I Was Once Known as Martha, Now I'm Known as Jane

Before I can tackle Harrison Blacketer and his two marriages like I promised, I have to discuss his apparent second wife Martha Jane (Smith) Blacketer, my great grandmother. And I'll do it in small blocks to build up to...so many other things explaining these complicated individuals and others. LOL.

Over the course of her life Martha Jane went by several different given names. Because nothing is ever easy, right?

Here is a selection of names she went by or was known by:

1870: Sarah M. Smith (1)

1880: Mattie J. Smith (2)

1898: Jane Smith (3)

1900: Martha Jane Blacketer (4)

1910: Mattie Blacketer (5)

1915: Jane Blacketer (6)

1930: Martha J. Blacketer (7)

In an affidavit to the Pension Bureau on 22 July 1915, Jane explained she was known as "Martha," but she was then known as "Jane," which is the name she used when she married Harrison. (8) Much of the documentation supports that her maiden name was Martha Jane Smith and when younger, she was known as "Mattie," which can be a nickname for Martha. (9) Martha Jane had one death notice and two obituaries. (10) The two obituaries, written with information provided most likely by her son and daughter, used "Martha Jane Blacketer and "Mattie Jane Blacketer." (11) One of these obituaries mentions her maiden name "Smith." (12) These newspaper articles written posthumously seem to pull together all the name variations she used throughout her life except for one.

The enumerator recorded a different name for Estella's supposed daughter in the 1870 census in Andrew J. Davis's household in Maryville, Nodaway, Missouri, "Sarah M." (13) This may suggest "Sarah M." is a different child. However, the age appears to agree with other documents. (14) And her middle initial could stand for "Martha." Also, it is quite possible the enumerator recorded it wrong, or, in this household, as a baby her aunts, uncles, and maternal grandparents—who she lived with in 1870—called her "Sarah." Or maybe Estella was just trying out the name and decided later it didn't "fit" her daughter. Additionally, in 1900 the enumerator recorded that Estella C. Smith had only one child who was still living out of a total one child being born to her, very likely information given directly by her. At the time she was living as mother-in-law to Harrison Blacketer who was married to Martha Jane Blacketer, implying she was Martha Jane's mother. This supports the idea of her having only one child—Martha Jane Smith. (15)

Of note was another family member, a one-year-old Lorena Davis in the 1870 Andrew J. Davis household. (16) Ten years later in 1880 there was an 11-year-old "Morena" Davis in the Andrew J. Davis household next door to Harrison Blacketer where Estella C. Smith and Martha Jane Smith resided. (17) This was likely the same person and the enumerator incorrectly heard and/or spelled her name. But other than this minor spelling difference for Lorena/Morena and the name "Sarah M." for the supposed Martha Jane, the ages and places of birth in 1870 in Maryville for Estella C. Smith, Sarah M. Smith, Lorena Davis, and Andrew J. Davis seem to be consistent with the ages and places of birth for Estella C. Blacketer, Mattie J. Smith, Morena Davis, and Andrew J. Davis ten years later in 1880 in Maryville. (18)

It appears Martha Jane "Mattie" (Smith) Blacketer used her different given names as the seasons of her life changed.

It also appears that Harrison Blacketer married first Estella C. (Davis) Smith, and then second his step-daughter Martha Jane Smith. Did you catch that? Is that a mistake? I don't think so. But we will get to this complicated mess eventually. Block by block. ;)

Blacketer—Smith Descendancy to Author

~Caroline

Sources:

     1.   1870 U.S. census, Adams County, Iowa, population schedule, Quincy township, page 13 (penned), dwelling 91, family 91, Sarah M. Smith in Andrew J. Davis household; imaged "U.S. Federal Census Collection," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ : 12 March 2024).

     2.   1880 U.S. census, Nodaway, Missouri, Maryville, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 261, p. 31 (penned), p. 205 (stamped), dwelling 279, family 288, Mattie J. Smith in Harrison Blacketer household; imaged, “1880 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/ : 2 February 2024).

     3.    Buchanan County, Missouri, "Marriage Record from June 5, 1897 to Dec. 28, 1899," vol. N, p. 326, Harrison Blacketer–Jane Smith, 27 April 1898; imaged "Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/2060668 : accessed 28 August 2025) > IGN 007425041 > image 425 of 505; citing Buchanan County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds, St. Joseph.

     4.    1900 U.S. census, Clinton County, Missouri, Shoal Township, Cameron City Ward 1-2, Enumeration District (ED) 41, population schedule, p. 164 (stamped), sheet 12-A, dwelling 268, family 272, Martha J. Blacketer in Harrison Blacketer household; imaged, “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/: accessed 8 September 2025).

     5.    1910 U.S. census, Clinton, Missouri, Cameron Ward 1, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 42, p. 147 (stamped), sheet 5-B, dwelling 127, family 124, Mattie Blacketer in Harrison Blacketer household; imaged, “1910 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7884/ : accessed 8 September 2025.

