The Blackinger Family

The Blackinger family were well-known residents of Silver City for the 12 years they lived in the area. Valentine Ludwig Blackinger was born in 1825 in Bavaria, immigrated to the US and resided in Buffalo NY where he met and married Margarethe (or Margaret) Hausler. They moved to Iowa for a short time before crossing the plains to Oregon in 1862. Soon thereafter they arrived in the Owyhees, engaging in the butcher business in Ruby City, Silver City and Booneville. During his time here, Mr. Blackinger owned and operated many businesses, including one of the first grocery stores, the Golden Chariot boarding house, a restaurant, and the War Eagle hotel.

Valentine and Margaret had nine children in 23 years. Sadly they lost a four-month-old son in Buffalo and three children in Silver City, who are laid to rest here.

In 1874, six-year-old Edward James died of Scarlet Fever. His obituary reads that “Dear little Eddy was a universal favorite and how sad the thought that he should now be sleeping in the cold and silent grave.”

The following year Scarlet Fever claimed the life of five-month-old William Hosea. 

Just one month later, 16 year old Katy died of Typhoid Fever. Her obituary states that “Katy was the pride of her parents' household and beloved by all that knew her. She was a universal favorite, with always a bright smile and pleasant word for everybody. A cloud of gloom has settled over the entire community where darling Katy has lived and was loved for the past eleven years. 

In 1878, the Blackingers sold the War Eagle Hotel to John Grete Sr., as well as houses and a stable in Fairview, and a farm on Picket Creek. They moved to Boise before locating to Bellevue during the “Wood River excitement” where he Valentine opened a meat market. In 1887, Margaret, his wife of 38 years passed away. She is buried in Bellevue. The following year, Valentine returned to Silver City where his son Frank lived for many years. He stayed in Silver for about a year before visiting Seattle and other coastal cities. The then returned to Boise to live with his daughter, Mrs. T. Regan. Mr. Valentine passed away in 1892 at 68 years from Bright’s Disease, a kidney disease. He is buried at the Morris Hill Cemetery in Boise.