Individual Details
Esther Miriam BRECKENRIDGE
(15 Jan 1929 - 24 Jan 2013)
Events
| Birth | 15 Jan 1929 | Grinnell, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA |  | ||
| Birth | 15 Jan 1929 | | |||
| Census | 25 Apr 1930 | District 6, Washington Twp, Ames, Story, Iowa, USA |  | | |
| Marriage | 27 Dec 1952 | Ames, Story, Iowa, USA - Living | | ||
| Marriage | 27 Dec 1952 | Living | | ||
| Residence | 27 May 2012 | 9937 Evergreen Ave, Columbia, Howard, Maryland, USA | | ||
| Death | 24 Jan 2013 | Baltimore City, Maryland, USA | | | |
| Obituary | 2 Feb 2013 | | | ||
| Obituary | 7 Feb 2013 | The Washington Post, Washington D. C., USA | | | |
| MEMORIAL | 3 Mar 2013 | Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church, 6410 Amherst Ave., Columbia, Howard, Maryland, USA | | | |
| Alt name | Esther Miriam BLACKBURN | | |||
| Reference No | 1872 | ||||
| ChildParent | |
Families
| Spouse | Living |
| Child | Bruce Frederick BLACKBURN (1957 - ) |
| Child | Living |
| Father | Robert William BRECKENRIDGE (1898 - 1966) |
| Mother | Mildred Elizabeth MCLAIN (1897 - 1967) |
| Sibling | Harriet Beverly BRECKENRIDGE (1924 - 2012) |
| Sibling | Dr. Bruce McLain BRECKENRIDGE (1926 - ) |
| Sibling | Eleanor Louise BRECKENRIDGE (1929 - 2018) |
Notes
Census
Head: Robert W. Breckenridge (home rented-$45, not on farm,current age 32, age at marriage 23, instructor at State College, is a veteran, father born in Vermont); Wife: Mildred E. ( age 32, age at marriage 23, father born in Illinois), Dau: Harriett B. (age 6); Son: Bruce M. (age 3); Daus: Esther M. (age1), Elanor (age 1). All born in Iowa. All mothers and fathers born in Iowa, except where noted.Death
StrokeEsther B. Blackburn, jewelry designer, teacher
Published: February 7
Esther B. Blackburn, 84, who taught silver jewelry design in the Washington area for more than five decades, died Jan. 24 at a hospital in Baltimore.
She had a stroke, said her husband, Charles A. “Al” Blackburn.
For most of her career, Mrs. Blackburn worked from a studio at her home in Columbia. In the early 1950s, she taught jewelry design at a YWCA in the District. She moved to Catonsville, Md., upon her retirement about a decade ago.
In addition to her teaching, Mrs. Blackburn exhibited her work at venues including the Maryland Renaissance Festival, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and numerous festivals in the Columbia area.
Esther Miriam Breckenridge was a native of Grinnell, Iowa, and a 1951 home economics graduate of Iowa State University.
She did volunteer work through the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a women’s organization, and sang in the choir for many years at Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church in Columbia. Her memberships included the Washington Guild of Goldsmiths and the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women.
Besides her husband of 60 years, of Catonsville, survivors include two sons, Bruce F. Blackburn of Trumansburg, N.Y., and Dr. Robert L. Blackburn of Wexford, Pa.; a twin sister; a brother; and two grandchildren.
— Emily Langer
© The Washington Post Company
Obituary
From: "Al Blackburn" <xerxes52@verizon.net>Subject: [BRECKENRIDGE] Esther B. Blackburn
Date: Sat, 02 Feb 2013 21:27:28 -0500
Hello Listmates,
With heavy heart I report the passing of my wife, Esther Miriam Breckenridge Blackburn. Esther died in Baltimore City, Maryland on the morning of January 24, 2013, after being afflicted by a stroke late the previous evening. Born on January 15, 1929 in Grinnell, Poweshiek County, Iowa, she was the daughter of Robert William Breckenridge and Mildred Elizabeth McLain. She spent most of her childhood in Ames, Iowa, and was a graduate of Iowa State University. We were married in Ames on December 27, 1952, and have since been residents of Maryland -- first in Takoma Park (4 years), then in what became the new town of Columbia (46 years), and finally in Catonsville (10 years).
