Biographical Sketch of Eli Blacksten, Johnson County, Missouri, Hazel Hill Township >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** Eli Blacksten, proprietor of "Busy Bee Farm," a place named for the activity of the bees which for the past eight years have been making honey in the walls of the Blacksten residence, is, at the age of 75 years, one of the best informed, most intelligent, most active horti- culturists in Missouri. He was born in 1842 in Wayne county, Ohio. Mr. Blacksten is one of three sons now living born to Daniel and Harriet (Griffith) Blacksten, the former, a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. When a lad of 11 years of age, Daniel Blacksten came to Ohio and in that state grew to manhood and was married to Miss Harriet Griffith. To them were born: Dr. H. E., a prominent physician of Excelsior, Missouri; H. M., a well known horticulturist of Dalton, Ohio; and Eli, the subject of this review. The father was deeply interested in horticulture and planted two fine orchards on his country place in Ohio, in the care of which he took great pride. Both father and mother have long since been deceased. In 1866, Eli Blacksten moved from Wayne county, Ohio, to Moniteau county, Missouri, and there resid- ed until 1895, when he came to Hazel Hill township, Johnson county, and purchased his present home from Jerry Shores, a place originally owned by Judge Harrison, the father of Wesley Harrison, one of the first settlers of Hazel Hill township, to which he came in the early thirt- ies. The farm is well watered by a well, three hundred fifteen feet in depth to strata water, and a fine spring. There is a large, splen- did stock and hay barn, of two stories and a basement on the place. The residence, a house of nine rooms, well constructed and conveniently arranged, was built by Mr. Shores and remodeled by Mr. Blacksten. A stray swarm of bees has taken possession of a nook under the weather- boarding of the residence, gaining enterance through an opening made by the birds, and now whenever Mr. Blacksten wishes honey for his dinner, a board or two will be removed, all the honey he desires taken out, and the boards replaced to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. Every year, Mr. Blacksten secures about 100 pounds of honey, which is of the very best quality. At the present time, in 1917, there are four diff- erent swarms in the wall. Besides honey, the "Busy Bee Farm" produces fruit, grain, and stock. The place comprises 260 acres of land, one mile from Fayetteville on the county seat road. This farm is one of the most attractive, delightful country places in Johnson county. Forty acres of the farm are in orchard, all, with the exception of 4 acres, so planted by Eli Blacksten. The trees are well cared for and, in season, thoroughly sprayed. There are in the Blacksten orchard 400 pear trees, 1500 apple trees, a large number of peach trees, and many cherry trees. In the spring time, when the trees are in bloom, the air for a long distance is weighted with perfume and "Busy Bee Farm" is a most picturesque spot, looking as if the trees were covered with snow which the warmth of May can not melt. Mr. Blacksten makes a specialty of the York Imperial, as a winter apple, and he also has in season the Missouri Pippin, Mammoth Blacktwig, Winesap and numerous other variet- ies. His largest crop came about six years ago, when the orchard pro- duced 10,000 bushels, a part of which were shipped to North Dakota in two cars and the rest to Illinois. The best year for pears, there were 650 bushels of the Improved Keifer, Lincoln and Gerber varieties. As a stockman, Mr. Blacksten is equally successful. He keeps about 50 head of cattle, raising registered Holsteins, Jerseys and some of the Aber- deen Angus breed. He has several mules and a large number of high grade hogs, the latter being registered stock. Nearly 130 acres of the farm are in pasture and, this past season of 1917, 40 acres were corn. Mr. Blacksten annually alternates corn and oats and every other year raises wheat. He is one of the most thorough, progressive, capable farmers and stockmen in this section of the state. In 1871, Eli Black- sten and Lydia K. Mowrey were united in marriage. Mrs. Blacksten was formerly of Wayne county, Ohio. To Eli and Mrs. Blacksten were born five children: Mrs. Lucy L. Hoover, who is the mother of one child, a daughter, and resides near Pierce City, Missouri; C. E., who married Eva J. Gist and they now reside on a farm near Menlo, Kansas, where he is engaged in wheat growing, and to them have been born four children; F. W., of Texhoma, Oklahoma, who married Etta Nichols, of Warrensburg, and to them have been born eight sons; Mrs. Bertha M. McPhail, the wife of a leading physician of St. Joseph, Missouri; and V. G., who married Cora Harding, of Warrensburg, and they live at home with his father. V. G. Blacksten has charge of the orchard, devoting his entire atten- tion to that part of the farm, as he is a thoroughly informed horticul- turist, understanding all the multitudinous details of this line of work. Eli Blacksten is very proud and fond of his thirteen grandchild- ren. Mrs. Blacksten, one of Johnson county's noblest women and an ideal mother, died in 1910 and her remains were laid to rest in Liberty cemetery. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. 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