Tragedy

Tragedy #52Ancestors Week 33

Posted on August 22, 2021 by Susan Ann Blakley

We all have tragedy and misfortune in our family lineage. We have relatives who died way too soon. Some were passed due to illnesses, some murdered or had accidental death. There were some who were separated or divided through divorce or for whatever so ever reasons. There were children who born with a disability, and some relatives who became disabled, relatives losing a part of their body or they were injured. The list goes on.



As I was looking through my family connections, I saw the sadness, pain and sorrow. And I was thinking about my Great Uncle, Archie Blakey. He was the youngest brother of my Grandfather John Blakey / Blakley Sr. They had the same father, Private Isaac Blakey.

Archie Blakey  was born in Shannondale, Missouri on May 13, 1904. He the son of Isaac Blakey, a formerly enslaved in Missouri and a Civil War Veteran in Mississippi and Rachel (Leftridge / Jackson) Blakey. He was the youngest of 18 children. Archie’s mother passed in 1916 when Archie was 11 and his disabled father passed in 1917 when Archie was 13. Archie’s brother, Ollie was named his guardian after the passing of their father.

Sometime during the 1920’s, Archie moved to Yankton, South Dakota with his brother, Deacon, Ollie Blakey and sister in law Margaret Cason) Blakey. They had family there. When Archie came of age, he moved to Sacramento California.

I don’t know much about Archie’s young life. However, he married his brother, Jordan Blakey’s ex wife, Flora (Lawrence) Blakey. I’m not for sure if Flora had children by Archie. However, Archie was listed as father on the 1930 census in California.

Archie was a porter. He was a garbage man working for the City of Sacramento. A City employee for the City of Sacramento waste removal department. A relative told me that Archie loved the rodeos.

The Tragedy
One day, Archie was cleaning spark pugs with gasoline in June of 1943. He was in the Sacramento hospital for treatment for severe burns on both of his legs. 7 months in the hospital. He passed due to the injury. R. I. P. Great Uncle Archie.

May the LORD guide us through our tragedies and misfortunes. Amen.

The photo was taken the day my brother in law passed. I was one the witnesses at his departure to heaven. One of my brothers was riding me home. And I caught the western clouds as he was taking me home.

Thanks for reading.
Tragedy #52Ancestors Week 33

God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Week 33: Tragedy ~ Generations Café via Facebook

There isn’t a family tree that doesn’t have at least one tragedy in it. What have you discovered? Did it change how you thought about that ancestor and his or her circumstances? Feel free to leave your links and stories in the comments.

Week 34 (Aug. 23-29): Character

In Memory of Archie T. Blakey, Youngest Son Of Isaac and Rachel (Lephridge / Jackson) Blakey

I came across this news article: Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion in the late 1970's. It was the first written information I had on my dad's father's family history. I would wonder about each member in that article. I did come across info on most of them. 

I want to share what I've discovered on Archie T. Blakey. He was born on May 13 1904 in  Shannondale, Chariton County, Missouri. He was the youngest son of Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE / JACKSON) BLAKEY.

On the 1910 census:  Archie was listed with his parents Isaac and Rachel and his siblings Edna, Ollie and Lawhorn. It's not clear when Archie moved from Missouri and to South Dakota with some of his siblings. His father, Isaac passed in Dec of 1917. His brother Ollie became his guardian in Feb of 1918.

On the1920 census in Yankton, South Dakota, Archie was listed with brother, Ollie and Ollie's wife Margaret Blakey.  Source from newspaper in 1943, Archie lived in CA for 24 years. That would have been about 1919 or 1920.

On the 1925 ~ South Dakota Index  ~ Archie not listed

1927 ~   Listed as a Laborer in city directories with wife, Flora Blakey.

According to the 1930 census: Archie's  age at marriage was 22. (According to his death record, he was born in 1904. He married his first wife, Flora (LAWRENCE) BENTLEY BLAKEY around 1926 or 1927 most likely in California.

1928 ~    Listed as a laborer at 2620 Sloat way with Flora as wife.
1928 ~    Archie was listed by himself. He was a porter and a republic

1930 ~ Listed as a laborer at 2655 26th with Flora as wife.

1930 Census: 
Archie was 22 and Flora was 28 at time of marriage.
 As it reads on the 1930 census

Archie T. Blakeley	25  Head
Flora E. Blakeley	31  wife
Laura B. Blakeley	9    daughter
Clarence O. Blakeley	8    son
Verna M  Blakeley	6     daughter
Archie T Jr. Blakeley	0     son

Archie and Flora were  divorced  / separated after 1930 - 1931. They were not listed as husband and wife on the 1931 city directory in CA.  (Also search some sources from the California, Voter Registrations, 1900-1968)

1931 ~ Listed as a Laborer at 2565 20th. Flora wasn't listed as his wife.

1932 ~ Listed at 4987 3rd Ave, City Garbage dept.

1933 ~  Listed as a laborer at 4091 8th Ave with wife Geniva. 

1934 ~ Resided at 2006 5th St. Listed as a garbage man. Geneva is not mentioned

1935 ~ Resided in Jackson, Amader, California.

1938 ~ Lived at 2774 43d with brother/ sister in law Lawhorn and Roberta Blakey.
Listed  as a Garbage man

On the 1940 census:
Archie was listed with wife Velma and her son, Robert Ellis at 207 South Broadway

1942 ~ He was listed at 1610 S 7th

1943 ~ Last listed at 1924 4th Street with wife Velma. He worked for the City waste removal dept.

I came across Archie's obituary in a California newspaper. "Archie was burned severely in an accident while cleaning on spark plugs on an automobile" in June of 1943. He was hospitalized for 5 months where he later passed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov 25, 1943. Archie was 39 years old. (According to the California death index his mother's maiden name was LEFTRIDGE.)
 I always wondered what happened to the California relatives. I believe that they had off springs. Archie was listed with children on the 1930 census. In his obituary, only his siblings Ollie Blakey,  Lawhorn Blakey, Mrs. Edna Bentley, Isaac Blakey, Henry Blakey, Spencer Blakey, Mrs. Mary Green and Jordan Blakey were listed. There was no mention of wife or children.

A few years ago, I was excited to come across some of Archie's, Jordan's and Flora's descendants. It's nice to contact with long lost relative that we didn't know excited.  One of  Archie's descendants said that he loved the rodeos Archie was buried in Odd Fellows Lawn Cemetery and Mausoleum  California.  Archie was my Grandfather, John's half brother.

	Thanks for reading. God Bless you. Susan