Christmas Day of 1917: Repost (With Updated Information)

The Christmas Day of 1917 was a sad day for the Blakey Family, relatives and friends. The family gathered together to bury their loved one. I don't know if there was an obituary of Isaac Blakey. He passed way on Dec 23, 1917.

I have been searching for my Isaac's obituary.  (Isaac was my Great Grandpa.) I have searched newspapers for his obituary. I have located Isaac's 2nd wife Rachael Blakey's obituary. )

I don't know what the heading of Isaac's obituary could have been.

We can only imagine. Former MO Slave and Veteran During The Civil War Passes Away at 72.

Here's my  version of an obituary in remembrance and honor of Isaac Blakey.



Private Isaac Blakey
1845 -1917

Isaac Blakey, a Civil War Veteran was laid to rest in the Bentley Cemetery on Christmas Day 1917, two days after his passing. He had stories he shared of his freedom years from slavery and of his War time. He was born a slave until the early 1860's and became a free man for 54 years.  

Isaac Blakey was born into slavery in Fayette, Missouri. Isaac's date of birth was unknown. However,  his accepted birthday was on June 30, 1847. According to one of Isaac's former slave owner's, Isaac was born in the year 1845.

Isaac was born to the slave union of Andrew White and Julia (Finney) White both from Virginia. Isaac was rise as a slave in Howard County Missouri. It was about the 1861 when Isaac and his mother were sold and they went south. Isaac then ran away to join the Civil War in Natchez, Mississippi.

It was on Nov 1, 1863, Isaac, at the age of about 16, enlisted as Private Isaac Blaker. He was stationed in MS Co H. Reg't 6, US Col'd Heavy Artillery MS. During the Spring on 1864, Isaac was accidently wounded to his leg. He was honorable discharged on May 13, 1866.

After the war, Isaac met Martha Scott from MS. They later married in (Feb of) 1870 in MS. They had twin sons born on June 21, 1871 in Woodville, MS. Martha and son Andrew passed in 1871. Isaac was left to raise his son, John.

Isaac met Rachael (Jackson) Lephridge. She was from MS. They later married on July 3, 1873. And to this union they had 18 children.

Isaac resided in Mississippi from about 1861 to 1878 - 1879. It was during sometime after the war he was trying to locate and reunite with family from (Chariton County in) MO. He located them and moved them back to MO.

Isaac returned to Missouri around the Spring of 1879. By 1880, he was living with his mother, Julia, some of his siblings and relatives in Chariton County. Isaac was a farmer. He was a deacon in the black First Baptist Church in Forest Green, MO. He was believe to have been of the faith.

In Isaac latter life, he became disable. He was unable to work due to his injury during the Civil War. He lived out his life in Chariton County Missouri.

Isaac was preceded in his death by parents, Andrew White and Julia (Finney) White. His 1st wife, Martha (Scott) Blakey and 2nd wife Rachel Ann (Lephridge) Blakey, his children, Andrew Blakey, Charity Blakey, Julia Blakey, twin of Jordan, Frances Blakey, Beecher Blakey, Joe Blakey, Rosa Blakey and Annie Blakey. And some of his siblings.

Isaac was survived by his children, John BLAKLEY and his wife, Jennie, (John was the twin of Andrew), Mary and her husband, Rev. Ollie GREEN, Isaac BLAKEY and his wife, Maggie, Jordan and his wife, Flora, Henry and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, Lillie and her husband, Edward Hayes, Spencer and his wife, Mary "Lovie" , Martha and her husband, Ernest HAYES, Ollie and his wife, Margaret, Edna (Blakey) JACKON, Lawhorn, and Archie Blakey. Some of his siblings and a number of grandchildren, great grandchildren and cousins and friends.

On Christmas Day, Dec 25, 1917, Isaac was laid to rest next to his wife, Rachel. He was buried in the black cemetery (Bentley / Hoffman Cemetery) in Chariton County, Missouri. This was the place where the family were buried.
_______________________________________________________

According to Isaac's death record: Isaac was born in Shannondale, Chariton County Missouri USA

Isaac Blakey's name on death record. Isac Blakey. He was listed as an African. Father's name, Andrew White. Mother's name not known. Isaac was buried on Christmas Day in Forest Green, MO

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Certificate of Honor



There was a memorial set up for all the colored who served in the Civil War. Isaac was honored with a plaque in Washington DC as one of the many soldiers who served in the Civil War .

