Blakely, Adoniram Judson 1834-1922

BLAKELY, EDGERTON, SULSER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 12/5/2013 at 09:36:40

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
January 31, 1922

A PIONEER PASSES
----------------
Notable Life of Farmer, Scholar, Law-
yer, Thinker and Civil War
Veteran.
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FUNERAL OF A.J. BLAKELY
AT THREE TOMORROW
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Veteran Had Lived in Poweshiek for
a Period of Fifty-Five
Years.
----------------

In the death at noon yesterday of Adoniram Judson Blakely, Grinnell loses one of its earlier citizens, man of highest honor, upright in every detail, square and true as a ship to its rudder, a man among men.

Mr. Blakely, son of Dan and Hannah (Edgerton) Blakely, was born June 20, 1834, at Pawlet, Rutland county, Vermont, of good old New England Revolutionary stock, and was named by his Christian parents for one of the then noted missionaries to India. Mr. Blakely was the seventh of nine children, and was the last survivor of this large family.

He fitted for college, first under private tutors at home and then at Burn and Poultney academies. He graduated from Union college at Schnectady and then attended Albany Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 1861. He commenced law practice at once with Hon. A.B. Waldo at Fort Henry, N.Y.

In August the same year he enlisted in the 14th Vermont Volunteers and was elected and commissioned First Lieutenant of Company B. He served in the Army of the Potomac in Stannard's Brigade, Doubleday's Division, and was with his regiment at the battle of Gettysburg. Doubleday's Division met the memorable charge of General Pickett on July 3, when Stannard's brigade routed the charging confederate army and took many prisoners. Company B lost in killed and wounded, one fourth of its men. The Brigade term of service was soon over and Lieut. Blakely received his discharge at Brattleboro July 30, 1863.

From 1854 to 1867 he resided at Pawlet engaged in fine stock raising. In 1867 he came to Poweshiek county and settled on the Blakely farm south of Grinnell. Here he has lived all the years since, a wide and voluminous reader, a thinker and a leader.

He has always been known as a raiser of fine sheep and has served as president of the State Wool Growers Association. He has been active also in many Grinnell activities, notably the Poweshiek county Farmers Mutual Insurance Co., the old Grange Movement, th Grinnell Grange Store, and the Farmers Alliance.

His thought was always "forward," and he himself, moved always in that direction, both in thought and action.

April 12, 1888, Mr. Blakely was united in marriage with Elizabeth Sulser of Grinnell. To them were born five children, Mary Lavinia and Esther, both whom died when quite young. Three survive, A.J. Blakely, Jr., Margaret and Helen, who with the wife mourn the death of the useful talented man.

Mr. Blakely's activities were so extensive that it is almost impossible to name them. He was interested in all movements to improve farming conditions and was not only widely known as a wool grower, but also as a breeder of pure blood short horns and Poland Chinas.

Since 1868 he was an active member of the Congregational church and always strove to live up to the teachings of the Bible. Few men have lived better or truer lives and none have left a richer heritage to their children of a life well lived than he.

The funeral will be held at the home tomorrow afternoon at three o'clock conducted by Rev. E.W. Cross.