Blakely, A. J.

BLAKELY

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 1/9/2013 at 08:14:12

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

BLAKELY, A.J.—Grinnell Twp—pg 885-6. Farmer and stock-raiser, section 28, P.O. Grinnell. Was born on the 20th of June, 1834, in Rutland county, Vermont, and received his education at Union College, Schenectady, New York, graduating from there in 1859. Also attended the Albany Law School until 1861, when he went to Fort Henry, New York, and engaged in the practice of law with A.B. Waldo, one of the most prominent lawyers in the state. Upon the call for troops, in 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Fourteenth Vermont volunteer infantry for nine months, and soon after entering the service was promoted to first lieutenant of company B, and after serving for one year was honorably discharged. He was in the battle of Gettysburg, at which battle one-fourth of the men in his company were killed, he, himself, being slightly wounded. After his discharge he returned to Vermont, and became engaged in the live stock and wool business, following that until 1867, when he came to Poweshiek county. He is the owner of 225 acres of well-improved land and is an extensive breeder of Durham cattle and thorough-bred Merino sheep and Poland-China hogs. Mr. Blakely has been for three years secretary of the Farmers’ Fire Insurance Company, and also holds the position of president of the Farmers’ Exchange.