Handwritten Letter By Mrs. Willie M. (White) Winfrey

 Letter writing can be a challenge in the making and wonder in the waiting for a respond. I don’t hand write letters like I use to. But, I’ve learned to save the letters, especially the ones about my family connections. From time to time, I re read the letters.. Who knows, it’s possible I’ll find some new insight as I review some of those letters.

The crop photo letter was from Mrs. Willie Winfrey. She wrote it on Sunday, September 8, 1985. The actual letter was three pages long.

Willie, my cousin always had a greeting. This one was “How are all by now?” She said that she was ok at that present time. when she wrote the letter.

And that she went to visit her brother, ( Rev. Thomas A. White) in Brookfield, Missouri, a week or so ago. She asked him about their cousin, John Blake. Willie said that she was thinking that he was my grandfather (John Blakey Blakley.)

Willle’s brother told her “that this John was really a White because his father was one of his father’ s brother named Josh White and he passed away and another family raised him by the name of Blake.” Willie said we all know that the family was a large family. They are all died, now.

Willie mentioned that there might be one or two sisters living. I checked. John ‘s sister., Margaret D. “Maggie” (Blake) Valentine was living at the time of this letter. She passed in 1997.

Also, Willie said she wondered why we called him John Blake and all the others, Blakey.. At this time, cousin Willie was learning about the family connection: Blakey Blakley and WHITE. . She knew about some of the Blakeys. In this letter , she spoke of the first Blakey / White family family reunion that was held in Iowa in 1971.

Breakthrough Discoveries
In 2022. the mystery of John BLAKE was solved by clues from old newspapers. His death wasn’t recorded in the Missouri death certificate. His name was: John Henry BLAKE.

In May of 2024, I discovered John’s obituary in The Call a Kansas City news paper . He had a daughter named Miss Cora Mae Blake also known as Mrs. Margaret Cora Mae (Blake) Farmer ( 1915 – 1953). I have DNA matches with some of Margaret Cora’s descendants.

New insights from re reading this letter.
I was thinking about John Henry Blake (1880 – 1934). His mother was Mary Ann (Johnson) Blake. John had sisters. They had the same mother and their father was Louis Blake. Lewis Blake was John’s stepfather. On records, John was addressed as Lewis BLAKE’s son.

NOTE that Josh WHITE and Louis BLAKE were NOT the same person. Josh born in 1860 his year of death is unknown. Louis was born in 1863 and passed in 1932.. There is no Missouri death certificate on Louis Blake. But his death was recorded in the newspaper.

It’s something to discover how oral history can lead to uncover family mysteries. I’m thankful for those who corresponded with me over my lifetime and thankful for DNA matches. Thank You, Lord!

Thanks for reading
Hand Written Letter By Mrs. Willie M. (White) Winfrey

Willie was the daughter of Richard W. White and Jane (Ferguson) White. She was born on December 21, 1904. She was married to Ledrew Terrill and Harold Winfrey. She passed on December 14, 1994 at the age of 89. She was the mother of 4,

Cousin Willie’s father Richard W. White was the brother of my Great Grandfather Isaac White Blakey. Willie wanted to learn more about her family connections. I’m thankful that we connected along our journey.

R.I.P cousin Willie

God bless you
S.A.Blakley

What This Story Means To Me: My Family Connections

 In the beginning, I didn’t know much about my father David’s ancestors. It wasn’t until someone gave me a copy of this article “Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion” in the mid 1970’s. And I held on to that article. (The information in the article led me on a journey. I began a 12 part Blog Series to uncover what I could. )

Decades later, I discovered that the article was published on page 5 in The Sioux City Journal Sioux City, Iowa on Saturday, August 28, 1971. This was the day of the Blakey White Family reunion. The crop photo is from that article.

It’s horrible that my ancestors were enslaved and sold as property. Their names were place in a Glasgow, Missouri a 1858 advertisement . (Isaac Blakey went south and joined the Mississippi Union Army in 1863.)

I’m not for when the enslaved family had their first reunion after being separated. Isaac searched for his family. He located in New Orleans. The family moved to Forest Green, Missouri.

Still to this day, I wonder about the mother and her 5 children who came to New Orleans on a ship.  I did find a record of a  Julia White listed on a record in 1843. She came on a ship called Orleans from Petersburg to New Orleans. She was 23 years old, born about 1823.

Why did the article led me on a journey?
There were some things in the article that did match up with documents and records. I wasn’t out to disprove what was in the article. My aim was to verify what oral history stated. My first blog was posted on Tuesday, January 15, 2013 and ended on Friday, February 1, 2013.