     6.    General Affidavit of Jane Blacketer, 22 July 1915, Harrison Blacketer Civil War Pension File including the Widows Pension Application, Pointer Family Papers; privately held by Caroline Pointer [Address for Private Use,] Conroe, Texas, 2020. This photocopy of the file was made by Judy Hopkins of Boise, Idaho in 2018 from her own family collection. She obtained the file from the Veterans Administration in 2000. Each page was numbered by hand by Judy 1-256 but is missing pages 149-156. The photocopy is easily read.

     7.    1930 U.S. census, Clinton County, Missouri, Cameron, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 25-18, p. 114 (stamped), sheet 3-A, dwelling 67, family 67, Martha J. Blacketer in Maurice Blacketer household; imaged, "1930 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/ : accessed 28 August 2025).

     8.    General Affidavit of Jane Blacketer, 22 July 1915, Harrison Blacketer Civil War Pension File including the Widows Pension Application, Pointer Family Papers; privately held by Caroline Pointer [Address for Private Use,] Conroe, Texas, 2020. This photocopy of the file was made by Judy Hopkins of Boise, Idaho in 2018 from her own family collection. She obtained the file from the Veterans Administration in 2000. Each page was numbered by hand by Judy 1-256 but is missing pages 149-156. The photocopy is easily read. For marriage: Buchanan County, Missouri, "Marriage Record from June 5, 1897 to Dec. 28, 1899," vol. N, p. 326, Harrison Blacketer–Jane Smith, 27 April 1898; imaged "Missouri, County Marriage, Naturalization, and Court Records, 1800-1991," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/en/search/collection/2060668 : accessed 28 August 2025) > IGN 007425041 > image 425 of 505; citing Buchanan County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds, St. Joseph.

     9.    Christine Rose, Nicknames Past and Present 5th Edition Expanded, (San Jose: CR Publications, 2007), p.12-13.

     10.   "Mrs. Jane Blacketer Passed on Suddenly," The Cameron News-Observer (Missouri), 26 April 1944, p. 1, col. 6, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1122192751/ : accessed 8 September 2025). Also, "Mrs. Jane Blacketer," The Cameron Sun (Missouri), 27 April 1944, p. 5, cols. 1 and 2, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/338263322/ : accessed 9 September 2025). And, "Mattie Jane Blacketer," The Cameron Sun (Missouri), 4 May 1944, p. 5, col. 1, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/338263374/ : accessed 8 September 2025).

     11.   "Mrs. Jane Blacketer," The Cameron Sun (Missouri), 27 April 1944, p. 5, cols. 1 and 2, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/338263322/ : accessed 9 September 2025). And, "Mattie Jane Blacketer," The Cameron Sun (Missouri), 4 May 1944, p. 5, col. 1, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/338263374/ : accessed 8 September 2025).

     12.   "Mrs. Jane Blacketer," The Cameron Sun (Missouri), 27 April 1944, p. 5, cols. 1 and 2, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/338263322/ : accessed 9 September 2025). 

     13.   1870 U.S. census, Adams County, Iowa, population schedule, Quincy township, page 13 (penned), dwelling 91, family 91, Sarah M. Smith in Andrew J. Davis household; imaged "U.S. Federal Census Collection," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ : 12 March 2024).

     14.   Selected: Death Certificate lists age 74 years and 10 months: "Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1973," Missouri Secretary of State, imaged, Missouri Digital Heritage (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1944/1944_00014457.PDF : viewed 25 March 2024), certificate image, Martha Jane Blacketer, 26 April 1944, no. 14461. Age 10 in 1880: 1880 U.S. census, Nodaway, Missouri, Maryville, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 261, p. 31 (penned), p. 205 (stamped), dwelling 279, family 288, Mattie J. Smith in Harrison Blacketer household; imaged, “1880 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/ : 2 February 2024).

     15.   1900 U.S. census, Clinton County, Missouri, Shoal Township, Cameron City Ward 1-2, Enumeration District (ED) 41, population schedule, p. 164 (stamped), sheet 12-A, dwelling 268, family 272, Martha J. Blacketer in Harrison Blacketer household; imaged, “1900 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7602/: accessed 8 September 2025). 

     16.   1870 U.S. census, Adams County, Iowa, population schedule, Quincy township, page 13 (penned), dwelling 91, family 91, Sarah M. Smith in Andrew J. Davis household; imaged "U.S. Federal Census Collection," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ : 12 March 2024).

     17.   1880 U.S. census, Nodaway, Missouri, Maryville, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 261, p. 31 (penned), p. 205 (stamped), dwelling 279, family 288, Mattie J. Smith in Harrison Blacketer household; imaged, “1880 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/ : 2 February 2024).

