A Spot on the Map: Forest Green, Chariton County Missouri

 During the mid 1970’s, I read an article entitled Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion. This was the first time I heard of Forest Green, Missouri. It wasn’t untll decades later, when I discovered that the article was published in The Sioux City Journal Sioux City, Iowa on Saturday, August 28, 1971 on page 5. This was the day of the first family reunion.

Oral history states that Isaac Blakey convinced his family, who were living in Mississippi to move to Forest Green, Missouri. He said that it was a better place for them to live. Isaac became a free man, and later served during the Civil War in the Mississippi Union Army from (1863 – 1866) in Natchez.

It’s not known when Isaac came back to Missouri. Oral history states that he returned to New Orleans and found his family easily. His family included his mother, who was Julia, his brothers, Spencer, and Dick, who was Richard and sister Matt who was Martha “Mattie” They carried the White surname. The cropped photo was in the August 28, 1971 news article.

Forest Green, Missouri is a spot on the map. I searched for information about Forest Green, Missouri. And I made some new discoveries. I asked myself some questions.

Forest Green, Missouri is an unincorporated community in Chariton County, Missouri. The first house was built in 1820’s, by the Forest family A pioneer by the name of John Green Forest platted the town in 1873. The town is located approximately eight miles south of Salisbury, Missouri on Route 5.

In 1873, Isaac was livng in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. Where was John, the brother living during the late 1850’s – 1870’s? What was Forest Green called before it was platted by John Green Forest? Forest?

The article mentioned about the enslaved and the enslavers.
“When they arrived they were sold at slave auction like cattle and given a bill of sale. Slaves then took the slavemaster’s name. The two oldest brothers, Isaac 12 and John 10, were sold to a man by the name of Blakey and he took them to Forest Green, Missouri.” (The other enslavers’ name was White.)

If this Isaac was 12, the year would have been 1859. Isaac Blakey was born in Fayette, Missouri or Roanoke Missourii in 1845 or 1847. If this John was 10, that was he was born around 1859 in Missouri.

Who was the Blakey enslaver? He was most likely one of the enslavers’ son or male relative. John May Blakey was the husband of Frances (White) Blakey, both enslavers. John May Blakey passed on August 25, 1844. The other enslaver named White was most likely was related to Frances (White) Blakey.

Where did the Blakey enslavers lived in Missouri. The enslavers lived in Osage County, Missouri in 1835 where a son born in Missouri. They lived in Howard County Missouri in the 1837 – 60’s, most likely in Fayette, Howard County, Missouri. then in 1870’s in Roanoke, Howard Coutnty, Missouri.

Frances (White) Blakey’s father, John White had a plantation home and the family cemtery in Fayette, Missouri. At John White Cemetery: Who was buried there? John White , John May Blakey and Frances (White) Blakey and others.

Where did Isaac lived in Missouri, and where some of his children were born?
Isaac Blakey, also known as Isaac White Blakey and Priviate Isaac Blaker lived in Fayette, Howard County, Missouri, Shannondale, Chariton County, Missouri, Forest Green, Missouri, and Salisbury, Missouri. Some of Isaac’s children were born in Howard Chariton County in Missouri,, Shannondale, Chariton County Missouri, and in Forest Green, Chariton, County, Missouri.

Thanks for reading.
A Spot on the Map: Forest Green, Chariton County Missouri.
Some Blakey WHITE descendants still living in the area of Forest Green, Missouri.

God bless you
S.A. Blakley


Posted on August 28, 2026 by Susan Ann Blakley on  another webite

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

Homestead: On My Blakey WHITE Family Connections

 Where Was The Homestead?

As I grew in years, I became curious about where my ancestors originated from. I asked some relatives. And they said, Africa, But still, I wondered even more.

Where did my ancestors come from?
It’s not known were my early ancestors they came from or traveled in their days in America.. Some ancestors on my 2nd great grandparents; on his father’s father’s side came from Virginia. They were the enslaved in the United States of America. They were later brought to Missouri. There were some ancestors were taken to Mississippi during the late 1858 to 1860’s .

