Fact or Fiction? Finishing Up Research on Dewitt Blackman's Mug Book Claims

 FINISHING UP

 

I've been working hard to finish up the research on Dewitt Samuel Blackman's "mug book" biography. You can catch up on the project here and here. I'm 99.5% finished, with just three claims needing further research.

What have I discovered? Are these claims fact, fiction, or undetermined? 

Facts about Dewitt:

• Dewitt's siblings were Permelia, Delia, Maria, Mary, and Fanny. This is partially true. Dewitt's sisters were Permelia, Adelia (Delia), and Ruffina (Fanny). It's unclear where the "Maria" came from.
• Permelia death certificate names Sylvester Blackman and Clarissa Peak as her parents.¹ 
• Delia married William Haymaker in 1840, and in another "mug book" bio regarding her husband, "Mary" Blackman is noted as his first wife. This could account for the Mary in the bio. ²
• Ruffina was Dewitt's half-sister by his father Sylvester's marriage to Mary Bruner Zellers. Ruffina was living in Sylvester Blackman's home as his inferred daughter in 1850.³ 
• All Dewitt's siblings except Permelia were dead by the publication of the book (1890). Partially true. Delia died in 1843. Permelia was living in 1890 when the book was published and died in 1900. Ruffina was living in Missouri around the time of Dewitt's death in 1895.⁴ It could be that Dewitt and Ruffina lost track of each other over time and Dewitt presumed she was dead at the book's writing.
• He settled in Walton, Sumner Co., Kansas in 1877. True. Given that Dewitt and his wife Elizabeth sold their land in Defiance, Ohio, on 19 April 1877, it seems likely that they moved to Kansas that year as well.⁵

Dewitt's 160 acres in Sumner County are shown in blue on this 1883 county land ownership map.

• He raised stock in Kansas. True. In both the 1880 U.S. Census Agricultural Schedule and the 1885 Kansas state census, Dewitt is noted as raising horses, cows, swine, and poultry. He also grew peach, apple, plum, cherry, and pear trees, as well as winter wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes.⁶

These statements are incorrect or inaccurate:

• He lived in Defiance (Defiance, Ohio) until 1877, except for the Civil War. 
• Dewitt was born in New York about 1830. His family moved to Ohio about 1837 or so when his father Sylvester advertised in a Defiance newspaper as an innkeeper.⁷

 

These facts about Elizabeth Butler, Dewitt's wife, are true:

• Elizabeth was born in Coshocton County, Ohio. Elizabeth's father, John W. Butler, paid taxes in White Eyes Twp., Coshocton County, Ohio, in 1833 and 1834, suggesting the family lived there at the time of Elizabeth's birth in about 1834.⁸

 

Elizabeth's father, John Butler, paid taxes while living in White Eyes Twp., Coshocton County, Ohio. (Wikimedia Commons)

• She was born on 31 December 1834. Likely true.
• Elizabeth's birth month and year are noted as December 1834 in the 1900 U.S. census.⁹
• The 1834 birth year lines up with her age of 16 in the 1850 census.¹⁰ 
• Elizabeth has neither a birth nor death record; Ohio did not require birth records until 1908, well after her birth. An Oklahoma death certificate might give Elizabeth's birth information, but they were not required until 1908, several years after Elizabeth's death.¹¹
• Her parents were John Butler and Sarah Devalt. True.
• John Butler married Sally "Tevault" on 19 October 1829 in Coshocton, Ohio.¹²
• Sally is a well-known variation of the name Sarah. Elizabeth appears as a 16-year-old inferred daughter in the 1850 household of John and "Elizabeth" Butler. Perhaps Elizabeth was Sarah's middle name, or the enumerator wrote it down mistakenly in the census.¹³ 
• Sarah Butler appears alongside John Butler in the 1860-1870 censuses as his presumed wife and is named his wife in the 1880 census.¹⁴
• Elizabeth's parents were both born in Ohio. Partially true. John Butler is documented as born in Ohio in four consecutive U.S. censuses. Sarah, on the other hand, is noted as being born in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia; further research will be needed to determine her actual birthplace.¹⁵

