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