Eventually, the family moved back to Chariton and Howard Counties in Missouri circa 1880’s where some family members were living. Some of the ancestors choose to remain in the Forest Green, Missouri area. While some of their descendants began to move northward and westward near and after the 1900’s. And some descendants moved throughout the United States as years and decades past.

I posted a blog series about the article: Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion. This one I wrote January 23, 2013. It was part 6 in a series of 12 blogs. I have updated some of what I have discovered through the years.

They found worked on farms. And lived in Forest Green, Missouri area.
They kept their own surnames. White and Blakey.
They were employed and made their homes in Forest Green, MO.

Where did they work? As farmer or as farm hands?
Some owned their land. Some worked on a tobacco farm.

What names did each family member take?
The mother in this article was unknown but was found in 1989.
Her name was Julia.

What names did each family member take?

Andrew WHITE, the father wasn’t mentioned the the article. He was born around 1818 in VA.
His name was mentioned on three of son’s death certificates. And a enslaved Ad in 1858.

Julia (Finney) WHITE, the mother .She was born around 1820 in Virginia.
She was the mother of 11 or 12. She was said to have passed in Forest Green, Missouri.

Isaac BLAKEY, (1845 – 1917)
He passed in Shannondale, Missouri. He was married twice. He was the father of 20.

Spencer WHITE ( 1852 – 1929)
He moved to Moberly, Randolph Missouri and passed there. He was the father of 3.

John WHITE (1858 – 1918)
The article stated that John carried the Blakey surname. He passed in Salisbury, Missouri.
His surname was WHITE. He was the father of 11.

Josh WHITE He was born in 1860. It’s not known when he passed.
He had daughters and a son John BLAKE.

Martha “Matt” or “Mattie” WHITE (1862 – 1947)
She was said to have passed in Forest Green, Missouri. There is no death certificate of her in Missouri with the name Mattie / Martha White. She was the mother of 5.

Richard “Dick” WHITE (1866 – 1946)
He passed in Glasgow, Missouri,. He was the father of 13.

It appears that Isaac was the only one in this family that choose the BLAKEY surname. Why? Not for sure. Perhaps that was the name he used when he enlisted into the Civil War in 1863. Isaac kept the surname. However, Isaac did use the WHITE surname at some time.

Perhaps Isaac was with the BLAKEYs for a time; they may have helped him to his freedom. Two of the former slave owners gave affidavit of who Isaac was. Isaac applied for his pension records in 1890’s.

Also for the mother Julia, Did she have other children? Yes. She had about 11 or 12 children. Some of the children may have passed away before the turn of the century. Some of the family members may not have know about them.

The article states that “Matt” Martha WHITE never married. As I searched for Mattie White, I came up with her as a widow at 18 year old. She was the mother of 5 children. (It’s sad that this information was lost through the years.)

The big mystery to this part of the article:
Who was the great grandmother? Was the writer in this article speaking of Ted Blakey’s great grandmother? The mother of the enslaved  or the mother’s husband, Andrew’s mother?

The mother, Julia was believe to have passed and was buried in Forest Green, MO. Most those who passed this family were buried in Forest Green, MO and area. There are some descendants who still live in the Forest Green and Glasgow areas in Missouri.

It’s good if we have the opportunity to visit some of the places where our ancestors once lived. Perhaps, we should do some research to find where our family history began. We as their descendants are the story teller of our ancestors.

We are living out the family history. My family connections journey began during the mid 1970’s . And I continue to search as long as I can.

May we continue on the journey to know who our ancestors were. May we leave a legacy for the next generations to come May we see that what we do will impact our future.

Thanks for reading.
Homestead: On My Blakey WHITE Family Connections

I posted a blog like this on  April 24, 2020. I edited this one and made updates during August and September of 2024. I did take the DNA test. It was interesting: Nigeria!.

