My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL D. BLAKE. With the development and progress of Johnson County Mr. Blake was for a number of years actively associated. He was especially prominent in township range 25, where he had a fine property of two hundred and forty acres. He later disposed of one-half of this tract, and at the time of his decease, which occurred February 6, 1884, was the owner of one hundred and twenty acres, well improved. This estate was acquired through persevering industry and good management.

Mr. Blake was born in Gloucester County, N. J., November 4, 1811, to John and Eleanor Blake, who were also born in the above county in New Jersey. There John Blake was a boat-builder, and there he also ran on the river until his removal to Greene County, Ill. While in the Prairie State he studied medicine, and upon completing the prescribed course began practice in the towns of Carlinville and Collinsville, Ill. He died in the latter place, while his wife departed this life in Greene County.

The family of John and Eleanor Blake included eight children. Samuel D. was the eldest; Ezra married Mary Moffat, and both died in Collinsville, Ill.; Charles, who is deceased, married Lettie Moffat, and after her death married Sarah Hadley, who now makes her home in Colorado; Daniel chose for his wife Nancy Newell, and they now make their home in Warrensburg; Mary married James Hickman, and both are deceased; Rachel married James Metcalf, now deceased, while she makes her home with her sister-in-law in Colorado; Margaret married Jesse Thacker, and both are deceased; and John first married Lottie Farner, and after her death he married Laura McCluney.

The marriage of our subject with Elizabeth Davis occurred a short time after leaving the parental roof. Mrs. Blake survived her marriage about seven or eight years, and died at her home in Greene County, Ill., near White Hall. Mr. Blake then engaged in farming, and September 7, 1844, chose for his second companion Catherine Johnson, who was born April 2, 1827, in Anderson County, Tenn. She was the daughter of Benjamin and Asby (Farmer) Johnson, agriculturists and natives of the last-mentioned county. In the year 1831 they took up the line of march to Illinois, locating in Greene County, where they became the owners of a good property and where they passed the remainder of their lives. To them were born six children, of whom Mrs. Blake was the fourth in order of birth. Mary died at the age of twenty years; Samantha married John Bigham, but both she and her husband are now deceased; Rosina and her husband, Alexander Howard, are deceased; Rebecca Adams was two years old at the time of her demise; and Eliza Ann, the wife of Peter Johnson, makes her home in Oregon.

For one year after their marriage Mr. Blake farmed near Wilmington, Ill. He was then elected Constable and Deputy Sheriff of Greene County, and in addition to discharging the duties of these offices operated a hotel at Wilmington. He was “mine host” of this house for seven years, when, going to Palmyra, Macoupin County, Ill., he established himself in general merchandising business. He was identified with the prominent business men of that place for several years, when he moved his stock of goods to Gillespie, that county, where he was similarly employed until the outbreak of the late war. At that time he sold his interests in this line and invested his capital in farming lands in that county, living there until the establishment of peace. He then decided to emigrate to Missouri, in which state one of his brothers was living. He accordingly sold his farm in Illinois, and, coming to Johnson County, purchased a tract of two hundred and forty acres. This he cultivated for some time, but afterward sold one-half of it. His wife now lives on this place and gives her attention to its cultivation.

By his first union Mr. Blake became the father of seven children, of whom those now living are Eleanor Fowler, Mrs. Boosinger; Libbie Davis, Mrs. Pearson; and Carrie D., Mrs. Wilson. The children of the second union of our subject were seven in number, four of whom are living: Annie E., Mrs. Granger; Maggie A., Mrs. Cummings; Douglas A.; and Corie C., Mrs. Adams. At the time of his decease, Mr. Blake was holding the office of Justice of the Peace of his township. He was a Democrat in politics, and with his good wife was a valued member of the Christian Church. As he was well and favorably known in this vicinity, his death was deeply regretted.