I discovered more information by searching each of the names, places and dates..Example: Julia White and her six children, seven grandchildren and one daughter in law were listed in the same house on the 1880 Missouri census in Chariton County. (And Julia had other children.)

Since 2013, I have discovered more on my Blakey WHITE Family Connections, as well on my other family connections. Searching want to connect with their long lost relatives. I have had many searchers contacted me or I them via internet. (DNA is a good tool to use. )

Thank you for reading,
What This Story Means To Me: My Family Connections

My 2nd Great Julia (Finney) White was the wife of Andrew White. Both were from Virginia.
I’m one of their descendants. from the branch of Isaac Blakey and Martha (Scott) Blakey

God bless you,
S.A. .Blakley

Similarities Between The Family Connections

 The news clip is from the Call Kansas City, Missouri; in the Forest Green, Missouri section. It was published on Friday, June 22, 1951 on page 19.

Who’s who in the news clip?

Mr. Ollie “Deke” Blakey was the son of Isaac White Blakey and Rachel ( Lephridge / Jackson) Blakey. Mrs., Ollie Blakey was also known as Margaret “Aunt Mike” (Cason) Blakey, She was the daughter of Mrs. Grace Harriet “Gracey” (Cason) Cason and Herbert Cason and they had three children: Mabel Cason, Lephridge Cason. and Margaret (Cason) Blakey.

Isiah / Isaac White, Julia White, and Mrs. Corneluis / Cornelia Woods were sibling .Their parents were Laura (Paige) White and Andrew Jackson White. They had 6 children; Mariah White, Julia Ann” July “White, Isaac “Isaiah” White, Cornelia Louise (White) Wood , Wedian B. White and William Spencer White.

Coincident Or Not
Isaac White Blakey’s parents were Julia (Finney) White. and Andrew White.
On the 1880 census for Chariton County Missouri. an Isaac White age 80 and Andrew White, 30, Laura 25, Mariah, July, A. and Isaac; all with the White surname..

Then after Isaac White’s household on that census, there was the household of Julia White, a widow and Isaac, 30 and Rachel 29,, John, Mary, Andrew, Julia, Henry, Spencer, John, David , Josh, Rebecca, Martha and Andrew; all with the White surname.

I believe that there were some connection in these families. I wish the person who reported these stories would have added a little more about he people. The Blakey and White families lived in the Forest Green Missouri area.

Thanks for reading.
Similarities Between The Family Connections

Who am I related to this news story?
Ollie “Deke” Blakey was the brother of my Grandfather John Blakey Blakley. Their father was Isaac White Blakey. Oral history has it that Andrew Jackson White was Isaac’s brother.

God bless you
S.A. Blakley

Posted on October 25, 2025 by Susan Ann Blakley on another site

Ike Blakey In The Ice Harvest : Along The Missouri River

“Isaac was a very versatile person. Although he had very little formal education, he was a wise man in many ways. He was a salesman extra-ordinary, raised dogs, and was a coon hunter, manufactured molasses from cane sugar he raised, was a butcher, and a church leader — lay preacher and singer.” Theodore Robert “Ted” Blakey.

In The Ice Harvest: Along The Missouri River

I believe that Isaac enjoyed the great outdoors. Oh, the wonder of what he experienced and encountered while he was out and a-bout in nature. I wonder!

Mr. Isaac “Ike” Blakey was an ice cutter or perhaps an “ice man”. I’m not sure when he started or for how long he worked this job. I have read that in the 1930’s ” marked the twilight years of the natural ice harvesting industry in many parts of the United States.” This occupation was a dangerous job.

In a news clip from the Argus-Leader Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Thursday, January 16, 1930 on page 4; Isaac spoke a little about his work. They were half way into their work and had to stop because the snow. He describes the ice as being fine quality, is clear and clean and 15 inches thick. He said that “it is about the vest ice he has seen taken from the river….was easy to put, free of snow...”

Family Connections
Isaac Blakey was born in Natchez Adams County Mississippi July 1873 or 1877. He was the son of the formerly enslaved parents, Private Isaac Blakey, veteran of the Civil War and Rachel Lephridge / Jackson Blakey. Isaac was from a large family.

Isaac was the husband of Maggie (Williams) Blakey. They were the parents of about 17 children. He passed on Thursday, April 1, 1971 in Yankton, South Dakota at the age of 97 or 98. That would make his year of birth in 1873.

