Blakely, John G. (1842-1915)

BLAKELY

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 11/14/2008 at 13:47:49

John G. Blakely
Feb 13, 1842 - Feb 6, 1915

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.262, Wright Twp.)
John Blakely, farmer, P. O. Lewis, Cass Co., Iowa, was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1843. He is the son of Andrew and Catharine (Gilchrist) Blakely. His father died in Pennsylvania when our subject was about ten years old. His mother is a native of Pennsylvania, and is now living in Pittsburgh, that State. Our subject lived with an uncle from the time he was six till he was twenty years of age. He then learned the carpenter's trade in Alliance, Stark Co., Ohio, and worked at that trade for about eight years, part of the time in Ohio and the balance in Pennsylvania. He then went to Missouri and worked at his trade in that State for several years. In the spring of 1872, he settled down in Cass County, this State, where he purchased eighty acres of land. Here he lived until the spring of 1876, when he bought his present place of eighty acres, situated in Section 5, Township 75, Range 38. He was married, in Cass County, February 4, 1874, to Lucina Ingram, born in Hamilton County, N. Y., March 2, 1855. She is the daughter of Clark and Lucina (Grinnell) Ingram. Her father was born in Massachusetts about 1821. When a young man, he moved to New York, where he was married. Her mother was a native of Vermont, born March 2, 1825, and died in New York State January 19, 1862. Mrs. Blakely's father moved to Henderson County, Ill., in the spring of 1862. He came to Cass County, this State, February 25, 1870, and is still living about five miles from Griswold. Our subject has three children - Ettie Belle, born May 20, 1875; Lenora, born February 14, 1877; and Elizabeth Jane, born January 4, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Blakely are members of the Presbyterian Church of Griswold. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics a Republican.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.235)
JOHN BLAKELY is one of the enterprising and well known citizens of Wright Township. He came here in the spring of 1877 and has since made this place his home. He was born in Perry Co, Ohio, February 13, 1842, son of Andrew BLAKELY. His great-grandfather BLAKELY was a native of the Emerald Isle. Andrew BLAKELY was a stone cutter by trade, which he followed the most of his life. His political views were those of the Democratic party. He married Catherine GILCHRIEST, a native of Pennsylvania and a lady of German ancestry. They reared a family of six children, five of whom are living, John being the fifth born. Mrs. BLAKELY was born in 1807 and is now 83 years of age. She resides in Pennsylvania near the old Gilchriest homestead.
JOHN BLAKELY was principally brought up in Westmoreland Co, Pennsylvania, where he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years in that state and in Ohio. In 1868 he came West and worked in different parts of Missouri, and finally in Maryville, Nodaway County. In 1871 he came to Cass County, Iowa, and bought 80 acres of land, six miles southeast of Lewis, which he improved. February 5, 1874, he married Miss Lucina INGRAHAM, a native of New York state and a daughter of Clark and Electa Lucina (GRINNELL) INGRAHAM, both natives of the East. When a child, she came with her parents to Illinois, and later to Cass County, Iowa. Her father is now a resident of Griswold. In 1877 Mr. Blakely sold his farm in Cass Co and bought his present farm of 80 acres, upon which he has since made many improvements. He erected a two-story frame house and surrounded it with shade and ornamental trees; and his barn, other outbuildings and improvements on the premises all show thrift and enterprise.
Mr. and Mrs. BLAKELY have five children: Etta Belle, Lenora, Elizabeth Jane, John Sherman and Electa Lucina. In politics Mr. BLAKELY is a Republican. He has served the public as a member of the School Board. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Griswold. He is associated with Lewis Lodge No 140 I.O.O.F. Mr. Blakely is a man yet in the prime of life; has traveled extensively and is well informed on all general topics. He takes an active interest in educational and religious matters and any movement that has for its object the upbuilding or advancement of the community where he resides, finds in him an earnest supporter.