John Walter Blessing1

b. 14 October 1856, d. 1923
FatherWilliam T. Blessing2 b. 1827, d. bet 1870 - 1880
MotherMargaret Jane Buchanan Gardner3,2 b. 16 May 1829, d. 1905
Birth14 Oct 1856 John Walter Blessing was born on 14 Oct 1856 in Virginia.1,4 
  He was known in the family as Walter.1 
Marriage1889 John married Martha Ellen Britton in 1889 in Bell County, Kentucky.1 
  Martha was from Kentucky and it appears the couple lived there for some years after their marriage. Judging by the birth places recorded for their children, the family probably returned to Virginia in the mid 1890s. 
Cens-190020 Jun 1900  By June 1900 they had settled in Lee County where John worked for the railroad. "Ella" was recorded as the mother of 5 children, all of whom were enumerated with the couple.5 
Cens-191019 Apr 1910  The 1910 census clarified that they rented a home in the Rose Hill District of Lee County. John continued to work for the railroad (as a foreman or fireman) as did the couple's two eldest sons: James worked as a telegraph operator and Ben lit the signal lights for the trains.6 
Cens-192028 Jan 1920  The 1920 census added the additional information that the family residence was on Fincastle Road. James, the eldest son had left home by 1920. Jessie, the only daughter among John and Martha's 7 children, had married, been widowed and returned home to live with her parents. John and sons Ben, Walter and Richmond all worked for the railroad in some capacity.7 
Death1923 John died in 1923 in Lee County, Virginia.1 

Family

Martha Ellen Britton b. Oct 1870, d. 22 Jun 1950
Children
  • James Gardner Blessing5 (Apr 1890 - 14 Jul 1953)
  • Benjamin Thomas Blessing5 (Jan 1892 - 29 Mar 1963)
  • Jessie A. Blessing5 (12 Jan 1894 - 21 Feb 1991)
  • Walter E. Blessing5 (Mar 1897 - 2 Dec 1991)
  • Richmond H. Blessing5 (25 Sep 1899 - 22 Aug 1995)
  • Nathaniel E. Blessing6 (29 Sep 1905 - )
  • William B. Blessing6 (27 Jul 1907 - 3 Feb 1980)
ChartsDescendants of Jeremiah Gardner and Margaret Edmiston
Last Edited4 Jan 2013

Citations

  1. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address ; Mr. Gardner cites correspondence with Mary Miles Campbell (1948, Wytheville, VA), and Margaret Medaris (dau of Gardner Blessing), as well as notes from the Redmond Cole files for selected data on the William T. Blessing family.
  2. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address.
  3. [S521] Jane Blessing household, 1880 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop sched., Marion district, ED 81, page 23B (stamped), dwelling 17, family 17, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 44 of 54. Enumeration includes: Jane Blessing, 51, keeping house; Mary E., 24, dau; Gardner A., 22, son; John W., 20, son; Charles T., 18, son; Willie J., 16, dau; all b. VA; all parents b. VA; sons all "work on farm."
  4. [S576] William Blessing household, 1860 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 7 Mile Ford post office, p. 110 (original numbering in script), dwelling 714, family 716, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 112 of 191.
  5. [S2695] John Blessing household, 1900 U.S. cens., Lee Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Balls Mill District, ED 33, sheet 13B, dwelling 248, family 253, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2012. Household includes: John Blessing, 42, b. Oct. 1857, marr 11 yrs, b. VA, RR foreman [or fireman], rents home; Ella, wife, 29, b. Oct. 1870, marr 11 yrs, mother of 5 children, all are living, b. KY; James, son, 10, b. Apr 1890; Ben T., son, 8, b. Jan 1892; Jessie, dau, 6, b. Jan. 1894; Walter, son, 3, b. Mch 1897; Richmond, son, 1, b. Sept. 1899; all children b. KY; Cora Brittain, sister-in-law, 14, b. Oct. 1885 KY; Dela Edridge, 18, b. Dec. 1881 VA, servant.
  6. [S3040] John W. Blessing household, 1910 U.S. cens., Lee Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rose Hill District (part of Balls Mill District), ED 34, sheet 2B, dwelling 28, family 28, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2012. Household includes: John W. Blessing, 53,marr #1, marr 21 yrs, b. VA, RR foreman [or fireman], rents home; Martha E., wife, 39, marr #1, marr 21 yrs, mother of 7 children, all are living, b. KY; James G., son, 19, b. KY, telegraph operator for RR; Benjamin T., son, 18, b. KY, lights signal lights on RR ; Jessie A., dau, 16, b. KY; Walter E., son, 13, b. VA; Richmond H., son, 10, b. VA; Nathaniel E., son, 4, b. VA; William B., son, 2, b. VA.
  7. [S2950] John W. Blessing household, 1920 U.S. cens., Lee Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rose Hill District, ED 46, sheet 5B, dwelling 95, family 95, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2012. Household includes: John W. Blessing, 63, b. VA, RR fomon [sic]; Ella, wife, 48, b. KY; Benjamin T., son, 17, b. KY, RR operator; Walter E., son, 22, b. VA, RR operator; Richmond H., son, 20, b. VA, railroad operator; Nathaniel E., son, 14, b. VA; William B., son, 12, b. VA; Jessie _ Smith, dau, 26, widowed, b. KY; residence on Fincastle Rd.