Page 266 - PGM Compendium

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Of
M⸫W⸫ Yancey C. Blalock

1896-1897

With the lasting example of his honored father before him, Dr.
Yancey C. Blalock has followed in his professional footsteps
and has won a place among the eminent physicians and
surgeons of Walla Walla. Our Most Worshipful Brother was
born in Mitchell County, North Carolina, on August 3, 1859, a
son of Dr. Nelson G. and Panthea A. (Durham) Blalock. During
his infancy the family moved to Macon County, Illinois, and he
was a youth of fourteen when they started across the plains to
Walla Walla, making the long and arduous journey according
to the primitive methods of the time. Dr. Blalock has a very
vivid recollection of many of the events of the trip as they
passed on over the long stretches of hot sand and through the mountain passes that eventually
brought them to the Pacific Coast.

His education was largely acquired in the public schools of Walla Walla and in the Whitman
Seminary. At length he determined to make the practice of medicine his life work and accordingly
in 1881 entered the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which his father
had graduated many years before. He completed his course in that institution as a member of the
class of 1884, after which he returned at once to Walla Walla and for a time was associated with
his father in the active practice of medicine and surgery. Later, however, he established himself
independently in practice, and in 1902 he accepted the appointment to the position of receiver of
the United States land office at Walla Walla, serving in that capacity for two years, at the end of
which time he resigned to resume the private practice of his profession. He gave his undivided
thought and attention to his professional interests and was ranked among the leading practitioners
of Walla Walla County. He was most conscientious in the performance of his professional duties,
recognizing how grave are the responsibilities which confront the physician.

In April 1883, Dr. Blalock was united in marriage to Miss Julia Sanderson, a native daughter of
Walla Walla, and to them was born a son, Jesse. Mrs. Blalock passed away on the 6th of January,
1885, and in 1890 Dr. Blalock was again married, this union being with Miss Lillian Ballou, a
native of Illinois and a daughter of Orlando and Elizabeth (Boyd) Ballou. To this marriage was
born a daughter, Phoebe.

Dr. Blalock was brought to Masonic Light when he received the Entered Apprentice Degree on
November 22nd, 1880; that of Fellowcraft on January 3rd, 1881; and was raised to the Sublime
Degree of a Master Mason on February 7th the same year. In 1888 he was elected Master of his
Lodge, and in 1892 became its Secretary. He began attending the communications of the Grand
Lodge of Washington very early in his career as a Mason, paying his own way year after year,