On The Farm

 Photo of Isaac Blakey jr.’s mother Rachel Lephridge Jackson Blakey at the top.

Isaac Blakey Jr is near the bottom on this photo.

Photo collage via a Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Reunion display in 2018.




Isaac was my great uncle. He was the brother of my Grandfather John Blakey Blakley.
Below info from Family History Booklet:

Isaac Blakey was born in Natchez, Mississippi to Isaac and Rachael (Lephridge) Blakey, and at the age of 2 was brought to Forest Green, Missouri by his parents. His Dad had been held a slave there until he ran away and joined the Union Army.

Isaac grew to manhood on his parents farm, he being the oldest son and second of 18 children. He married Maggie Williams, daughter of John and Susie Williams of Forest Green. They were the parents to 16 children.

In 1904 Isaac along with his brother, Henry, heard a man named Tom Douglas, who had come to Missouri urging blacks to come to Yankton, South Dakota.

“There started planning to come to Yankton and they did.
Isaac left Maggie and 2 children in Missouri,
but soon as he found work, he sent for them.

Isaac worked at the cement plant and then started farming on his own on a farm west of Yankton in the Smutty Bear Bottom. They had a fire, losing all their possessions.

In 1908, Isaac along with Henry, Ed Gamble, and Mr.Goodlow went to Interior, South Dakota looking for land to homestead. They soon returned to Yankton and in 1915 purchased 40 acres of land, rented some more, and started vegetable farming and trucking.

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.

He and Aunt Maggie traveled and sang and prayed for people. There was always room at their table or an extra bed for anyone who needed it at no charge.

Thanks for reading.
On the Farm ~ Week 37
God bless.
S.A. Blakley

Week 37: On the Farm ~ Generations Cafe via facebook
This week, why not write about an ancestor who was a farmer or a farm laborer? Don’t forget about farm wives and the work they had to do to keep things running! Feel free to post your links and stories in the comments below.


Week 38 (Sept. 20-26): Fun and Games