Small Towns On The Map

 I was thinking about some of my enslaved ancestors. My Blakey / WHITE Family members lived in Howard and Chariton Counties Missouri areas. I wonder. Where some of them choose to live after they were released from bondage?

My Great Grandfather, Isaac WHITE / Blakey was one of the enslaved in Howard County Missouri during the mid 1840’s and early 1860’s. He later received his freedom and enlisted into the U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery in Mississippi as Private Isaac BLAKER. He was young when he left Missouri in the early 1860’s.

Oral history states that Isaac ran away at the age of 16 and joined the Civil War. And after the War he searched for his family and found them in Natchez, Mississippi. Isaac convinced his family that Forest Green, Missouri was a better place for them to live.

Here’s the full article. Slavery Descendants Have First Reunion.

Source from Sioux City Journal Sioux City, Iowa 28 Aug 1971, Sat  •  Page 5

Places Where My Relatives Lived
Some of my relatives lived in Forest Green, Missouri, Fayette, Missouri , Glasgow, Missouri, Keysville, Missouri, Salisbury, Missouri and Shannondale, Missouri. I first came across these cities while I was searching for my Blakey Blakley WHITE Family connections. Isaac’s parents, Andrew WHITE and Julia (FINNEY) WHITE were brought to Missouri from Virginia.

Isaac and most of his siblings were born in Howard County Missouri area. About nine or ten of Isaac’s children were born either in Wilkerson or Adam County in Mississippi. The others were born in Chariton and Howard Counties in Missouri area.

Small Towns On The Map
I haven’t been to these small towns. I may visit the ones in Missouri, someday. I was told that the First Baptist Church where my relatives worship, is still standing in Forest Green. I heard that some of my earlier relatives helped built the original church.

There are relatives who still live in these small towns.. The place where my ancestors and relatives were they choose to lived. I’m thankful that some have left some stories behind for the future generations.
 
 In Remembrance: BBW Family Connections
Branches of Spencer, John, Martha, and Richard WHITE
Branches of Isaac Blakey Sr. 

Thanks for reading.
Small Towns On The Map #52Ancestors ~ Week 38

God bless you
S.A. Blakley

Original blog was posted on September 21, 2020 by Susan Ann Blakley on another site. 
I added the In Remembrance to this blog for September 2022.