Seeking the Truth in History is not Easy

Let me first say that as a true researcher, it is my duty to remain unbiased and perhaps at times even play the Devil's advocate, if you will. So while I welcome any and all comments regarding this blog, I encourage all to keep an open mind. Do not take my comments personally or as an attack on those who may be your ancestors. I am just a true believer in the frailty of human nature. No one is without sin, not even ministers and missionaries.

As I study the life of Gideon, I am finding numerous accounts of his life that have been written from a variety of perspectives. The Presbyterians have one story, the Cherokee historians tell a different tale and the political view can be skewed either way depending on the agenda at hand.

And I am searching for the truth, which may never be found.

Some say he brought religion to the Indians.
Some say he owned and operated a whiskey distillery.
Some say he sold whiskey to the Indians.
Some say he was an agent for the Kentucky Temperance Society.

This is just an example of the contradictions I am finding.
Of course, all could be true, if he were to turn out to be a true capitalist.

For example:

As per laws of the time, Gideon, being a clergyman, would be exempt from taxes.

As the owner of a distillery, he would need labor to grow corn.

As an educator to the Indians, he would be training the labor he needed.

Selling whiskey to the Indians would be profitable.

Being part of the Temperance movement would not only disguise his involvement, but the guilt created by preaching the evils of drinking would create more converts,
which would mean more donations to the church.

Plus, if prohibition came, it would drive up the price of the whiskey, which would increase profits.

Sounds like capitalism at its finest.

I am continuing my research of Gideon, with hopes of totally exonerating his name, as he may in some way link to the Blackburns in my family line.

However, at this point, it is not looking good for Gideon.

Research has shown that he was involved with Andrew Jackson, who was know to be an Indian hater. He was also involved in land speculation in Illinois, of course this was in the name of religion and education, but it had to mean the taking of lands from the original inhabitants, who would have been Indians.

Gideon had a fund raising plan:

BLACKBURN UNIVERSITY.

"About the year 1835 the Rev. Gideon Blackburn proposed to various
benevolent persons in Massachusetts and other eastern states the
following plan for raising money for the purpose of founding and
establishing a theological seminary in Illinois : that they should
advance to him money with which he should purchase government lands at $1.25 per acre, that he should convey to them respectively of these lands amounts, which at $2.00 per acre should be equal to the sums advanced ; that of the remaining lands he should take one-third to his own use to reimburse him for his trouble and expenses and the other two-thirds should constitute a fund for the funding and establishment of the college; in other words, five-eighths of the lands thus purchased should be conveyed to the persons who advanced the money, and one-eighth to himself, leaving one-fourth to constitute the seminary fund. In the execution of this plan he raised funds with which he purchased over 64,000 acres of land ; thus providing a seminary fund of over 16,000 acres. On the 28th day of September, 1837, Dr. Blackburn acknowledged and executed a deed of trust' conveying to W. S. Oilman and six other trustees the said lands constituting the seminary fund and some other lands in trust for the purpose of establishing an institution of learning on the principles in the deed specified." History of Macoupin County, Illinois : biographical and pictorial

If lands were available to be purchased from the government at $1.25 per acre, than why would the investors pay Gideon $2.00 per acre and just make a donation for the purchase of land for the school?

Oh, guess who was President at the time? Andrew Jackson.

Very suspicious I say.

Another bit of info to ponder is a letter from Gideon to Rev. Morse


Seems to be quite a bit of accounting information for a Bible man.

And the search for truth continues . . .