BENJAMIN BLACKFORD, M. D.,
Is a grandson of Benjamin Blackford who came to Page county, Virginia,
from Carlisle, Pa., in the opening year (1801) of the present century.
He was born in Luray, Page county, in 1834, the son of Dr.
Thomas T. Blackford. The mother (Caroline Steenbergen) of Dr. Benjamin
Blackford was born at Mt. Airy, Shenandoah county, Virginia,
and is now 88 years of age. Dr. Blackford's wife is Emily, daughter of
Robert and Annie (Ogle) Neilson, her father of Baltimore, her mother
of Bellair, Maryland. She was born in Baltimore, in 1841, and they
were married there by Rev. T. N. Dudley (now bishop of Kentucky) of
Christ (Episcopal) Church, in January, 1871. Their children are six
sons: Thomas Atkinson, Benjamin O., Robert Neilson, Charles M., W.
Arthur and G. Tayloe.
Dr. Blackford entered the military service of Virginia forces April 23,
1861 (transferred to the Confederate States Service in July, 1861), and
left Richmond as surgeon of Col. (afterwards Gen.) Garland's command,
for Manassas Junction. In May, 1861, he was appointed
surgeon of the 11th Virginia Infantry, when Garland's command was
formed into a regiment. In June, 1861, under orders from Gen. Beauregard,
he established the general hospital at Culpeper C. H. In
August, 1861, he was ordered to establish the general hospital at
Front Royal, where he remained surgeon in charge till March, 1862.
When Gen. Johnston's army was falling back from Manassas he was
on duty at Gordonsville, while the army was moving from Manassas to
the peninsula. In May, 1862, he was ordered to increase the hospital
accommodations in South Side Virginia, at Farmville, Danville, Lynchburg
and Liberty, and on reporting at completion of this work, was
ordered to transfer his hospital stores, etc., from Front Royal to Liberty,
establishing general hospital there. Established a large general
hospital at Liberty, and remained in charge of same till close of war.
In the retreat of army from Manassas saved all of his hospital supplies
—furniture, medicines, etc.—by sending them down the valley from
Strasburg to Staunton. His brother, Capt. W. H. Blackford, now
president of the Maryland Life Insurance Co., Baltimore, was in service
through the war in Company G, 11th Virginia Regiment, C. S. A.
Dr. Blackford has devoted many years to the practice of his profession.
He is the present president of the State Medical Society, of Virginia,
and member of Board of Overseers of the Poor of the city of
Lynchburg; also almshouse physician.
