Page 257 - 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, when it was necessary to travel by boat and
stage for many weary miles to do so. In 1896, at a time when the great fight was on over the liquor

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