title deeds to have at one time belonged to some member of the Blackmar family.' While something of an exaggeration, the real estate holdings of Horace Blackmar east of South Main St. and Abel T. and Esbon west of that street must surely have made the statement seem factual. All of this activity was carried out by the Blackmars without losing the complete confidence and respect of their fellow Newarkites.

Horace and his wife Cornelia, a native of Ontario County, had three children, Belcher, Esbon and Mary. The family attended the Universalist Church. For a time they lived in a house on the corner of S. Main and Church Sts., later taking over Abel T.'s home on VanBuren St., later to be occupied by Lavinia and Mead Allerton.

While still living in Newark, Horace began to invest in real estate in Michigan, where he moved his family about 1860. There he was active in the development of the city of Hillsdale, where he served as mayor. Horace Blackmar died in 1881.

Every struggling young village should have a family of the caliber and energy of the Blackmars. Several burial plots in Newark Cemetery and the name of one short street are all that remain to remind us of the Blackmar family today.

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