This blog was posted on one of my other sites. 
 I added the In Memory of some members in  Blakey Blakley WHITE Family Connections
to this blog. 

Peace be with you
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Week 39 ~ Amy Johnson Crow’s #52Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge in 2024

The theme for Week 39 is “Homestead.” Is there a home you think of when you think of your ancestors? For me, it’s my Grandma’s tiny post-WWII era house that somehow fit all of the extended family on Christmas. What does “homestead” make you think of?

Where There's A Will #52Ancestors 52 Weeks

Where there's a will... this was what was on the probate. It's a listing of some of my enslaved ancestors. Isaac was my Great Grandfather. His parents were Andrew and Julia.

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley 

The Julia White Family Connections: John White

What can I write about John White who was born into slavery?

Over the years, I didn't realize that there was a John White, the slave on the Blakey / White Family Tree. I mean, I always thought that there was a John Blakey who was a slave. But, through research that John Blakey was John White.
 



In the mid 1970's I came across an article about  Slavery Descendants To Have First  Reunion in 1970 in Iowa. In that article, John Blakey was mention. I thought that that John Blakey was the father of my Grandpa John.

The story goes, the Slave Family were to be sold. John, the slave born and his older brother, Isaac Blakey were sold to a man with the Blakey surname. They were sent to Forest Green, Missouri.

As I did some search through the years, I did not found a John Blakey who was a slave. As I keep searching, there were things that didn't match up. I though, Who was John Blakey?

I came to this conclusion. John took the White surname. As for the Blakey surname, Isaac was the only one in his slave family that carried the Blakey surname. Besides, it dawned on me. That's why I couldn't find anything on John.

I began searching for John White and came up with some things. I have located his death record in Missouri. John was born about June of 1858 in Missouri. I've come across two other birth years. They were 1854 and 1866. I believe that the year about 1858 was the year. John passed away on September 10, 1918 in Salisbury, Missouri. He was buried in Forest Green, Missouri. 

John's parents were Andrew White and Julia (Finney) White. John's death record was the first record that I found that  mentioned both Andrew White and Julia White as his parents. On John's brother, Isaac Blakey's death record only mentions Andrew White as father. His mother was unknown.

John was married to Katherine / Katie Estell.  Katherine was born about  May of 1863. Her age at marriage was 18 in 1887: Other years record birth year as 1869 or 1863. Kate was the daughter of Tom Estill / Estel and Lizzie / Liza Estill / Estel. Katherine passed on March 15, 1923 in Forest Green, Missouri.

John White and Kate Estill

On the 1880 Census
John was listed as age 21 living with  his mother, 4 brothers, 1 sister, 1 sister in law, 3 nieces and 4 nephews in Chariton County Missouri .  John was a laborer.

On the 1900 Census
John was listed as age 40, born in June 1959 in MO. John was a farmer.
 Katie was listed as having 9 children. 5 were living when the 1900 census was taken.

On the 1910 Census
John was listed as age 52. He was listed without employment.
Katie was listed as age  47: mulatto with having 11 children; 3 living at the time of census.

On the 1920 Census
Katie White listed with  a granddaughter, Louise White and grandson, Leo KAYSON (White).
I haven't located any other info on Louise White or Leo Kayson / White.

Here's a list of John's and Katie's children.

There were 6 Unknown Children that died before 1910
Earnest / Ernest White born about 1881
Leburter White born about 1884
Leburter was listed as a female.
Spelling of name is a question.

Irina / Arena / Irene White born about 1892
She was listed age 18 married 2 years on the 1910 census.
Her husband wasn't listed. She had no children at that time.

Alice White born about 1883
Erma/ Ermma White born about 1898.

I haven't come across any of John or Katherine White's descendants. I believe that there were offspring. I hope that some one on this lineage will began the search for John White and Katie Estell White.

