Just passing this along. I have nothing more on Gideon. Biographies from Goodspeed, Anderson Co., TN GIDEON H BLACKBURN, merchant at Coal Creek, Anderson County, was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., Oct 20, 1820. He is the son of John and Elizabeth (McGirk) Blackburn. The father was born in Smith County, Va., and the grandfather Blackburn was born near Belfast, Ireland. The mother of Gideon H was born in Greenbrier Co., Va. Our subject received a limited education in the country schools, was reared on the farm, and followed farming till he was twenty-five years of age, when he began dealing in livestock. In 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate army. At the close of the war he engaged in farming and managed the farm of David Issam, in Va. Later he went to Griceville, Va., and managed for one year the farm of W A Jones. Then he came to Tennessee and went to Railroading for contractors of Bristol, for five years. Then he went to Tazewell, Va., and engaged in the tin and stove business for one year; then removed to Coal Creek, and began selling dry goods. Oct 20, 1877, he marri! ed Miss Margaret Briton, a native of Pennsylvania. He has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for forty years. He had accumulated considerable wealth before the civil war, but during the period he sustained heavy losses, and at the close of the conflict commenced business with a very small capital. Since then he has become the owner of 200 acres of land in Jefferson County, and holds real estate in Coal Creek. He has had many obstacles to surmount in life, but he has been successful over all. He is not a political worker, but is an ardent Democrat.