Name/Title
Blackstone Ferry, Missouri River, and Capt. Ebenezer Blackstone Historical Date File, 1973Entry/Object ID
AM2020.1.35Scope and Content
Blackstone Ferry, Missouri River, and Capt. Ebenezer Blackstone Historical Date File, 1973. File containing photocopies of news articles related to Blackstone, a ferry he operated from St. Joseph to Elwood, KS during the Pony Express days through the time the Grand Island Bridge was built, his house & farm on Asylum Road, his other steamships and mining ventures, as below. Also see 91.1H.70 for photo of Blackstone.
July 4, 1976, St. Joseph News Press:
"River Crossings Mostly by Ferry Here Prior to 1873"
Undated, St. Joseph News-Press
"Pony Express Used Ferry Boat of Capt. Blackstone, a California Gold Rush Seeker"
Mentions a homestead in Doniphan County, KS.. Ferry used by Pony Express, His steamboats by name and those that sank, including his ferryboat, 'Tidy Adula' that sunk at Elwood Point in 1866 and the 'Nebraska City' , a ferry boat that sunk at Amazonia in 1869.
Undated, A St. Joseph Paper, not named.
"Tale of Buried Treasure" Gives lengthy account of Blackstone's home on Asylum Road where is this thought to have buried a fortune in gold coins and gold bonds and efforts by treasure hunters after his death to find the treasure. Gives detail account about his house and its slave quarters.
June 24, 1912, St. Joseph Gazette
"Ben W. Fleming, A Pioneer Dies. Father Operated First Steamboat Across the Missouri River at St. Joseph".
1887, West Plains, MO. newspaper
"Called Home" reports the death of Capt. Blackstone.
Undated, "Quill" paper, West Plains, Mo
"Used Steamboat Bell in Local Methodist Church"
Reports on the bell salvaged after its steamboat, 'Emily' sank somewhere near Bismark, ND. The bell then loaned to the St. Joseph Fire Department as an alarm bell, and subsequently loaned to the West Main Street Methodist Church in West Plains by Frank Blackstone. The article also suggests that Capt. Blackstone, who knew Mark Twain, might have employed Samuel Clemens on one of his steamboats.
Correspondence, 1973
Between Don Reynolds, St. Joseph Museum, and Mary Lambert related to Blackstone, Fleming and Saunders families.
The spelling "Blackiston" is located in all news articles, but "Blackstone" is documented within the database.Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Folder, FileNomenclature Primary Object Term
Container, DocumentNomenclature Sub-Class
Writing AccessoriesNomenclature Class
Written Communication T&ENomenclature Category
Category 06: Tools & Equipment for CommunicationLOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Pony express, Steamboats, Fire departmentsSearch Terms
Ferry, Blackstone Ferry, Steamboats Sunk in Missouri, Fire Alarm BellRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Capt. Ebenezer BlackstonePerson or Organization
Ben FlemingPerson or Organization
Frank BlackstonePerson or Organization
Mark Twain