Thanks for reading!
The Julia White Family Connections: John White
May others see a connection with this lineage.

Thanks for reading,

 Susan Ann Blakley

Questions: For The year 2029: The Blakey / White Family Connections

Notes from Monday, August 10, 2009 Add 20 more years.

Questions

Let us say 20 years from 1989 - 2009;

All the information written, photographs, video, tapes, etc...
about the BLAKEY /WHITE Family is in hands of some curious descendants.

The information that has been compiled may be questioned by the next generation(s).
They may notice some things that we did not see or take notes on...

1.) Where does so and so fit on the BLAKEY/WHITE lineage?

2.) Which John, Spencer, Isaac etc with the same names?

3.) What about some family resembles?

4.) What about the mulatto descendants? Half Blacks? Indian? Whites? and Etc?

5.) What about the BLAKEY/WHTIE descendants residences?

6.) Why BLAKEY? WHITE? and BLAKLEY?

7.) Why does the WHITE surname stand out?

8.) Where did each family member resided after being separated as slaves?

9.) When was the first "Reunion" of the BLAKEYs and WHITEs?

      Who decided to have such a gathering?

10.) How was Forest Green, MO the "HOME GROUND"

      for the earlier BLAKEY's and WHITE'?

11.) Who were the BLAKEY/WHITE children's:

       Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and etc?

12.) When did the family reunite after slavery?

13.) How could Isaac(at age 12-16) run away in the Middle of MO

        to half way down to MS?

14.) Why did Isaac and maybe others keep the BLAKEY surname?

        And the others...the WHITE surname?

15.) How could Isaac not realize that his mother and family

        where in Natchez, MS around 1860 -1865? He was there in the area.

16.) What is the BLAKEY/WHITE Family History?

17.) What happened to the lost BLAKEYs/WHITEs that were forgotten?

        Spencer#1 , Mary and etc...

18.) What photographyy exit? Any of the Slaves?

       Their children etc?

19.) What about the reunions? Who held them? When?

        Where? Who attened? What's recorded/written from the reunions?

20.) Any famous relatives? Who made history?

21.) Where there any relatives that remained you of some another relative?

22.) Did Andrew WHITE have siblings with surname WHITE?

       Isaac, Spencer, Ben, Lydia, Linda, Mary or John?

23.) If the Mother was born 1819 -1823,
        could she have had other children before 1841?

Changed Name To Blakey / Blakley / White Family Connections

The question came up about the name of this website name. My first thought was to name it Blakey / WHITE Family Connections. The originally names of the family is Blakey / White.

All the descendants' of Andrew WHITE and Julia (FINNEY) WHITE surname point back to the White surname. Though, Isaac BLAKEY was the only known family member in the first family who choose the BLAKEY surname. The family name is WHITE.

As for the BLAKLEY Family Connections, Isaac's son, John BLAKEY changed his surname to BLAKLEY sometime after he married in 1902. And so, I was led to add the BLAKLEY surname to this Family Connections. 

This blog was created for Blakey / Blakley / White Family Connections who don't have facebook. My original plan; trying to locate all the Blakey / White Family Connections on facebook. I know that there are more...The goal is the share Blakey / Blakley / White Family History and current family happenings on this site.

Thanks for reading.

Susan Ann Blakley

 

The Julia White Family Connection: Martha / Mattie White

Who was Martha / Mattie White?

Martha / Mattie White was the daughter of Andrew White and Julia White.
The year of Mattie's birth is not certain.
Oral history stated that she never married.
She had one daughter named Bob Ella (Bentley) Carr

During my early search: I came across some questions...
Were Martha WHITE and Mattie WHITE the same person?
Did Mattie or  Martha marry a man with the WHITE surname?
Did their children carry the WHITE surname?
Were the WHITE's that lived in the same area related?

I traced Martha / Mattie White through the Missouri censuses. There were different birth years for Martha; 1856, 1862, 1864, 1866, 1867, 1877. I assume that she was born in the 1860's. However, oral history states that she was born in 1856.

