John L. Blackburn

SHERIFF JOHN L. BLACKBURN

By

Bob Ellison

Nevada Law Enforcement Historian

John L. Blackburn started his law enforcement career in late 1859 as the Deputy U.S. Marshal for the Second Judicial District Court in the Utah Territory. As Carson County, U.T. was re-established following the lawless period of 1857-1858, he took on the important role as a lawman while the county townships reorganized for elections. He soon added the duties of watchman for the new town called Carson City. During the following year, Blackburn was elected to the office of High Sheriff for Carson County, U.T. On 6 September 1860, he took his Oath of Office becoming a lawman serving at three levels of authority. Then Blackburn became the Warden of the branch territorial prison located in his log cabin jail on the southwest corner of Carson and Proctor Street in Carson City.

When Governor James W. Nye organized the Nevada Territory in July 1861, John L. Blackburn was the only Carson County official to survive the re-organization of the county. One of the things that made him indispensable was the fact that he was paying the rent on the jail building, feeding the prisoners and covering his own costs out of his personal finances. He was never able to redeem cash for the county script that constituted his financial compensation.

At the start of the Nevada Territory, he was operating solely as the Sheriff. Yet the workload of the new Territory was such that he had become the first Sheriff on the East Slope to need Deputy Sheriffs for the enforcement of the law. In the next few months three of his deputies were badly injured by attempts on their lives.

On 18 November 1861, Sheriff Blackburn spent much of the day with a warrant searching Carson City for a fugitive murderer from California. At one point he searched a cabin of a gambler that was said to be providing the hideout. During this time the gambler taunted him that the fugitive had been there, but was gone and the Sheriff would never find him. Later that evening, as the Sheriff relaxed at the St. Nicholas Saloon, the same gambler confronted Blackburn and started the argument again. Blackburn threatened the arrest of the belligerent and the man stated that the Sheriff couldn’t do it. The powerfully built gambler pulled out a large bowie knife and Blackburn reached for his pistol. Blackburn’s companions, trying to avoid a fight, grabbed the Sheriff’s arm. The gambler stabbed the Sheriff four of five times. In shock, Blackburn’s friends released his arm and the Sheriff brought his pistol up, but before he could fire, he fell dead to the floor. As he fell, the gambler’s associates obstructed the crowd as the murderer made his escape flourishing his knife in the air.

Sheriff John L. Blackburn was survived by Sarah Blackburn, his twenty-year-old wife, and Minnie Musser Blackburn, his baby daughter of less than a year.

Plaque Location & Image

Center Wall Column 1 Row D     View The Plaque