 

About Dewitt's father, Sylvester Blackman:

• He was born in Connecticut. This is incorrect. The 1850 census states his New York birthplace, as does daughter Ruffina's marriage record and daughter Permelia's death record.¹⁶ His grandfather, Samuel Blackman, Jr., was born in Connecticut, so perhaps Dewitt misremembered or the biographer misunderstood.
• He was an early member of the Masons. True. Sylvester joined the Masons on 24 October 1850 and was a member of the Tu-en-da-wie Lodge #195, in Defiance, Ohio. This lodge was chartered in 18 October 1850, so Sylvester was an "early" member of that lodge.¹⁶

Sylvester Blackman's data from the Grand Lodge of Ohio, Accepted and Free Masons.

• Sylvester's estate was worth $10,000. Undetermined. I have been unable to locate probate or tax records for Sylvester to date. In 1850, Sylvester's real estate was valued at $1,000 and he died in 1865. Perhaps he had a windfall in those 15 years? Verdict is still out on that claim.¹⁷

 

About Dewitt's mother, Clarissa Peak:

• She was born in Vermont. This is true. She was born in Pomfret, Vermont, on 17 April 1793 to Jonathan Peak, and Sarah, his wife.¹⁸

Clarissa Peak's birth entry from Vermont records.

About Samuel Blackman, Dewitt's paternal grandfather:

• He served in the War of 1812. Undetermined. Dewitt's paternal grandfather was Samuel Blackman, Jr. While he served in the Revolutionary War, I have found no evidence yet that he served in the War of 1812. 
  
  Samuel was born about 1761.¹⁹ Upon enlistment to serve in the Revolutionary War, he might have been as young as 15-16 years old. He would have been about 50 years old at the start of the War of 1812. While not impossible for him to serve, he would have been at the upper age limit of those enlisting.
  
  Online searches of War of 1812 databases resulted in three Samuel Blackmans, one each from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Mississippi. Mississippi is struck as Samuel never lived there. However, since Samuel had family ties to both Connecticut and Massachusetts, I will need to investigate this claim further. An update will follow when that work is done. 

 

Summing Up 

Though it's an unusual starting point to researching an ancestor, Dewitt Samuel Blackman's mug book bio provided a plethora of claims to verify and a framework of sorts for my research. What began as a fun exercise actually turned out to be a pretty comprehensive look at Dewitt's family tree, his wife's family, his ancestors' military service, etc. The discovery that the Hubs has two Revolutionary War Patriots during the process was an unexpected bonus.

Are you verifying a "mug book" bio? Tell me about it in the comments. 

Until next time... 

 

NOTES 

¹ Michigan, Department of State, Div. of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death #565, Permelia Hauser, 17 March 1900; imaged, "Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1900," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60872/images/44471_355264-01647 : accessed 5 Oct. 2026); citing Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Lansing.

² Williams County, Ohio, Marriages 1825-1857, p. 41, Austen Houser and Permelia Blackman, 6 June 1837; imaged, "Ohio, U.S., County Marriages, 1774-1993," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61378/images/TH-1-18084-35375-35 : accessed 5 Oct. 2026); citing Probate Division, Bryan. Also, Commemorative Biographical Record of Northwestern Ohio including the Counties of Defiance, Henry, Williams and Fulton (Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1899), p. 201, "Mary" Blackman; imaged, Ancestry (2F1D-334330-5C4F : accessed 2 Oct. 2026).

³ 1850 U.S. Census, Defiance County, Ohio, population schedule, Richland Twp., page following page 57 (penned), 29 (stamped), dwelling 396, family 396, line 4, Fanny Blackman in Sylvester Blackman household; imaged, "1850 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4191063-00572 : accessed 14 Sept. 2026). 

