Prairie-Hot Spring-Grant County ArArchives Biographies.....Blacklock, Ira William 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ar/arfiles.html
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Robert Sanchez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00027.html#0006574 July 19, 2009, 4:36 pm

Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1922)

IRA WILLIAM BLACKLOCK.
    Ira William Blacklock, superintendent of schools at Hazen, has in his
professional career held to the highest educational standards and his labors
have constituted a potent force in the advancement and development of the
schools under his care. A native of Kentucky, he was born near Hartford, in
1874, and is a son of Charles and Lois (Barrett) Blacklock, both of whom were
also natives of Hartford. The Blacklock family is of Scotch origin, the name
being derived from Black Loch, which is the Scotch word for lake. Richard
Blacklock was among the first of the family to settle west of the Mississippi,
going to Texas at a very early day. In the year 1894 Charles Blacklock and his
wife established their home on a farm at Poyen, Grant county, Arkansas. Later
they removed to Sheridan, where Mr. Blacklock again engaged in  farming and also
conducted a leather and harness manufacturing business. Still later he moved to
Benton, where he lived to the time of his death, in January, 1919. To him and
his wife were born nine children, seven of whom are living: Ira William; Ora,
the wife of K. P. Davis; Mary, the wife of J. D. Ritchey of Texas; Ella, the
wife of J. C. Whitley; Maude, the wife of J. M. Scott; Thomas M., who is a
minister of the Baptist church in New Mexico; and Clarence E.

   It was during the early boyhood of Ira W. Blacklock that the family home was
established in Kansas and in the public schools of that state he pursued his
studies until he had mastered the usual branches of learning that constitute the
public school curriculum. Later he attended the Central Normal College at Great
Bend, Kansas, and he began teaching in Stanton county, that state, while later
he was identified with educational work in Butler county. In 1894 his parents
removed to Oklahoma and during that year Ira W. Blacklock taught in Red Bud,
Kansas. In 1895 he secured a school near Donaldson, Arkansas, and later spent
four years as a teacher in the schools of Donaldson, after which he matriculated
in Ouachita College, where he remained as a student for three years, teaching
during the summer months at Butterfield and at Elmore during that period.
Afterward he spent two years as principal of the high school at Sheridan and
subsequently was principal at Prattsville, whence he returned to Sheridan in
1906, there remaining until 1909. Ambitious to promote his own education he next
attended the University of Arkansas for a year, winning the Bachelor of Arts
degree. A year was spent as principal of the Yellville high school, after which
he went on the road as a traveling salesman in connection with educational
interests. He was called from that field of labor by an increase of one-half in
salary, to take charge of the Sheridan schools, with which he was again
connected for three years. He next went to Mount Harmony School for one year as
principal, after which he attended the Peabody College for Teachers. In the fall
of 1916 he took charge of the Bryant school and in 1919 he became superintendent
of the Rondo high school. Then he went to Beebe as superintendent at that place,
at a decided increase in salary. In 1921 he became superintendent of the schools
at Hazen and has made a splendid record here as in the other localities in which
he has labored. He is constantly looking ahead to meet the demands of the times
and has introduced many advanced and progressive methods into the schools, at
all times seeking to make instruction of the most practical worth in the lives
of the pupils who come under his guidance.

    Professor Blacklock was united in marriage to Miss Grace Morrill, a daughter
of Albert and Jemima (Jadwin) Morrill, and they have become the parents of three
children: Carl Morrill, Naomi Ruth, and Orla Ray. The family occupies a
prominent position in those social circles where true worth and intelligence are
accepted as the passports to good society. They are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church, South, and take great interest in religious activities.
    Mr. Blacklock is keenly interested in everything that makes for public
progress and improvement and his own course has been marked by steady
advancement. In his youth he learned the printer's trade, working on the Johnson
City Journal, the Stanton County Sun and on the Blackwell Daily Eagle. He
learned many valuable lessons from his experience along those lines and his
career has shown steady development as he has continued his work in the
educational field. He is the author of much creditable poetry, his writings
having appeared in The Arkansas Teacher, and local periodicals. His discussions
of vital questions are always enlightening, showing deep research and broad
vision. Two of his shorter poems are here given: [Poems not transcribed]


Additional Comments:
Citation:
Centennial History of Arkansas
Volume II
Chicago-Little Rock: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1922


File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ar/prairie/bios/blackloc274bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/arfiles/

File size: 5.5 Kb