Blakely, Samuel D.

BLAKELY

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 8/19/2008 at 14:01:19

Samuel D. Blakely

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.118, James Twp.)
Samuel D. Blakely, farmer, P. O. Hancock, was born in Allegheny County, Penn., November 22, 1849, son of James P. and Rebecca (Crouse) Blakely. His father was a farmer, born in December 1820, and is now living in Henry County, Ill. The mother of our subject was a native of Washington County, Penn., and died in Henry County, Ill., in October, 1873. They had five children - three boys and two girls. Our subject was educated in Orion Academy, Henry County, Ill., and also went to school in Washington County, this State. He taught school for a number of years in Illinois and this State. He has been Secretary of the School Board for two years. He came to Illinois in 1857, where he farmed and taught till 1878, when he came to this township (James) and purchased eighty acres of land in James Township at $12 per acre. He set out an orchard, built a good house, and otherwise improved it. He engaged in general farming. He was married, April 13, 1882, near Dublin, Washington County, this State, to Lizzie M. Bathurst, born in that county August 22, 1855, daughter of R. C. Bathurst, born in Pennsylvania in 1825. Mrs. Blakely's mother was born in Washington County, this State. Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian Church and his wife of the Methodist Church. In politics, he is a Democrat.