⁴  Michigan, Department of State, Div. of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death #565, Permelia Hauser, 17 March 1900. Also, Find a Grave, database with images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75667101/delia-ann-haymaker : accessed 5 Oct. 2026), "Delia Ann Blackmon Haymaker" (1818-1843) memorial created by Mary Lou Cook, with headstone image by Anne M. Mitchell; citing Brunersburg Cemetery, Defiance, County, Ohio. Headstone notes "wife of Wm. D. Haymaker." Also, 1880 U.S. Census, Hickory Twp., Holt Co., Missouri, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) 26 (stamped), dwelling 111, family117, Ruffina Tompkins in the David Tompkins household; imaged, "1880 United States Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4241891-00427 : accessed 5 Oct. 2026).

⁵ John P. Edwards, Historical Atlas of Sumner County, Kansas (Philadelphia & Quincy, Illinois: F. Bourquin, 1883), p. 27, Twp. 35, So. Range 2 East, D.S. Blackman; imaged, "U.S., Indexed County Land Ownership Maps," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1127/images/31617_072172-00335 : accessed 10 Oct. 2026); citing Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Also, Defiance County, Ohio, Deed Record, Book 26, p. 532, D.S. and Elizabeth Blackman to John Spangler, Jr., 19 April 1877; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C37X-8VZ6 : accessed 5 Oct. 2026); citing County Recorder, Defiance. 

⁶ 1885 Kansas Census, Schedule 2, General Statistics relating to Farms, Productions of Agriculture, etc., p. 6, line 14, D.S. Blackman; imaged, "Kansas, State Census, 1885," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSQ3-C9L5-Z : accessed 5 Oct. 2026); citing State Board of Agriculture, Manhattan. Also, 1880 U.S. Census, Sumner County, Kansas, agricultural schedule, page 14, line 3, Dewitt Blackman; imaged, "U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1276/images/31642_217968-00353 : accessed 5 Oct. 2025).

⁷ Compiled Military Service Record, Dewitt S. Blackman, Pvt., Co. B, 47th Ohio Infantry, Civil War; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Record Group 94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917; National Archives, Washington, D.C., Also, "Gillespie's Exchange," Maumee City Express (Defiance, Ohio), 15 April 1837, p. 4, col. 3, Sylvester Blackman runs inn; imaged, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com/article/maumee-city-express-sylvester-blackman/160810054/ : accessed 14 Sept. 2026).

⁸ Auditor of State, Coshocton County, Ohio, Tax Records, 1833, White Eyes Twp., n.p., John Butler; imaged, "Ohio, Tax Records, 1800-1887," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPG6-GX1 : accessed 29 Sept. 2026)l citing County Auditor, Coshocton. Also, Auditor of State, Coshocton County, Ohio, Tax Records, 1834, White Eyes Twp., p. 189, Jno. Butler; imaged, Ohio, Tax Records, 1800-1887," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GPG6-GB2 : accessed 29 Sept. 2026); citing County Auditor, Coshocton.

⁹ 1900 U.S. Census, Logan County, Oklahoma, population schedule, Rose Hill, p. 1A, Elizabeth Blackman; imaged, "1900 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4119024_01035 : accessed 5 Oct. 2025).

¹⁰ 1850 U.S. Census, Coshocton County, Ohio, population schedule, Adams Twp., p. 306 (stamped), dwelling 63, family 63, line 40, Elizabeth Butler in John Butler household; imaged, "1850 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4191059-00613 : accessed 5 Oct. 2026). 

¹¹ "United States Statewide Vital Records Registration Dates," FamilySearch Wiki (https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/United_States_Statewide_Vital_Records_Registration_Dates : accessed 5 Oct. 2026), last updated  7 August 2026, at 10:07. Birth records required as of 1908 in Ohio; death records required as of 1908 in Oklahoma.

¹² Coshocton County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1811-1830, p. 161, #761, John Butler and Sally Tevault, 19 October 1828; imaged, "Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61378/images/TH-1-18083-20233-78 : accessed 2 Oct. 2026); citing Probate Court. Also,

¹³ Behind the Names (https://www.behindthename.com/name/sarah : accessed 5 Oct. 2026), "Sarah." Sally is listed as a diminutive of Sarah. Also, 1850 U.S. Census, Coshocton County, Ohio, population schedule, Adams Twp., p. 306 (stamped), dwelling 63, family 63, line 40, Elizabeth Butler in John Butler household.

