William David Blackwell Family

William David (W .D.) Blackwell was born at Zanesville, Illinois, Aug. 22, 1874, to David and Ellen Blackwell. In 1896, when a young man, he moved with his parents, brothers and sister to Kansas; first living a short time near Lamed, then moving to the Rozel community. In 1909 Will purchased a quarter of land northwest of Rozel where he built the farmstead and lived the rest of his life, farming until his retirement. Will married Eveanna Fox and they had one daughter. Their daughter died in infancy and Eveanna died a few years later.

Minnie Lace Smith was born near Rozel, Aug. 18, 1891, to Theodore and Catherine Smith. She grew up on her parents farm north of Rozel and worked as the hired girl in several homes and at the Rozel Hotel. Will and Minnie were married March 24, 1915 and they lived on the farmstead northwest of Rozel until Will s death. While Will farmed, Minnie was busy raising chickens and turkeys and quilting with the 46 Quilting Club. She also like to write poetry for her own enjoyment.

Will and Minnie had three children; Delber, Pauline and Thelma. They all attended District No.46 country grade school northwest of Rozel. This was the same school that Minnie had attended as a young girl Delber, Pauline and Thelma all graduated trom Rozel High School.

Delber was graduated from Kansas State College in Manhattan in 1938 with a degree in civil engineering. After graduation he worked as a consulting engineer for Black and Veatch Engineers of Kansas City, Mo., until his death June 13, 1976. Delber married Carolyn Elsey of Missouri and they had two children, Joanne and Richard, and five grandchildren.

Pauline was graduated from Kansas State College in Manhattan in 1941 with a degree in home economics and taught in several high schools over the next several years. She married Verne Lippert of Bison, Kansas., and they have five children, Marilyn, Nyle, Doyle, Kenton and Rhonda. Pauline and Verne live on a farm northwest of Bison where they have spent most of their married life engaged in farming. They have six grandchildren.

Thelma attended Kansas State College in Manhattan, and nursing school in Kansas City, Mo. She married Paul Tyrrell of Chicago, Ill. They have five children, Barbara, Paula, David, Kathleen and Pamela. They live in Kansas City, Mo. and have nine grandchildren.

After Will s death on July 25, 1958, Minnie built a home on the west side of Rozel and moved to town. She maintained this home near her sister, Velvet Smith, until her death on June 13, 1980. Both Will and Minnie and their three children were members of the Rozel Baptist Church where Minnie was a Sunday school teacher for many years.

Note: They were written by an Aunt for Pawnee County 100 year old anniversary book. submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer