Major Edwin Carlton Blackmar

MAJOR EDWIN CARLTON BLACKMAR was born September 7,1835, at North Woodstock, Connecticut; he died at Burlington, Iowa, October 7, 1900. Soon after his birth his parents removed to Washington county, Ohio, where he lived until 1853, when he came to Iowa. After leaving school he entered a machine shop and later became a steamboat engineer, plying his trade on the Ohio and Muskingum rivers. In November, 1852, he nearly lost his life in a steamboat explosion, only recovering after months of suffering. Upon regaining his health, he came with his father to Iowa and settled in Glenwood. For some time he was employed under the United States Indian agent at Bellevue, Nebraska. In the fall of 1861 he recruited a company of volunteers for service in the Union army and was commissioned captain of Co. F, 15th Iowa Infantry. At the battle of Shiloh he was disabled by the bursting of a shell and resigning from the service returned to Iowa. As soon as his health and strength permitted, he re entered the service as adjutant of the 31st Iowa Infantry, serving until the surrender of Vicksburg, when again the condition of his health compelled him to resign. In 1864 he settled in Des Moines and became interested in the printing and publishing of blank books. This venture determined his future career. In 1867 he removed to Burlington, becoming a partner in the firm established by Mr. S. F. Acres. The firm was known as Acres, Blackmar & Co., a business house famous throughout Iowa. Mr. Blackmar's early experience in county offices in the western part of the State, and his experience as a practical printer in Des Moines, gave him valuable knowledge of forms and blank records required in our counties, and enabled him to advance rapidly the reputation of his firm in the matter of manufacturing and furnishing blank books. In 1879 the partnership was dissolved and the business was reorganized as a corporation, Mr. Blackmar becoming the secretary of the company. Later, on the death of Mr. Acres in 1890, he became president, which office be held until his death. For a few years he lived in St. Louis but retained his connection with the Burlington business. Major Blackmar was prominent in the Masonic order, holding a number of responsible positions, among them being that of Grand Master from 1887 to 1889. He was also a member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Burlington and a prominent member of the Matthies Post No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic.

SOURCE: Annals Of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 5 No. 1, April 1901, p. 75