Isaac’s day of birth was either on March 18th, or July 2nd, or 4th. If he was 98 at death, he could have been born on March 18th. And if he was born on July 2nd or 4th, his parents were married on the 3 of July in 1873.

Thanks for reading.
Ike Blakey In The Ice Harvest : Along The Missouri River

How am I related to Ike Blakey?
Isaac’s brother John Blakey Blakley was my Grandfather John.
R.I.P. Great Uncle Ike

God bless
S.A. Blakley

This blog was Posted on August 7, 2025 by Susan Ann Blakley

Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Week Challenge in 2025

The theme for Week 32 is “Wide Open Spaces.“Who in your family tree makes you think of the great outdoors? Who took advantage of homesteading? Who kept moving when the neighbors felt a little too close?

Mr. Eugene Lee White The Dreamer The Farmer : Off To Work

 The Dreamer
Eugene Lee White started working during the summers on the railroad. He was 13 and lied about his age to get the job. He was saving up the money to buy a farm with his dad. He was working toward his dream to be a farmer like his dad. He graduated at Vocational High in Dalton, Missouri at age 16.

Eugene bought the farm but had to leave it because he wasn’t making enough to support the family. He took a job in Des Moines and sent most of money back home to Missouri. ( Poverty and racism forced him to take painfully and slow circuitous route to his dream.)

In 1958
Eugene became a janitor at the Power and Light Company in Des Moines. He encountered racism and prejudice along the way. Meanwhile, with the help of his co workers, he borrowed book to sturdy to become a lineman. And he became the first black man in the area to get the job.. (He retired from the company in 1985.)

Crop photo from The Des Moines Register : Des Moines, Iowa  Sunday, November 7, 1999 on page 35

The Farmer
In 1979 when Eugene was 50, he had a second chance to go for his dream. There was land for sale in Warren County. He figured that it would be a good place to retire. (His wife Mildred was a city girl.) He went for his dream and bought the 80 acre. ( In all, Eugene ended up with about 244 acres to his goal as a farmer.)

The Man
According to that 1999 news article, Eugene was described as “a quiet mannerly person who was nonetheless extremely persuasive and persistent . ” Councilman George Flags . (Eugene often worked with Mr. Flags on neighborhood projects.)

Eugene helped to develop a program for school children about the danger of electricity.

His plan for his farm was to open it up to group of inner city kids; to teach them how to plant a crop, how to caught fish, where to find berry bushes. He taught them how to survive and enjoy life.

His philosophy was “You can’t live in the world by yourself “

His secret is simple “You got to talk to folks”

Eugene lived in Des Moines with his wife Mildred. He drove 33 miles to his farm several times a week.

As I was reading about Eugene…
I could see Eugene as a kind hearted man. He learned good ethic values that he learned from this parents, and through his life’s experiences. He was always wanting to lean a helping hand to his community and neighbors. He learned to see the good and how to laugh and to enjoy life.

Thanks for reading
Mr. Eugene Lee White: The Dreamer The Farmer Off To Work

Eugene was the son of Eugene White Sr. and Corean ( Jones) White. He was born on Sunday, July 14, 1929 in Forest Green, Missouri. He was one of 12 children. He was the husband of Mildred (Brown) White. They had two sons. Eugene passed in Des Moines, Iowa on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at the age of 85.

Who was Eugene to me?
Eugene’s Grandfather Richard W. “Dick” White was the brother of my Great Grandfather Isaac White Blakey. R.I.P. cousin Eugene Lee.

God bless
S.A. Blakley

This blog was Posted on August 29, 2025 by Susan Ann Blakley

Week 35

Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge in 2025
The theme for Week 35 is “Off to Work.” Who had an unusual occupation? Do you have memories of a parent going off to work every morning? What about someone whose occupation today would be obsolete, like telephone operators?

Mr. Richard Wayne White ~ While In His Youth Time

 I searched newspapers and found some things about Richard. He went by his middle name Wayne. His father’s name was Richard. I came across some things about Wayne while in his youth.

Wayne won the fourth prize in the bicycle parade during the FAA festival in Slater, Missouri. The source was from The Call Kansas City, Missouri on Friday, September 21, 1956 on page 17.

Richard became a deliver / Call Agent for the Kansas City Call in November of 1956. He was a fourth grader, a pupil at Alexander school.. ~ In the photo his name was listed as Richard Wayne White. The photo is from the Call Kansas City, Missouri on Friday , October 12, 1956 on page 17. (Wayne was listed as a reporter on November 2, 1956 on page 11.)