Other survivors include our two sons: Bruce F. Blackburn of Trumansburg, New York, and Robert L. Blackburn and his wife Lise Nielsen Blackburn of Wexford, Pennsylvania; her twin sister, Eleanor B. (Mrs. Charles E.) Gates of Bryan, Texas; a brother, Dr. Bruce McLain Breckenridge and his wife Mary Alice Barber Breckenridge of Newtown, Pennsylvania; and two grandchildren: Brecken June Nielsen Blackburn (a student at Cornell University), and Mason McLain Nielsen Blackburn, of Wexford. Another sister, Harriet B. (Mrs. D. Barton) Turkington of Norman, Oklahoma, died in 2012.
Esther enjoyed a long and successful career as teacher-artist-craftsman. Her silver jewelry creations had been exhibited at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, DC, and at the American Craft Museum in New York City, as well as at numerous craft shows and fairs. She enthusiastically taught her craft to others at the YWCA in Washington, DC, and at her home studio.
Esther's passion for world travel inspired trips on six continents. Adventures she especially enjoyed were treks in the Himalaya Mountains, and hikes through Norway's Jotunheimen Mountains and the Swiss Alps.
Esther is much missed by her family and countless friends.
Her line of descent from immigrant James (Jacobus) Breakenridge is believed to be as follows:
1. James (Jacobus) Breakenridge (1696 - 1767) and Sarah --??--.
2. Lt. James Breakenridge (1721 - 1783) and Mary Moore.
3. Daniel Breakenridge (1769 - 1847) and Azubah Younglove.
4. John Younglove Breckenridge (1817 - 1882) and Hannah Sophia Pickering.
5. Robert James Breckenridge (1869 - 1943) and Betsy Graham Lang.
6. Robert William Breckenridge (1898 - 1966) and Mildred Elizabeth McLain.
7. Esther Miriam Breckenridge (1929 - 2013) and Charles Alfred Blackburn.
Charles A. (Al) Blackburn
Catonsville MD USA
Obituary
Esther B. Blackburn, jewelry designer, teacherPublished: February 7
Esther B. Blackburn, 84, who taught silver jewelry design in the Washington area for more than five decades, died Jan. 24 at a hospital in Baltimore.
She had a stroke, said her husband, Charles A. “Al” Blackburn.
For most of her career, Mrs. Blackburn worked from a studio at her home in Columbia. In the early 1950s, she taught jewelry design at a YWCA in the District. She moved to Catonsville, Md., upon her retirement about a decade ago.
In addition to her teaching, Mrs. Blackburn exhibited her work at venues including the Maryland Renaissance Festival, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and numerous festivals in the Columbia area.
Esther Miriam Breckenridge was a native of Grinnell, Iowa, and a 1951 home economics graduate of Iowa State University.
She did volunteer work through the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a women’s organization, and sang in the choir for many years at Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church in Columbia. Her memberships included the Washington Guild of Goldsmiths and the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women.
Besides her husband of 60 years, of Catonsville, survivors include two sons, Bruce F. Blackburn of Trumansburg, N.Y., and Dr. Robert L. Blackburn of Wexford, Pa.; a twin sister; a brother; and two grandchildren.
— Emily Langer
© The Washington Post Company
MEMORIAL
Bruce Blackburn website: bruceblackburn.com/ebb/memorialChrist Memorial Presbyterian Church
Esther Blackburn
In sure and certain hope of the resururrection to eternal life, we write to let you know that our sister in faith, Esther Blackburn, passed from this life to the next, joining the church triumphant on January 24, 2013. Please keep Esther's family and friends in your prayers during this difficult time. A service in whitness to the resurrection and in gratitude for Esther's life will be held at CMPC on Saturday, March 23rd at 11 a.m. with a lunch reception to follow in Fellowship Hall. All are welcome.
