Senator from the second district representing Jefferson and Van Buren counties, was born on a farm near Hillsboro, Iowa, December 18, 1871. He is a descendent of Martin Blackford, who came to this country in 1751, and settled in York county, Pennsylvania. His parents, John W. and Nancy Altland Blackford, came to Iowa in 1858, and settled on a farm near Hillsboro. His father was a member of the thirty-fifth general assembly, representing Henry county. Senator Blackford secured his early education in the rural schools of Van Buren county, then attended Iowa Wesleyan academy. In 1897 he was graduated from Iowa Wesleyan college at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, with an A.B. degree. During his college course he was on the college debating team; he was also a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and was chapter delegate to the national convention during his junior year. After leaving college, he taught school two years, then entered the hardware, implement and automobile business with his brother in Bonaparte, and he is still engaged in the same business. He is also engaged in the insurance and real estate business. For twenty years he has served on the Bonaparte school board. Member of the Methodist church, a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar, a member of the Mystic Shrine and the order of the Eastern Star. Republican in politics. Served as representative from Van Buren county in the forty-first and forty-second general assemblies. Elected senator from the second district in 1928. Mr. Blackford has been twice married, and has one son by his first marriage, Kenneth S. Blackford. On December 20, 1925, he was married to Miss Katherine Alice Lundgren of Burlington, a member of the faculty of the Quincy senior high school. Their present home is in Bonaparte.

Senator from the second district representing Jefferson and Van Buren counties, was born on a farm near Hillsboro, Iowa, December 18, 1871. He is a descendant of Martin Blackford, who came to this country in 1751, and settled in York county, Pennsylvania. His parents, John W. and Nancy Altland Blackford, came to Iowa in 1858, and settled on a farm near Hillsboro. His father was a member of the thirty-fifth general assembly, representing Henry county. Senator Blackford secured his early education in the rural schools of Van Buren county, then attended Iowa Wesleyan academy. In 1897 he was graduated from Iowa Wesleyan college at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, with an A.B. degree. During his college course he was on the college debating team; he was also a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, and was chapter delegate to the national convention during his Junior year. After leaving college, he taught school two years, then entered the hardware, implement and automobile business with his brother in Bonaparte, and he is still engaged in the same business. He is also engaged in farming, and is vice-president of the Bonaparte State Bank. For twenty years he has served on the Bonaparte school board. Member of the Methodist church, a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar, a member of the Mystic Shrine and the order of the Eastern Star. Republican in politics. Served as representative from Van Buren county in the forty-first and forty-second general assemblies. Elected senator from the second district in 1928. Mr. Blackford has been twice married, and has one son by his first marriage, Kenneth S. Blackford. On December 20, 1925, he was married to Miss Katherine Alice Lundgren of Burlington, a member of the faculty of the Quincy senior high school. Their present home is in Bonaparte.

Representative from Van Buren county, born on a farm near Hillsboro, Iowa, December 18, 1871. His parents, natives of Pennsylvania, came to Iowa in the early '60s and settled in Van Buren county. His father, John W. Blackford, was a member of the thirty-fifth general assembly representing Henry county. He was graduated from Iowa Wesleyan college in 1897, and is a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. After leaving college, he taught school for a few years, then entered the hardware, implement and automobile business at Bonaparte, Iowa, in which he is still engaged. He is also engaged in farming on the stock-partnership plan, and is vice president of the Bonaparte State bank. For a number of years he has served on the Bonaparte school board, is active in the Methodist church, of which he is a member, is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar, a member of the Mystic Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star. A republican in politics.

Representative from Van Buren county, was born December 18, 1871, on a farm in that county and has lived there continuously. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and his father was a member of the 35th general assembly, representing Henry county. He was graduated from Iowa Wesleyan college in 1897 and is a member of the college fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. He is engaged in the hardware, implement and automobile business in Bonaparte. He is vice president of the Bonaparte State bank, and is extensively engaged in farming on the stock-partnership basis. He has one son, Kenneth. He is a Methodist, a Knight Templar, a 32nd degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. A republican in politics.