Edna Mae (Blakey) Bentley was born on Wednesday, August 30, 1893 in Shannondale, Missouri. She was the daughter of the formerly enslaved, Private Isaac Blakey, retired and Mrs. Rachel (Lephridge / Jackson ) Blakey. Edna was from a large family.
Around 1915, Edna was in Yankton, South Dakota. She had family living there. Edna was the mother of three sons Edward “Eddie”” “Clem” Jackson . who was born in 1912 in Missouri. Emerson Jackson who was born in 1915 in Yankton. and Archie Jackson Bentley who was born in 1921 in Yankton. ( Not sure if Edna had a daughter. Yankton recorded her having a daughter born in 1915. However Emerson’s birth wasn’t recorded.) Edna was married to Edward Jackson, the father of her children.).
The crop photo is from an article “Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion” The source from The Sioux City Journal Sioux City, Iowa on Saturday, August 28, 1971 on page 5. This was the day of the reunion.
Note that there were other Blakey sisters (with there spouse) that came to Yankton. The sisters were Mary and Martha. There were 14 siblings who came to Yankton, South Dakota.
More Than A Traveler:
While living in Yankton, Edna visited her siblings. Her brother Isaac Blakey’s farm, Henry Blakey’s farm , Spencer Blakey’s , Ollie Blakey’s farm and of coarse her other siblings. She attended church gatherings. She visited other relatives in town and out of State.
I believe that Edna attended to the needs of her sister Martha (Blakey) Hayes. Martha became ill due to the Spanish Flu Edna may have cared for Martha’s children after Martha passed in 1918 in Yankton, at the age of 29. (Edna and her husband Jay C. Marion were married in Martha and Ernest Hayes’ home in 1916.)
According to the 1930 Iowa census, Edna was in Sioux City, Iowa. She and her sons were living with her sister Lillie (Blakey) Hayes and brother in law Edward “Ed” Hayes, who was the brother of Ernest Hayes, Martha’s husband. (Edna’s husband Richard Bentley was listed in the house. )
Either late January or early in February of 1934, Edna and her sister Mary (Blakey White) Green received the news of their sister Lillie’s serous illness.. They were called to Sioux City Iowa. Lillie needed an operation. Edna was by Lillie’s bedside on February 23rd. Sadly, Lillie passed on Sunday, February 25, 1934 at the age of 45.
Sadly on Sunday, March 22, 1936 , Edna’s son Archie Jackson Bentley passed at the age of 15. In February of 1936, Archie was playing ball and cracked a bone in his left arm. (Not sure if this was related to his death.)
Later in July 1936, Edna and her husband Richard and Edna’s two sons moved to Sacramento California. They stayed with Edna’s brother Deacon Ollie Blakey and his with Margaret (Cason) Blakey for several weeks.. Edna and Richard were listed in the Sacramento directory in 1937.
Edna was more than a traveler.
She moved and reunited with family and friends. It was more likely Edna made the journey back to Missouri in 1916 and 1917 when her mother and father passed . Other places she motored to were Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
Edna made the most of time for family and friends. She was a caring woman. Edna passed on Thursday, January 24, 1952 in Sacramento California at the age of 58.
R. I. P. Great Aunt Edna
Thanks for Reading
Mrs. Edna Mae (Blakey) Bentley : More Than A Traveler
July 17, 2025
God Bless
S.A. Blakley
Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors Challenge in 2025
The theme for Week 28 is “Travel.” Travel takes many forms: immigration to a new country, migration from one region to another, road trips, and traveling for work, just to name a few. Who is someone in your family tree who traveled?
The crop photo is from an article “Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion” The source from The Sioux City Journal Sioux City, Iowa • Sat, Aug 28, 1971 on page 5.
