Son was John Hiram Blackstone (1838-1913) buried at White Plains Baptist Church in Pelzer, Anderson, SC
Family Stories: Family stories state John Hiram ran wagons moving people from upstate South Carolina through Atlanta to Titus County, Texas during the 1840s. This matches the migration of his uncle Richard Blackstone 1791 who moved from Pickens District SC to Rabun County GA by 1830, then to near Atlanta where daughter Hannah Longstreet Blackstone was born 1833, then to Titus County, Texas by 1851. Hannah married Roger Riddle in Mt. Pleasant, Titus County, Texas Dec 1851.
Family notes say: “on the route to Titus, Texas where Richard Blackstone and Hannah Longstreet Riddle ended up living... family stories says so.” The route was Pickens SC → Atlanta GA → Montgomery AL → Mobile → Steamboat up Mississippi River → Red River → Texas.
John Hiram disappears between 1847-1849. He is not on the 1850 census. Family story: “some say he was in a War around late 1840’s and he and other Blackstone men didn’t survive this War to be listed on the 1850 census.” No John Hiram Blackstone found in Mexican War muster rolls for SC, NC, GA, or TN. War ended Feb 1848.
Most likely cause of death 1848-1849: Cholera on Mississippi River route. Cholera killed over 4,500 in St. Louis and 3,000 in New Orleans in 1849. Thousands died on steamboats. Travelers paid “ferry across Mississippi River 80 cents, ferry across Sulphur River 25 cents” — Sulphur River is in Titus County, Texas. Burials were often along riverbanks. Georgia and Alabama did not require death certificates until 1900s.
Family story says he “probably got killed by Indian or Mexican War late 1840’s to early 1850’s.” No evidence of Indian conflict death. Mexican War ended 1848 with no muster record for him. Cholera fits family story + historical record + missing 1850 census.
Mary remained in Pickens District SC through 1880 census, died 1887. She did not move to Georgia or Texas, making it unlikely John Hiram died in Atlanta area.
