John W. Blakeslee

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A limited education was given to our subject, as the schools then were supported by the rate bill, and there was no money in the county to meet the ex[>ense. He went only in the winter months after reaching the age of twelve, and not at all after he became eighteen yeai-s old. He remembers Michigan when he came here in 1836, as a perfect wilderness, for his father settled in tho unbroken forest and did genuine pioneer work. The father died in 1860, at the old homestead, and his mother survived until 1881.

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Mr. Blakeslee has been long identified with the agricultural interests of York Township, and at the time of leaving his farm had four hundred acres of fine land and still has two hundred acres.

He breeds good stock and carries on mixed farming, but after the death of the daughter, ho and his wife were unhappy upon the farm, and decided to seek new scenes and new relations, and therefore removed to Milan, Mich., where he still continues his home. He is a Republican in his political views and for a term of five years held the office of Supervisor of the township. He was also Justice of the Peace for four years, and his wife is an earnest and active member of the Baptist Church.

As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Washtenaw County, Michigan, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies of all the governors of the state, a (1891). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN W. BLAKESLEE.

Monuments of stone and bronze have been erected to the memory of many individuals but no such evidence of an honorable life is needed by the people of Milan and Washtenaw county to keep in memory the record of John W. Blakeslee, who lives enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him. He was a successful man and this excited the admiration of his fellow citizens but it was his use of his wealth — his generosity, his kindliness and his benevolence that won him the love of all He was born in Madison county, New York, April 25, 1830, his parents being John W. and Urenia (Bonney) Blakeslee, both of whom were natives of the state of New York. The father was a wagonmaker by trade and followed that pursuit for a number of years. Leaving the Empire state in 1836 he made his way westward to Washtenaw county, Michigan, and took up his above in York township. He fought in the war of 18 12, while the paternal grandfather was a soldier of note in the Revolutionary war. The father, who died in the early fall of 1860, had often in his last illness expressed the hope that he might live to see Lincoln elected. The brothers of our subject were Dr. Alfred P. Blakeslee and Julius W. Blakeslee, but the latter died several years ago. The sisters were Mrs. Philena Olcott, the wife of John D. Olcott, of Augusta, Michigan; and Urania, the wife of Thomas Richards, of York township, who is a brother of Mrs. John W. Blakeslee. Both sisters are now deceased.

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John W. Blakeslee was only six years of age when brought by his parents to Washtenaw county and here amid the environments of pioneer life, sharing with the family in all the hardships and trials incident to settlement upon the frontier, he spent the days of his youth and assisted in the arduous task of developing a new farm. He early learned lessons of industry, economy and integrity and he grew to early manhood respected by all who knew him. That he was regarded as one of the worthy and representative citizens of his community is indicated by the fact that when only twenty-one years of age he was chosen a member of the district school board, to which position he was elected again and again, occupying the offices during the entire period of his residence in both York and Milan. Further official honors were also conferred upon him. He served as supervisor of York township for a number of terms, was also notary public up to the time of his death and for several years was justice of the peace, "winning golden opinions from all sorts of people" by the fairness and impartiality of his decisions.

On the 24th of November, 1850, in York township, at the home of the bride, Mr. Blakeslee was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Richards, a native of Nottinghamshire, England, born on the loth of March, 1829. On the loth of May, 1830, her parents, William and Elizabeth (Sibert) Richards, had sailed for America and she was therefore reared in this country. Her brothers were: Thomas, William, John, Alfred and George Richards; and her sisters were: Emeline, who became the wife of Thomas Fuller, of York township; and Mrs. Frances Ann Jackson, the deceased wife of Andrew D. Jackson, of York township. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeslee were married by Elder Baker, pastor of the Baptist church and their marriage was blessed with one daughter, Flora E., who was born on the 6th of May, 1857, and died on the 18th of October, 1881. Mr. Blakeslee's father died in 1860 and his mother lived with her son until her death when in her eighty-ninth year, and he was to her a faithful son.

For many years Mr. Blakeslee carried on general agricultural pursuits and was always the owner of a farm, having at one time three hundred and sixty acres of land and one hundred and forty-four acres when he died, but in his later years his land was operated on the shares, while he enjoyed a well earned rest. His death occurred very suddenly about six o'clock in the evening of April 8, 1905. He had been feeling unusually well that day and had transacted business interests with several neighbors and had also made a payment of two dollars which was his subscription to the organ fund of the Baptist church. Benham S. Cook, who operated the farm for Mr. Blakeslee, called him from the barn to the tgg house to talk with him upon business matters for a few minutes. Then as Mr. Cook turned around to drive a nail he heard something fall and looking back saw Mr. Blakeslee lying there. The latter lived only a few minutes. His death was a great shock to the people of Milan and the neighborhood and his loss was most deeply and sincerely deplored. The funeral services were held on the nth of April, the Rev. T. D. Denman officiating, and the funeral was one of the largest ever held in Washtenaw or Monroe counties, the home, corner Main and Edwards streets, being unable to contain the large concourse of friends and relatives who gathered to pay their last tribute of respect to the departed. The floral tributes were many and beautiful, being visible evidences of the love and respect in which Mr. Blakeslee was uniformly held. The business men of Milan attended the services and the school children of the village headed by the teachers also viewed the remains. Mr. Blakeslee never sought to figure prominently in public life though he was a stanch, lifelong republican, being a Fremont voter and having attended the "Under the Oaks" reunion at Jackson in 1904, and it was not political position nor military record that made him so honored in the community where he lived. It was his great generosity and unbounded charity that won him the love of those with whom he came in contact. On one occasion a good veteran of the Civil war, disabled and with a destitute family, applied to him for assistance in his effort to get a pension. He stated his claims, finishing with the remark, "But I have no money to prosecute my claims." Mr. Blakeslee in his characteristic manner replied, "Then this is the place to come," and the

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Google aid was forthwith furnished. This is but one of hundreds of similar instances that might be given showing his great generous heart, his broad humanitarian principles and his ready sympathy. Many indeed have reason to bless him for his timely assistance in the hour of need, and they speak his name with praise and gratitude. His memory will be enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him for years to come, and his life history furnishes an example that is indeed well worthy of emulation. Many who knew him may well feel that

"This was a man. Take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again/'

As printed in Past and present of Washtenaw County, Michigan (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.