Clayton E. Blessing, born on June 21, 1855, in Burkittsville, Maryland, moved to Auburn, Nebraska, in 1883, where he became a prominent fruit farmer and co-founder of Blessing & Tankersley. Descended from German ancestry, his grandfather George Blessing was a War of 1812 veteran and a staunch Union supporter during the Civil War. Clayton initially worked as a carpenter before transitioning to fruit farming. He married Emma F. Knox in 1876, and they had six children, with four surviving. An active Lutheran and Republican, Clayton served as assessor of Nemaha County for four years and was involved in the Masonic order and the Fraternal Union of America.
Clayton E. Blessing, a member of the firm of Blessing & Tankersley and proprietor of “Central Fruit Farm” in Auburn, Nebraska, has been a resident of this town for twenty years.
Mr. Blessing was born in Burkittsville, Maryland, on June 21, 1855, and is descended from German ancestry on his father’s side. His great-grandfather and great-grandmother Blessing were born in Saxony, Germany.
George Blessing, the grandfather of Clayton E., was born in Maryland in 1789 and was a planter by occupation. In his young manhood, he participated in the War of 1812, and in the days of the Civil War, he demonstrated that he still had fighting blood in him. He was a strong Union man, long a disbeliever in slavery, and had emancipated his slaves. His farm and timberland were on the border of the Confederacy, making him subject to depredations from both armies. An article published in a Washington paper some years ago recounts his bravery during the Civil War:
“Mr. George Blessing, seventy years of age, was a farmer who resided in the mountains near Myersville. When it was learned that the rebels were prowling through the neighborhood, stealing horses and committing depredations generally, he was importuned by his family to remove his stock beyond the reach of the marauders; but he declined to do so, avowing his purpose to defend his property to the last. He had ten guns in his house which he proceeded to load and put in readiness, in the event of any necessity arising for their use. At noon, July 2, 1863, he gathered his family about him and read aloud the ninety-first Psalm: ‘I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust,’ then he engaged in devotional worship, imploring the Most High to shield and protect his household from the assaults and rapacity of the enemy who were laying waste his native soil, and seeking to overthrow the best government ever devised by the wisdom of man, pleading God to uphold and sustain the old flag of his fathers. Taking two guns, he repaired, with his son, a lad yet in his teens, to his barn, from which he descried a squad of rebels approaching on horseback. Handing his son a gun, he ordered him to take a certain position, and, should the squad dismount and attempt to break open the door of the stable, which was fastened by a lock, fire upon them. The rebels advanced within a short distance of the stable, when one of the number threw himself from his horse and commenced the work of demolishing the stable door. At that moment the old man and his son fired simultaneously upon the offender, both balls taking effect in his right arm. The balance of the party scampered away, leaving their wounded comrade behind them, and swearing vengeance upon their opponents. Before they had escaped beyond reach of Mr. Blessing’s gun, he fired a second shot at the fleeing foe, but with what result he could not tell. The rebel at whom he fired fell forward on his horse, evidently wounded, but he managed to get away.
“Mr. Blessing’s neighbors, learning what he had done, waited upon him and by every argument they could advance endeavored to dissuade him from his purpose to ‘stand his ground.’
“They tried to prevail upon him to leave the vicinity and seek refuge from the infuriated rebels, who would return with reinforcements and not only destroy his property but would murder him and his son. The brave old patriot was immovable in his purpose to defend his property, though in the event his life would be forfeited. He was a man of prayer, and read his Bible and accepted literally its promise, and he had infinite confidence in his ‘shield and buckler,’ assured that needed strength would be given him in the unequal contest which might ensue. The guns were reloaded, and father and son resumed their former positions, and awaited the return of the foe. They were not kept long in suspense. Twenty mounted rebels, accompanied by four citizens from Myersville, with whom Mr. Blessing was acquainted, were advancing on his premises. When within a short distance of Mr. Blessing’s barn the citizens were ordered in front of the rebel squad, as a protection to them from the bullets which the cowardly land-pirates knew were ready to greet them. Undismayed, Mr. Blessing warned his acquaintances against moving a step forward, assuring them that should they do so they would meet with swift and certain death. Intimidated and bewildered, there the rebels stood, hesitating as to their further action. Every shot discharged in the direction where they supposed the ‘Yankee soldiers’ were secreted was promptly and vigorously answered. ‘What shall we do?’ reasoned these baffled, thieving sons of Mars. Evidently, they were fighting superior numbers, and would not hazard the chance for success with their present force, but would go back for the artillery. As they were wheeling their horses to retrace their course, Mr. Blessing shot one of the band through the head and killed him instantly.
