Class of 1863

The following from a Cincinnati paper refers to the last surviving non-graduate member of this class:

"John Blackburn, Negro, retired schootteacher and principal, 3053 O'Bryan St.,Walnut Hills, celebrated his 95th birthdayWednesday. He retired ten years ago afterhaving served as a teacher in the McCallSchool, Cincinnati, and also principal ofXevia, Ohio, and Evansville, Ind., highschools. He also served on the board of management of Ohio University, Athens. Hisonly activity at preseiit is a Sunday schoolclass at the Bethel Colored Baptist church.Born in Virginia, he was brought to Cincinnati when a boy. He speaks French,Latin, Greek, Spanish, and German. He isbelieved to be the oldest Negro Mason inCincinnati. One of his sons, Charles P., isprincipal of a Columbus, Ohio, school; another, Robert, is a local mail carrier. Otherchildren are Mrs. Frances Wilson, Chicago;William, Washington, D. C.; Mrs. CarolineSummers, Michigan; and Albert, withwhom he lives."