A. J. Blackwell

Who was A. J. Blackwell?

A.J. Blackwell was the founder and namesake of Blackwell, Kay County, Oklahoma. Blackwell, the city, was founded in September 1893 as of one the Cherokee Allotments. A.J. Blackwell had settled in the area in 1882, having married the former Rosa Vaught who was of Cherokee descent, he was eligible to found the city. Blackwell served as Justice of the Peace and Mayor of Blackwell. He also worked as a merchant in Fayetteville, Arkansas, built the first house in Ottawa, Kansas, and founded the towns of Rock Falls, Oklahoma Territory, David, Indian Territory, and Chelsea, Indian Territory. An entrepreneur, he also established the first hotel in Blackwell, and was president of the North Oklahoma Railroad.

A.J. Blackwell was born on January 29, 1842 in Georgia to Janos and Matilda Blackwell. He enlisted in the Confederate army during the Civil War under the 3rd Confederate Cavalry. A.J. and Rosa Blackwell had two sons and one daughter: King Solomon, King David and Hazel.

Prior to founding Blackwell, Oklahoma, A.J. Blackwell lived in Joplin, Missouri where he held bear and dog fights and built the town's first opera house. He was arrested on counterfeiting charges and spent time in the Missouri State Penitentiary. Blackwell also was indicted twice for murder, but was not convicted.