Rev John Blatchford

https://books.google.com/books?id=kTU2AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA102

John 's family moved to Lansingborough, NY in 1804. There in 1816, he united with the Church and he soon turned to the ministry. His preparatory studies were first at Cambridge Academy, then at Salem, NY. He went to Union College in 1817, graduating in 1820 and his theological studies were pursued at Priceton, N.J. in that year. He was licensed to preach, by the Presbytery of Troy, in 1823. He first settled at Pittstown, NY, was ordained and installed there in August, 1823. In 1825 he accepted a call to Stillwater, N.Y., where he continued until 1829. He then went to the Congregational Church in "his native place" (Newfield?). Due to his wife's health he moved and spent the winter in Jacksonville, Illinois. In 1837, he was called to the First Presbyterian Church in Chicago, where he was installed pastor in July and continued until August, 1939. From 1841-1844, he was connected with Marion College, MO, first as Professor and afterward as President. Impaired health, however, occaisoned the removal of Dr. Blatchford (he had his Doctorate in Divinity), to Quincy, Illinois, where he continued to reside. His death occurred while on a visit to St. Louis, MO, at the house of his son-in-law, Mr. Morris Collins.

John married Frances Wickes on May 18, 1825, daughter of Eliphalet Wickes, Esq. They had 12 children: Eliphalet Wickes, Richard Milford (lived 3 1/2 yrs.), Martha Wickes, John Samuel, Frances Alicia (lived just less than 14 years), Eliza Allen (lived less than 1 year), Harriet Punnett (lived 1 yr. 3 mths.), Eliza Harriet (lived 4 months), Alexander (lived 7 1/2 yrs.), Mary Cebra (lived 6 yrs. 2 months), Alice Windeatt and Nathaniel Hopkins.

From his funeral sermon:

"The painful malady of which he died (malignant pustule) was of two months duration. Its course was marked by the most intense suffering to which disease can expose man....."

There is a double memorial window in the First congregational Church of Bridgeport, CT, in memory of John's father and of John.

There is a great picture of John in the book: "The First Presbyterian Church" by Philo Adams Otis, page 144. You can find it on the internet as it is printed in its entirety on Google Books. Inscription:

"A Cenotaphic Memorial of REV. HENRY BLATCHFORD, A.M. who died at Princess Anne, Md. Sept 7, 1822 aged 31 (?) yrs Also REV. JOHN BLATCHFORD, D.D. who died at St. Louis, Mo. Apr 8, 1855 aged 56 yrs intered in Quincy, Ill. Sons of Rev. Samuel & Alicia Blatchford"

Note: I have not found the exact cemetery he is buried in, when I do, I will switch this memorial's location.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jun 20 2018, 4:20:43 UTC