James W. Blackburn
47th Secretary of State of Kentucky
In office May 6, 1880 – September 4, 1883
Governor	Luke P. Blackburn
Preceded by	Samuel B. Churchill
Succeeded by	James A. McKenzie
Member of the Kentucky Senate
In office 1875–1879
Personal details
Born	(1841-04-30)April 30, 1841 Woodford County, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	Unknown
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Henrietta
Relations	Luke P. Blackburn (brother) J. C. S. Blackburn (brother)
Children	4
Parent(s)	Edward "Ned" Blackburn Lavinia Bell
Military service
Allegiance	Confederate States of America
Years of service	1861–1865

James W. Blackburn (April 30, 1841 – unknown) was an American politician who served as Secretary of State of Kentucky from 1880 to 1883. He also served as a member of the Kentucky Senate from 1875 to 1879. He was a member of the Democratic Party.

Biography

James W. Blackburn was born on April 30, 1841, in Woodford County, Kentucky, to Edward "Ned" Blackburn and Lavinia Bell.^[1]

In 1861, Blackburn joined the Confederate States Army and until 1864, when he was taken prisoner. In February 1865, he was released and served until the end of the war.^[1]

In the 1870 United States census, he was listed as a farmer with 4 children, James, Samuel, Mary, and Henrietta.^[1]

In 1875, Blackburn was elected a member of the Kentucky Senate, a position he held until 1879.^[1] In 1880, he was appointed Secretary of State of Kentucky by his brother and Governor Luke P. Blackburn.^[2] He served in that position until 1883. He was also a member of the 1890 Kentucky constitutional convention, which introduced amendments to the Kentucky Constitution.^[1]

Blackburn possibly moved to Hamilton County, Ohio, some point after 1900. The 1920 United States census lists a James Blackburn from Kentucky as living in Symmes Township, Hamilton County, Ohio, with a birth date of "about 1840." The James Blackburn living in Ohio died on February 17, 1926.^[1]

References