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Scott W. Hoffman
Pastor
Endnotes
1. , Census, , , "1930 United States Federal Census." Database. Ancestry.com (http//: www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Sep 2012), entry for Mildred E. Breckenridge, Ames, Story, Iowa; Roll: 683; Page: 30A; Enumeration District: 6; I.
2. Poweshiek Historical and Genealogical Society: Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society, Montezuma, Poweshiek, Iowa, 27 Dec 2012.Family Group Sheet for Robert William Breckenridge and Mildred Elizabeth McLain.Prepared by Patricia Breniman Rowell, Montezuma, Iowa, 2002., , 200 S. 3rd St., Montezuma, IA 20171.
3. , online http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECKENRIDGE/2013-02/1359858448, Charles "Al" Blackburn, xerxes52@verizon.net (Ancestry.com), downloaded 2 Feb 2013, Blackburn, Charles "Al", database, Ancestry.com (http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECKENRIDGE/2013-02/1359858448 : accessed 25 Feb 2013), obituary for Esther Miriam Breckenridge Blackburn, posted by her husband Charles "Al" Blackburn [(e-mai.
4. GEDCOM file submitted by Patricia Breniman Rowell, Montezuma, Poweshiek, Iowa. Imported on 26 May 2017..
5. , Census, , , "1930 United States Federal Census." Database. Ancestry.com (http//: www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 Sep 2012), entry for Mildred E. Breckenridge, Ames, Story, Iowa; Roll: 683; Page: 30A; Enumeration District: 6; I.
6. Obituary: Harriet B. Breckenridge Turkington, by ; ; , . Online http://www.ancestry.com/search/obit/view.aspx?db=web-obituary&kw=Turkington+Barton&pid=106253280&url=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll%3Frank%3d1%26new%3d1%26MSAV%3d0%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dangs-i%26gsfn%3dBarton%26gsln%3dTurkington%26mswpn__ftp%3dOkl; ; Printout dated 3 Jul 2012, Breckenridge, Harriet B. "Harriet Beverly Turkington," online database obituary (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Jul 2012) entry for Harriet Beverly Breckenridge Turkington. Cited The Norman Transcript newspaper, Norman, OK. 11 mar 2012..
7. Poweshiek Historical and Genealogical Society: Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society, Montezuma, Poweshiek, Iowa, 27 Dec 2012.Family Group Sheet for Robert William Breckenridge and Mildred Elizabeth McLain.Prepared by Patricia Breniman Rowell, Montezuma, Iowa, 2002., , 200 S. 3rd St., Montezuma, IA 20171.
8. Poweshiek Historical and Genealogical Society: Poweshiek County Historical and Genealogical Society, Montezuma, Poweshiek, Iowa (accessed 27 Dec 2012). Family Group Sheet for Charles Alfred Blackburn & Esther Miriam Breckenridge. Prepared by Patricia Breniman Rowell, Montezuma, Iowa, 2002., , 200 S. 3rd St., Montezuma, IA 20171.
9. , online http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECKENRIDGE/2013-02/1359858448, Charles "Al" Blackburn, xerxes52@verizon.net (Ancestry.com), downloaded 2 Feb 2013, Blackburn, Charles "Al", database, Ancestry.com (http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECKENRIDGE/2013-02/1359858448 : accessed 25 Feb 2013), obituary for Esther Miriam Breckenridge Blackburn, posted by her husband Charles "Al" Blackburn [(e-mai.
