Born at Hackettstown N.J. where he spent his early years. He was admitted to the bar in Harrisburg, Pa., in 1838, came west to Iowa, where he settled first in Muscatine. Later he removed to Jackson county, to Andrew, then the county seat. He remained there until 1864, when he removed to Iowa City, where, for five years, he took an active part in public and professional affairs. He was city Solicitor two terms, and, in the fall of 1867, was elected to the lower house of the General Assembly of Iowa, as the colleague of Hon. John P. Irish. He took an active part in the session that followed in establishing the university of Iowa college of law, and the Circuit court in both of which acts he took great and proper pride. Mr. Blackwell was a staunch, but conservative democrat, in politics. He was a man of upright character and exemplary habits in public and private life.