Sterling Kansas Bulletin, Sterling, Rice County, KS, Vol 56, Thursday, July 23, 1931, page 8

Obituary of H. Blackledge
Old Settler Was Brought Back Here
for Burial in Sterling Community Cemetery, July 16

Hiram Blackledge, son of Charles and Hannah Beard Blackledge, was born the eighth day of May, 1842, and departed this life at Centerville, Kansas, July 13, 1931, at the age of eighty-nine years, two months and five days. At the early age of eleven years he was bereft of his mother, he with his two brothers and sister being cared for by relatives. His home was with his uncle William Beard.

In answer to President Lincoln's call for volunteers, he enlisted in the 19th Indiana Infantry, Company C and served three years in the Army of the Potomac in every engagement of that army until on the first day of July, 1863, in the battle of Gettysburg, he was wounded and permanently disabled for the remainder of the war. The bullet that struck him barely missing the jugular vein, he carried with him to his death.

On his return from the army, his friendship for Ruth Ann Pickett, a home girl, ripened into the romance of his life. They were married August 4, 1864, and were devoted companions the many years they were spared together. To this union nine children were born; Julia Etta Rhyason of Camrose, Alta, Canada; William Levi, of Nash, Oklahoma; Lydia Alta Carter, of Ulysses, Kansas; Mazana Jane Meador, of Hiwasse, Arkansas, Eldora, who died in infancy; John Charles, of Jet, Oklahoma; Lewella Cox, who died in 1909; Rufus Elbert of Jet, Okla; and Rhoda Ethel Welker of Centerville, Kansas. His wife preceded him in death in 1905. Since this time he has made his home with his children. He was kind, loving and patient, a genuine Christian, a devoted follower of Christ.

In 1873 he with his wife and their three oldest children came to Kansas, settling four and a half miles northwest of Sterling, then known as Peace. They took an active part in the community, being concerned in the activities of the church and school. They were charter members of the Friends church at Center and were always at work in the things pertaining to the Kingdom. He was a member of the Friends church, of Cherokee, Okla., at the time of his death.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, July 15, at the Centerville M. P. church by the Rev. Sutton, of Osawatomie, Kans. Internment was made in the cemetery Sterling, Kansas.