Biographies

Sergeant Israel L. Blackburn was born into slavery.  After serving in the 124th U.S. Colored Infantry  in the Civil War, he moved to Downers Grove. In Downers Grove, he owned land, farmed vegetables, signed the Village incorporation papers and ran for mayor in 1873. He was a proud member of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).  Israel Larry Blackburn was born into slavery in Mercer County, Kentucky on May 3, 1818, on a plantation owned by John Bowman. There he would live until 1865 when he was sold by Bowman to the Union Army. At that time Israel was assigned regiment garrison duties at Camp Nelson in Company C of the 124th U.S. Colored Infantry in Kentucky, just one of the 175 colored regiments formed during the Civil War. His service there earned him the rank of sergeant before he was discharged on October 14, 1865. In 1866, Blackburn