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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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ALBERT JUDD BLAKESLEE is President of the Blakeslee Manufacturing Company, and therefore at the head of one of the leading industries of Du Quoin. The prosperity and growth of this place are due to the thrift and enterprise of such men as our subject, and it is with pleasure that we present this sketch to our readers. He was born in Perryville, Madison County, N. Y., March 1, 1824, and is a son of Eli Blakeslee, who was born at Paris Hill, Oneida County, N.Y., ten miles from Utica, April 6, 1796. He drew lots with his brother as musician for the War of 1812. His death occurred in Du Quoin in 1866. His father, Eli Blakeslee, Sr., was a native of Litchfield, Conn., and his wife’s maiden name was Lettice Curtis, of the noted Curtis family. They had six sons and six daughters, all of whom attained mature years, married and reared children.

The Blakeslee family was founded in America by two brothers who came to this country before the Revolutionary War. One was a Tory and the other joined the Continental army. After the Colonies had achieved their independence the former went to Nova Scotia, where his descendants are probably living. The latter, who was a soldier under Washington, was the progenitor of the family in America. The Blakeslees are natural mechanics and many of them have followed the machinist’s trade.

In 1845 Eli Blakeslee, Jr., left New York with his family and took up his residence in Woodford County, Ill., where he and his sons carried on a machine shop until 1858, when they removed to Ullin, in the southern part of the state. There they lost $25,000 in a business venture, and in 1860 came to Du Quoin without any money. The father and sons started a small factory, which was the foundation of the now extensive Blakeslee Manufacturing Company. In the family were four brothers. The eldest, Lyman Curtis, was interested with him in founding the business, but later went to Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in the oil business. His death there occurred in 1875. Julius Clark, another brother, died while they were in business in Metamora. Halidon, the third brother, was interested in the business at this place until his death, in 1878. There were also three sisters in the family: Frances Marion, who died in infancy, in 1834; Naney L., who died at the age of twelve years, in 1850; and Frances Maria, the wife of P. K. Root, a banker, of Little Rock, Ark., who served as a soldier in the Civil
War.

The mother of this family bore the maiden name of Emily Judd and was born in New York, November 21, 1799, being the second child of Daniel Clark and Debby (Hatch) Judd, who were married September 9, 1796. Her father was a son of Daniel Judd, of Colchester, Mass. The Judds were one of the most prominent families both in this country and in England. They trace their ancestry in that country back to 1300. Thomas Judd came to America from England about 1634, and settled in Cambridge, Mass. In 1836 he removed to Hartford, Conn., and it is not improbable that he was one of the company of one hundred men, women and children who departed from Cambridge on the last day of May of that year. He afterward went to Northampton, Mass., and his death occurred either in that place or in Springfield, November 12, 1688, at the age of eighty years. He was a very prominent man in church. The mother of Mr. Blakeslee was of the seventh generation of the descendants of Thomas Judd.

Debbie Hatch, the maternal grandmother, was a relative of Rufus Hatch, and others of that family who have become famous in the financial world of New York. She died June 19, 1816. Mrs. Eli Blakeslee was one of several children, the members of the family being Eunice, Minerva, Chester, Warren and Walter (twins), Daniel, Nancy, Amelia, David, Mary, Mehitable, Clark and Harvey. The Judds were members of the Presbyterian Church, and the Blakeslees held the religious faith of the Episcopalians. Mrs. Blakeslee died April 11, 1869.

Albert J. Blakeslee was given the advantages of an academic education, and early in life learned the machinist’s trade in his father’s shop. At that time his father was one of the wealthy men of the county, but subsequently he lost much of his property, and when they came west it was to make a new start in life. They accumulated quite a handsome competence, but this was again lost at the breaking out of the late war, and they had to once more begin anew on removing to Du Quoin. The family has been noted for generations for their thrift and enterprise, and these characteristics are largely possessed by our subject.

In 1851 was celebrated the marriage of A. J. Blakeslee and Sarah J. Wafer, a native of Putnam County, Ill., and a daughter of Thomas Wafer, a native of South Carolina and a pioneer of Putnam County. He served in the Black Hawk War. In the family were several sons and daughters, and one of the number, Edward Clarkson, was a soldier in the late war. Mrs. Blakeslee died in 1883. In their family were five children. Eda Elizabeth, wife of J. C. Sturgeon, a prominent attorney of Erie, Pa., died February 14, 1882, leaving two children, Ralph and Berry. Ella Minerva is the wife of H. P. Scott, an attorney of Kansas City, Mo., and they have seven children. Eli Thomas, who was educated in the State University of Champaign, married Eva Ward, of Du Quoin, and has three children, Ward Judd, Hazel and Helen; he is the Secretary and Treasurer of the Blakeslee Manufacturing Company. Clarence Eugene, who is also connected with that company, married Miss Lulu A., daughter of Dr. W. T. Maclin, of Du Quoin. Albert Harley is also a member of the firm. The second wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Ursula Woods and was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y. She is a lady of amiable disposition and noble character.

Mr. Blakeslee has been identified with the Episcopal Church, and has lived a most exemplary Christian life. His honorable, upright career is well worthy of emulation. Socially, he is a Royal Arch Mason. He has one of the finest homes in the city, and with him resides his son Albert Hurley. Though he has met reverses and misfortune in his business career he has overcome these by strong determination and has steadily worked his way upward to a position among the wealthiest citizens of the county.

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Perry County, Illinois family biographies here: Perry County, Illinois Biographies

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