BLAKE , MRS. W. E.
Susan Elizabeth Safely Blake, wife of the widely known attorney, W. E. Blake, was born in Waterford, N. Y., April 23, 1845. Her father was Thomas Safley, and her mother, Henrietta Fenwiek, who died, when her daughter was only six years old. In 1853 her father with his family came to Linn county, Iowa. All three of Mrs. Blake's brothers served in the Civil War. Dr. A. F. Safley enlisted in New York, Alexander F. Safley in a Colorado Regiment and won from the Indians the name "Brave White Chief" because of his bravery. Maj. John J. Safley enlisted in the 13th regiment at Davenport which was a part of the Iowa Crocker Brigade. She was married to W. E. Blake, Nov. 4, 1903. He has practiced law in Burlington since 1869. He has been an elder in the First Presbyterian church for over forty years and was superintendent of the Sunday school for twenty-five years. He was a member of the Board of Education for twelve years, being president for eleven years. Mrs. Blake belongs to most of the clubs and associations in Burlington which are worth while, among them the Musical Club, the King's Daughters, the Y. W. C. A., the Visiting Nurse Association, the Red Cross society, the Humane society, the Hospital Aid and her church organizations. To all these she gives very helpful support. She has lived in Burlington for forty one years and through all that time has had a part in the best life of the city. She has seen the city grow and improve in these years until it seems transformed, very few of the old land marks being left.
This bio was extracted from the The Blue Book of Iowa Women, which was edited an compiled by Winona Evans Reeves, published by the Press of Missouri Printing and Publishing Compnay, Mexico, MO, 1914, pg. 23