¹⁴ 1850 U.S. Census, Coshocton Co., Ohio, population schedule, Adams Twp., p. 306 (stamped), dwelling 63, family 63, John and Elisabeth Butler; imaged, "1850 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4191059-00613 : accessed 5 Oct. 2026). Also, 1860 U.S. Census, Defiance Co., Ohio, population schedule, Richland Twp., p. 92, dwelling 668, family 667, John W. Butler and Sarah Butler; imaged, "1860 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7667/images/4282495_00096 : accessed 5 Oct. 2026). Also, 1870 U.S. Census, Defiance Co., Ohio, population schedule, Richland Twp., p. 15 (penned), dwelling 106, family 108, John W. Butler and Sarah Butler; imaged, "1870 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7163/images/4277787_00341 : accessed 5 Oct. 2026). Also, 1880 U.S. Census, Defiance Co., Ohio, population schedule, Village of Independence, Defiance Twp., enumeration district 231 (penned), p. 24 (penned), dwelling 155 , family 160, John and Sarah Butler; imaged, "1880 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6742/images/4243519-00340 : accessed 5 Oct. 2026). 

¹⁵ 1850 U.S. Census, Defiance County, Ohio, population schedule, Richland Twp., page 57 (penned), 29 (stamped), dwelling 396, family 396, line 40, Sylvester Blackman; imaged, “1850 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4191063-00571 : accessed 14 Sept. 2026).Michigan, Department of State, Div. of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death #565, Permelia Hauser, 17 March 1900. Also, Los Angeles County, California, Record of Marriages, Book 236, p. 36, #2810, John F. Bookwalter and Ruffina Tompkins, 7 June 1915, S. Blackman, b. NY, in record of Ruffina Tompkins; imaged, “California, County Marriages, 1849-1957,” FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893H-CDGH : accessed 6 October 2026); citing County Clerk-Register-Recorder’s Office, Public Records Division, Norwalk. Ruffina notes Sylvester’s birthplace as N.Y.

¹⁶ John G. Reeves, History of Freemasonry in Ohio From 1791, Vol. 3, Part IV (Cincinnati, Ohio: J.H. Bromwell, 1914); transcription, MasterMason (http://www.mastermason.com/bridgeportlodge181/OHMSHT04p4.htm : accessed 9 Oct. 2024). Also, Masonic Lodge #195 Tu-en-da-wie, Defiance, Defiance, Ohio, chartered 18 October 1850. Grand Lodge of Ohio F & A.M., Lodge records, Tu-en-da-Wie Lodge #195, Defiance, Defiance, Ohio, record for Sylvester Blackman, affiliated 24 October 1850; citing Accounting Department, Springfield. Digitized image of record card supplied by Elora R. Sandrock, office manager, 25 Sept. 2026. 

¹⁷ 1850 U.S. Census, Defiance County, Ohio, population schedule, Richland Twp., page 57 (penned), 29 (stamped), dwelling 396, family 396, line 40, Sylvester Blackman. Also, Defiance Democrat (Ohio), 8 April 1865, p. 2, col. 2, Sylvester Blackman death, 5 April 1865; imaged, NewspaperArchive.com (https://0-access-newspaperarchive-com.library.cityofdenton.com/us/ohio/defiance/defiance-democrat/1865/04-08/page-2 : accessed 13 September 2026). The term "inst" indicates the current month.

¹⁸ Marriages, Births, and Death, Pomfret, Vt., Book 1, p. 14, 6th entry, left page, Clarissa Peak, 17 April 1793; imaged, "Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L999-246T : accessed 23 Sept. 2026); citing Town Clerk, Pomfret. 

¹⁹ 1850 U.S. Census, Onondaga, New York, population schedule, Town of Clay, p. 311 (stamped), dwelling 670, family 675, line 29, Samuel Blackman in the Milo Blackman household; imaged, "1850 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8054/images/4202538_00099 : accessed 10 Oct. 2026).