     18.   1870 U.S. census, Adams County, Iowa, population schedule, Quincy township, page 13 (penned), dwelling 91, family 91, Sarah M. Smith in Andrew J. Davis household; imaged "U.S. Federal Census Collection," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7163/ : 12 March 2024). And, 1880 U.S. census, Nodaway, Missouri, Maryville, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 261, p. 31 (penned), p. 205 (stamped), dwelling 279, family 288, Mattie J. Smith in Harrison Blacketer household; imaged, “1880 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6742/ : 2 February 2024).

Karma, More Asses, and a Tragedy

Karma

According to my great grandfather's obituary, he became injured while serving in the U.S. Army. But before that tragedy, he also encountered some more mules which they used to drive wagons. At the end of the Civil War, Harrison Blacketer's company was sent to the Plains in order to escort the U.S. Mail between Fort Mitchell in Nebraska and Fort Laramie in Wyoming. [1] While driving the mules to grass to eat, possibly in the fall of 1865, a mule kicked Harrison in the chest. [2]

The meditative mule by Forbes, Edwin, 1839-1895. Credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Civil War Photographs, LC-DIG-ppmsca-20669.

A person might think this was just karma for him shooting a mule while stinkin' drunk. And that person might be right. While it hurt, Harrison did not stop what he was doing that day. He just went on about his business.

Tragedy

Then on an icy winter evening in January of 1866 he and some of his comrades were headed to Fort Laramie escorting the mail when his horse slipped on ice while crossing Horse Creek. Harrison explained:

"In crossing Horse Creek, which was frozen, my horse slipped and fell. He fell on me. When he tried to get up he fell on me again. He tried several times to get up, and each time fell on me. The ice was so slick he could not get up. He was not sharp shod. Some of the horses were sharp shod, but not all were shod. When my horse fell I was thrown on the ice, striking my head and stunning me, and while I lay there my horse kicked me in the face in his efforts to get up. In falling the horse fell on me, crushing my left hand, arm and shoulder. I could not get away. I could not move. Although stunned at first, I was not entirely unconscious. But it all happened so quickly that I could not get away. The soldiers who were there rescued me. There were five or six of us...the bones of my left hand, left elbow and left shoulder were broken as well as dislocated. There were two gashes in my forehead. I could not say whether the frontal bone was broken. There was also a gash in my upper lip on the left side. A couple of teeth were knocked out, but my jaw was not broken..."[3]

Despite his injuries, Harrison continued on to Fort Laramie:

"I went horseback. There was no other way to go. The mail was carried on a mule. At Ft. Laramie there was no hospital or doctor. At Ft. Laramie I was cared for only by the soldiers. I was cared for in the tent of T.J. McBeath by him and James Thibedeaux. They merely tied up my wounds. They couldn't do anything else. I remained at Ft. Laramie a day or two, then returned to Ft. Mitchell with the mail escort. I went horseback. There was no other way to go...there was no hospital at Ft. Mitchell. Sgt. Reynolds took me to the tailor and had him sew up my lip. He sewed it with common black thread and a big needle. I took cold and the wounds of my lip and forehead swelled up and my eyes were affected. My eyes were sore and the sight was affected. My eyes were not wounded...Dr. Linn attended me at Ft. Mitchell for a time, but he was not there all the time...My captain John Collar, and some of the boys took care of me...Dr. Linn dressed my wounds, but did not set any broken bones or replace any dislocated joints...gangrene set in in the wound in my elbow, but not in the other wounds. The wounds had healed by the time I was discharged, except the left elbow, and that healed over afer my discharge."[4]

I cannot imagine the pain Harrison endured that fateful night or the days after. I think it is safe to say Harrison incurred a traumatic brain injury (TBI) which might explain the blurry vision though his eyes were not directly hit. I can't imagine having to endure the crushing of his left shoulder, elbow, and hand. and them never being fixed. However, much like him dusting himself and going about his business when the mule kicked him in his chest, after discharge, Harrison carried out a pretty active life considering his handicaps after he mustered out on 9 April 1866 at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas. 

I'm waiting for some documents to help tell that part of his story after the Civl War, but next up we'll fast-forward and look at his later and, apparently, only marriage to my great grandmother. At least, I think it was his only marriage. I hope. You'll see what I mean. Because ancestors.

Harrison Blacketer > James Wesley Blacketer > Carolyn Marie Blacketer > Caroline Martin Marshall

Sources:

1. Harrison Blacketer Civil War Pension File; p.115; Pointer Family Papers; privately held by Caroline Pointer [Address for Private Use,] Conroe, Texas, 2020. This photocopy of the file was made by Judy Hopkins of Boise, Idaho in 2018 from her own family collection. She obtained the file from the Veterans Administration in 2000. Each page was numbered by hand by Judy 1-256, but is missing pages 149-156. The photocopy is easily read. The VA has declared the original file to be lost.

2. Ibid.; p. 121; Pointer Family Papers.

3. Ibid.; p. 115-116; Pointer Family Papers.

4. Ibid.; p. 116-117; Pointer Family Papers.

~Caroline