William Henry Blake (1937)

BLAKE, DOWNS, GROUT, MIX

Posted By: Treva Patterson
Date: 5/24/2007 at 09:39:09

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Friday, February 19, 1937

WILLIAM HENRY BLAKE

William Henry Blake, son of Charles A. and Alice Mix Blake, was born in Cisne, Illinois, January 6, 1881. He passed quietly from this life on the evening of Wednesday, January 17, 1937, conscious to the last of having set his house in order. As a small boy Mr. Blake came from Springfield, Illinois to New Virginia, Iowa. Early an orphan, he became the son of a devoted foster mother, Mrs. Sarah Downs of Orange, California. In 1903, having completed his business training in Des Moines, Mr. Blake began his business career in Winterset with the Anthes Lumber company. He became teller of the Citizens National bank for a period of six years, following which he was for a time with the Equitable Life company of Iowa.

In 1907 he was united in marriage with Grace Evelyn Grout of Winterset and a little later became a partner of the late George M. Grout of this city, dealing in feed, coal and clay products. At the time of his death he was associated with the firm of M. Young and Company.

Since 1903 Mr. Blake had been a member of the Methodist church; until the encroachment of ill health prevented; he was an active worker, having assisted in the building of the present church edifice.

During a career of thirty-four years in Winterset, Will Blake, as he was familiarly called, built for himself a reputation of unfailing honor and integrity. His life was an open book, lived in the presence of life-long friends and associates with simplicity and unassuming dignity. He was an eager student of world affairs, a lover of beauty in literature, nature and mankind, unfailingly generous and responsive to the needs of his fellows.

Performing every undertaking to perfection was perhaps his ruling passion. Fellow Rotarians recall that for seven years, Mr. Blake maintained an unbroken attendance record.

His greatest devotion and happiness was centered in his home and wife, who survives him. There remain also a brother, Fred of New Virginia and two beloved aunts.

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