Washington Co., AR - Biographies - Sheppard Hubbard Blackmer *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** Sheppard Hubbard Blackmer, builder, and member of the firm of Byrnes & Blackmer, was born in Washington County, Ark., and is the son of Sheppard and Charity (Looper) Blackmer, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Bedford County, Tenn. She was the daughter of Allen and Polley Ann Looper. To Sheppard and Charity (Looper) Blackmer were born four children, three sons and one daughter: Sheppard Hubbard was born September 2, 1844; Mary Ann was born April 20, 1846; Hiram Vaughan was born January 20, 1848; Henry Allen was born April 14, 1850. Sheppard Blackmer, Sr., left home in Washington County, Ark., April 22, 1850, and went to California; was there two years, and died in California. Charity Blackmer died in November, 1858, leaving the children all small. Sheppard H. was left at the age of fourteen years to work for himself. He began learning the trade of brick-making and plastering, but at this juncture the war broke out, and he enlisted in the Union army, and was a corporal in Company A, First Arkansas Infantry Volunteers, serving from February 14, 1863, to August 10, 1865. He then returned, and completed the trade of plastering at Springfield, Mo., where he actively engaged in this business until 1870. He then moved to Fayetteville, and has been since actively engaged in mason work and the building industry. He was married in Springfield, Mo., August 25, 1869, to Miss Docia Virginia Fallin, a native of Washington County, Ark., and the daughter of Robert R, and Nancey D. (Cabe) Fallin, who were natives of Maury County, Tenn. To Mr. and Mrs. Fallin were born five children, two sons and three daughters: Mary Emily, Holmes Lafayette, Docia Virginia, Joseph Anthony, Elizabeth Delitha and Martha, and to Mr. and Mrs. Blackmer were born four children, two sons and two daughters: Alonzo Clinton was born August 21, 1871; Mary Stella was born February 22, 1873; Lillie Lois was born September 23, 1878; Albert Hiram was born July 14, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Blackmer are members of the Christian Church, of which he has been deacon for some time. He is a member of Washington Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M., and Frontier Lodge No. 1626, Knights of Honor, and Fayetteville Lodge No. 28, A. O. U. W., and Travis Post No. 19, Grand Army of the Republic, and is a stockholder and an original charter member of the Electric Light Company. Mr. Blackmer has put up most of the brick work on the south side of the square in Fayetteville, the White & Campbell store, the Welch & Van Winkle Block, and the company have built the dormitory and laboratory of the A. I. U. and many other important buildings of Fayetteville.