“A second time Mr. Blessing’s neighbors waited upon him and urged him to desist from the course they were pursuing. Their entreaties were unavailing. He was determined to fight to the bitter end, whatever the consequences might be to him. Should God permit him to kill but one more traitor, he was willing to die. Momentarily expecting the marauders to return with artillery, Mr. Blessing shouldered two guns and posted himself in a clump of trees in a lane leading from a public road to his residence. He had been there but a short time when he observed heavy clouds of dust rising from the road, some distance off. A large body of horsemen was moving toward him. In the advance he noticed what he conceived to be a rebel scout; in an instant the old man raised his gun and was in the act of firing when the object of his aim fell back into the main column of soldiers, riding rapidly up the lane. He now recognized the blue coats, who, having heard of the heroic conduct of the dauntless old patriot and his worthy son, were hastening to the rescue, and their timely arrival was welcomed by this old man of prayer whose eyes were turned ‘to the hills from whence came the help,’ and whose faith in that God whose promises of succor in every time of trouble never weakened.” After the fight, Abraham Lincoln presented George Blessing with a fine silver-mounted repeating rifle as a token for his bravery.
George Blessing and his wife, whose maiden name was Susanna Easterday, reared a family of three sons and six daughters, of whom two sons and five daughters married and had families.
One of the sons in the above-named family, Parker George Blessing, the father of Clayton E., was born in Frederick County, Maryland, on December 3, 1829, and died in Highland, that state, in 1866. He married, on September 19, 1854, Miss Wilhelmina Yonson, who was born in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, on March 14, 1832, daughter of William Yonson. The children of this marriage were as follows: Clayton E.; Avalonia, who was the wife of Martin Weller, was born on March 31, 1857, died in Auburn, Nebraska, leaving two sons and two daughters; George Henry, born on October 28, 1859, died in 1890, leaving a son and three daughters; Royal Madison, born in 1861, died in 1881; and the youngest, a daughter, died in infancy. The mother of this family died in 1865, at the age of thirty-three years, and the father died the following year, both in Maryland.
At the age of seventeen years, Clayton E. Blessing left school and entered upon an apprenticeship to the carpenter’s trade, at Harmony, Maryland. He remained with and worked for the man from whom he learned his trade until he was twenty-three, when he began contracting on his own account and was thus occupied there for four years. In the meantime, he married, and in March 1883, he came west to Nebraska, bringing with him his wife and three children. Here, in Auburn and vicinity, he continued contracting and building until about six years ago, when he gave it up on account of failing health and has since devoted his time and attention to fruit-raising. He has five acres of land in the western part of Auburn, just inside the corporation limits, which he bought in 1898, and where he built his present residence. Here he raises all kinds of berries and a variety of cherries, peaches, and plums, and in addition to raising fruit, he is also engaged in buying and selling fruit, doing this business under the firm name of Blessing & Tankersley. These gentlemen have been associated together for two years, handling fruit in car-load lots, shipping to various points in Nebraska and other states.
Mr. Blessing married, on December 21, 1876, Miss Emma F. Knox, who was born in Bolivar, Maryland, on June 28, 1857, daughter of David and Mariah (Brandenberg) Knox. The children of this union are: Wilhelmina C.; George W.; Ava Lauretta; Floyd Edwin; Emma Jane Marie; and Dolly May. All are living except the two last named. Emma Jane Marie was born on March 3, 1893, and died on October 14, 1896, and Dolly May, born on November 16, 1895, died on March 19, 1903. Both the daughters are teachers and musicians. George is a printer by trade.
Mr. Blessing and his family are Lutherans in their religious faith, his parents and his grandparents before him having been devout members of that church. Politically he is a Republican, and has served four years as assessor of Nemaha County. He has fraternal relations with the Masonic order and the Fraternal Union of America.
Source: Lewis Publishing Company, A Biographical and Genealogical History of Southeastern Nebraska, 2 volumes, Lewis Publishing Company, 1904.