Other news clips about Richard Wayne White
Wayne was very happy when his parents gave him a piano . He has been taking music for several years and is one of the musicians at the Second Baptist church in May 11, 1960. He was at the piano at church devotionals and for men’s choir. February of 1962.

I discovered that Wayne was acknowledged with his parents in news clips as son or by Wayne. For example, Mr. and Mrs. Richard White and son had picnic in their backyard…the article even mentioned who was there I found this interesting.

Who was Richard Wayne White?
He was the son of Richard Roosevelt White and Silas (Hamon) White.
He was born on Monday, September 22, 1947 in Marshall, Missouri.
Richard passed on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at the age of 69.

Richard Wayne White’s Great Grand Father Richard “Dick” White was the brother of my Great Grandmother Isaac Blakey.~ R.I. P. cousin Richard Wayne.

Thanks for reading
Mr. Richard Wayne White ~ While In His Youth Time

Posted on another side dated August 19, 2025 by Susan Ann Blakley
God Bless
S.A. Blakley

Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Week Challenge in 2025

The theme for Week 34 is “Play Time.” (This should be fun!) Who in your family tree had a playful demeanor? Anyone play a sport or an instrument? How about someone who was in a school play?

Mr. Leo Malone Cason and Miss Louise White: Cousins

  Mr. Leo Malone Cason and Miss Louise White were first cousin. While in their youth, they lived with their Grandparents John White (1859 – 1918) and Katherine “Kate” (Estill ) White ( 1863 – 1923).

The crop photo is of the list of Kate White’s household on the 1920 U.S Federal census for Chariton County Missouri. This is the second page; Emma White was Katie’s daughter, Leo White, age 16 and Louise White, age 9, the grandchildren. ( Leo, at age 6 was listed with John White’s household on the 1910 Missouri census.)

Mr. Leo Malone Cason was born in Forest Green, Missouri, on Monday, June 1, 1903. He was the son of Lee Berta (White ) Cason and Sidney “Sid” Cason. Leo passed on Monday, April 30, 1979 in Illinois.

Miss Louise White was born in Shannondale, Missouri around December of 1910. She was the daughter of Ernest White and Kate (Nichols) White. According to Louise’s death certificate, she was 18 when she passed and was born Dec 1910. Her birth year would have been 1909.

The Family Situation:
Leo’s father Sidney “Sid” Cason married Miss Narcissa Chapman in 1905.
Lee Berta was listed as Lee Berta (White) Cason on Leo Cason’s obituary.
There is no record of her marriage nor of her death in Missouri.

Louise White’s mother Katie passed on Monday December 4, 1911 in Salisbury, Missouri at the age of 19. Louise’s father Ernest moved from Salisbury, Missouri to Excelsior Spring. He was listed as married with Grace (Lewis) White on the 1920 Missouri census. They had a son Robert E. White born in 1919. He was living with Norman Page and Nora Page. Nora was the sister of Grace.

The year when Leo and Louise moved to Excelsior, Springs, Missouri is unknown.
Who did they live with? Relatives?

Louise passed in Excelsior Springs, Missouri on Sunday, August 19, 1928.
Leo moved from Excelsior Springs to Illinois around in 1929.

More Discoveries:
Louise ‘s cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis at the age of 18. And her Aunt Irine (White ) Patterson cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis. She passed on Wednesday, May 5, 1926 at the age of 34. They lived at 310 Kansas, Excelsior Springs, Missouri. Irine lived in Excelsior Springs since 1911. Louise’s mother Katie’s cause of death was pulmonary tuberculosis in 1911 at the age of 19.

The source of information for this blog came from the Missouri censuses, marriage records, death certificates, obituaries, and news paper articles. The paper trail lead to piece the puzzle and to connect the dots to bring their lives to life. It took years in the process to get this far. Thank You, Jesus!

Thanks for reading.
Mr. Leo Malone Cason and Miss Louise White: Cousins

Who were they to me? My cousins.
My Great Grandfather Isaac Blakey was the brother of John WHITE.

R.I.P. cousin Leo
R.I.P. cousin Louise

Posted on July 23, 2025 by Susan Ann Blakley on another website.

God bless
S.A. Blakley

Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge for 2025

The theme for Week 29 is “Cousins.” As genealogists, we know that there are more kinds of cousins than just the children of our aunts and uncles. This week, write about a cousin – no matter how “distantly” they are related to you!