Thanks for reading,
Susan Ann Blakley
 

If I Could Choose: Re Post (With Updated Information)

 

If I Could Choose

I was thinking about some of my ancestors. If I could choose one of my ancestors to meet with and talk to, Who would I choose?

Out of all my ancestors that I have discovered on my lineage, I would choose my Great Grand Father Isaac Blakey.

Why? I have many reasons.

A number ONE, he was my Great Grand Father, (my father's father's, father). But what questions would I ask him?

Here are some questions.

 

I know that I can't speak to my Great Grandpa. He has passed on. I know that I can't communicate with the died.

 

What I wrote after the questions was what I have discovered on my journey.

How did you escape to join the Mississippi Union Army while in slavery?
I read that Great Grandpa Isaac played marbles while he was serving during Civil War. He was between the age of 12 - 15 when he ran away from Missouri to join the Mississippi Army.  There are records that stated that he and his mother (Julia Finney White) were sold and they went south.

What can you tell me about your first wife?

Great Grandpa's first wife, Martha Scott was my father's father's mother. She died in child birth on Hew Davis' plantation.  There were twin sons born on 21 June 1871. One was my Grandpa John. His brother, Andrew died in child birth.

How did you gather together as a family in Missouri after the Civil War?

 I don't know how many brothers and sister my Great Grandpa Isaac had.  The family was divided around the breaking out of the war. I searched the census records.

I think 2nd Great Grandma Julia had about 14 or 16 children. She was widowed on the 1880 census. There were so many same name in the family.

How did you hear about Jesus?
In my Great Grandpa's pension records, he had a minster testify for him. Great Grandpa Isaac was a deacon in the church. Great Grandpa was apart of the church. He went to church, (at the First Baptist Church in Forest Green, Missouri.)

Why did you keep the Blakey surname?
Great Grandpa Isaac was the only one in his family that I have come across with the Blakey surname.  His parents and siblings carried the White surname. When Isaac join the Civil War in MS, he became Private Isaac BLAKER. 

Great Grandpa went by the surname BLAKEY. But, I have found his name to be WHITE when he was listed in the 1880 census with his mother, Julia as head of the household. According to Isaac's  on his pension records he declared his name to be Isaac Blakey .

What was your relationship with your slave holder?
I have read that my Great Grandpa Isaac's pension records. There were two slave holders that testified for my Great grandpa. They spoke kind words of Great Grandpa.

One who sold my Great Grandpa into slavery (W.C. Harvey) stated that Great Grandpa had a good reputation as a slave. This man knew my Great Grandpa since Isaac was born.

The other ex slave owner, (Y.C. BLAKEY) who was 10 older than my Great Grandpa. This man gave a good report as while. He stated that the "family" name was BLAKEY. The slave holders helped raise my Great Grandpa.

These ex slave owner lived about 10 miles from Great Grandpa at the turn of the 1900's. Both testified that Great Grandpa was the same boy that they knew. I think that there was some respect in the family.

Staying On The Journey,
If I Could Choose

Thanks for reading.
   Susan Ann Blakley

Exploring New Clues

Happy December!
Greetings to the last month of 2015.
It's been a long journey.

I made a lot of discoveries in December of 2014 and 2015.
I have made a lot of new discoveries this year.
I'm exploring the new clues that I've stumbled across.
It takes time to find things.

I hope to come across more family connections.
I'm thankful for all who have helped me on my search.
There's so much out there.

I believe that we all have a piece to our family connections.
I'm thankful for those who are sharing what they know.
Every little clue helps.

 Hope all will are entering into the season Of Christmas.
God Bless you.

Here are some book by relatives

Janice Almond Home page:

Sign up to receive FREE monthly newsletter, ALMOND JOY. Coming, January 2016 and receive FREE book.

Being Grateful: How to Open the Door to a More Fulfilled & Abundant Life in 13 Easy Steps (The BEING Series) (Volume 1)

Pastor Earnestine Blakley
Building Godly Habits: A Spiritual Building Plan: Habits for Godly Living
 
James Blakley
The Diamond Head Deception                                
The K-Frost Caper                                
The Steel Deal          
     
Curtiss L Hayes
Life Still Goes On         

Robert "Bob" Motley and Bryon Motley
Ruling Over Monarchs, Giants & Stars: Umpiring in the Negro Leagues & Beyond

Bob Motley page on Facebook~ The ONLY living Negro League Baseball Umpire.

Pastor Ivery Joseph White: Books
He is the son of Rev. Chester F. White and Margaret L. White. 

Thanks for reading.Susan Ann Blakley