10. GEDCOM file submitted by Patricia Breniman Rowell, Montezuma, Poweshiek, Iowa. Imported on 26 May 2017..
11. "McLain Family - Reunion 1990", 27 May 1990, Miriam McLain Molison, various (9937 Evergreen Ave., Columbia, MD), to McLain Family (), McLain Family-Reunion 1990. Genealogical data of the decendents of William James and minnie Loiuse Breniman. Compiled by Alfred Blackburn [9937 Evergreen Ave.] Columbia, MD, 27 May 1990. Photocopy privately held by Denise Steward McLain [3501 Cedar Spring; , . Hereinafter cited as "McLain Family - Reunion 1990".
12. , The Washington Post, Washington D. C., USA, "Esther B. Blackburn, jewelry designer, teacher", dated 7 Feb 2013, from The Washington Post; digital data (www.washingtonpost.com : accessed 25 Feb 2013), obituary for Esther Breckenridge Blackburn, Washington D. C., 2013.
13. , online http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECKENRIDGE/2013-02/1359858448, Charles "Al" Blackburn, xerxes52@verizon.net (Ancestry.com), downloaded 2 Feb 2013, Blackburn, Charles "Al", database, Ancestry.com (http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECKENRIDGE/2013-02/1359858448 : accessed 25 Feb 2013), obituary for Esther Miriam Breckenridge Blackburn, posted by her husband Charles "Al" Blackburn [(e-mai.
14. , online http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECKENRIDGE/2013-02/1359858448, Charles "Al" Blackburn, xerxes52@verizon.net (Ancestry.com), downloaded 2 Feb 2013, Blackburn, Charles "Al", database, Ancestry.com (http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BRECKENRIDGE/2013-02/1359858448 : accessed 25 Feb 2013), obituary for Esther Miriam Breckenridge Blackburn, posted by her husband Charles "Al" Blackburn [(e-mai.
15. , The Washington Post, Washington D. C., USA, "Esther B. Blackburn, jewelry designer, teacher", dated 7 Feb 2013, from The Washington Post; digital data (www.washingtonpost.com : accessed 25 Feb 2013), obituary for Esther Breckenridge Blackburn, Washington D. C., 2013.
16. Rev. Scott W. Hoffman, Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church, website, accessed 14 Dec 2017, bruceblackburn/ebb/memorial.html. Posted on the website of Bruce Blackburn,,.
17. Obituary: Harriet B. Breckenridge Turkington, by ; ; , . Online http://www.ancestry.com/search/obit/view.aspx?db=web-obituary&kw=Turkington+Barton&pid=106253280&url=http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll%3Frank%3d1%26new%3d1%26MSAV%3d0%26msT%3d1%26gss%3dangs-i%26gsfn%3dBarton%26gsln%3dTurkington%26mswpn__ftp%3dOkl; ; Printout dated 3 Jul 2012, Breckenridge, Harriet B. "Harriet Beverly Turkington," online database obituary (www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Jul 2012) entry for Harriet Beverly Breckenridge Turkington. Cited The Norman Transcript newspaper, Norman, OK. 11 mar 2012..
18. SERVICES SAID FOR MRS. MCLAIN, Long Time, Beloved Resident of Brooklyn Vicinity, Unknown, Brooklyn, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA, c. 18 Aug 1952, Breniman, Minnie Louise. "Services Said for Mrs. McLain," photocopy of undated clipping, ca 18 Aug 1952, from unidentified newspaper, McLain Family Papers, privately held by Denise Steward McLain [3501 Cedar Springs Drive SW] Concord, NC, 2012. Received f.
19. SERVICES SAID FOR MRS. MCLAIN, Long Time, Beloved Resident of Brooklyn Vicinity, Unknown, Brooklyn, Poweshiek, Iowa, USA, c. 18 Aug 1952, Breniman, Minnie Louise. "Services Said for Mrs. McLain," photocopy of undated clipping, ca 18 Aug 1952, from unidentified newspaper, McLain Family Papers, privately held by Denise Steward McLain [3501 Cedar Springs Drive SW] Concord, NC, 2012. Received f.