I have searched and I couldn't located Martha on the 1870 census.
She was listed with her mother, Julia White on the 1880 MO census; listed as a widow.

On the 1900 - 1930 censuses,
I found a Mattie White living near Andrew J. White and Laura White in Chariton County MO.  The head of house: Mattie White; she was always listed as a widow

Children on 1900 Missouri Census
Patrick White born about 1882
Alice    White born about 1884
Ella      White born about 1886
Jane     White born about 1889

Mattie was listed born in 1867

On the 1910 Missouri Census:
One of  Mattie's children had died.
Patrick passed in 1906.
I've not located Alice White or Jane White.
Alice and Jane could have married.

On another 1910 MO census
Mattie may have been listed twice on the 1910 census.
She was listed born in 1864.
This Mattie had 5 children 4 living at time of census.
This Mattie was widowed. Parents from VA.
Believed to have been related to John Blake, who was head of household.

On the 1910 and 1920 census,
Oressia was listed as Mattie's daughter.
Oressia's death record states she was born in 1902; died in 1976.

On the 1920 Missouri Census
This is the only Mattie born about 1856.
Was the parents born in MO? and error on the census.
Ella White born about 1882
Oressia White born about 1902

On the 1930 census,
I came across a Mattie White born 1877. She was a widow.
She had a daughter named, Oressisa Hereford; born about 1904
There was a grandson, named William Carr. born about 1923
 
On the 1940 Missouri Census
Only census with Matte's surname as Hereford, born abt 1866.
Mattie and her household...
This as it was written on the index.

Nettie Hereford

74

Oressa Hereford 29
Willard James Carr	16
Jessph Larris

 
Info on Martha / Mattie's children and grandson

Patrick "Pat" White (abt 1882 – 1906)
Alice White born about 1884

Bob Ella (Bentley) Carr (1886 - 1923)   
Jane White born about 1889

Oressia "Oressie" P. Hereford (1904 – 1976)

Willard Jerome Carr (1923 – 1991)

Possible other family Connections: How was Todd Woods connected?

Andrew J. White had a daughter names, Cornelia WHITE WOODS.
Did she have a son named Todd WOODS?
Could this be the link to the family tree?

There was a Todd Woods was listed a cousin to this union on the WHITE family.
How was Andrew J. WHITE related to the BLAKEYs and the WHITEs?

I believe that there was some connection with Andrew J. White's father Isaac White who was from Virginia. And  Julia White's husband, Andrew White who was from Virginia. Perhaps, Isaac who lived next door was Andrew's brother. I do see some similarities.

There are many other questions with  answers left unknown. Still there are mysteries. And there always will be mysteries in the family tree. It doesn't cost to  wonder. What happened?

I hope that some of Martha / Mattie White's descendants can add more to the family history. I believe that there is more. A cousin told me; Mattie lived across the street from the First Baptist Church in Forest Green, Missouri.

Thanks for reading.
Susan Ann Blakley

Which Children of Andrew and Julia WHITE Family Had Children?

 I would like to thank all of you on the Blakey / WHITE Family Connections. There are a lot of us.  Thanks for your interest in our family history.

I've been updating some of the family history. There are times I have to make corrections. Please let me know if I need to make corrections on any family branch.

 I have been looking over the Blakey / White descendants.  I've come across members from the following branches on The Andrew White and Julia (Finney) White Family Connections.

An Unknown White sibling who was born in Virginia.
This sibling had a daughter named Rebecca White.
Rebecca was listed on the 1880 census as Julia White's granddaughter.

 Isaac BLAKEY was the father of ? children.
Oral history states that he had 18 children.
 I have come up with 21 or 23 children.
However, some of the names could have been nicknames.

Spencer White was the father of 3 daughters.
John White was the father of about 9 children.

 Josh / Joshua White was the father of about 3 daughters and a son.
The son's name was John BLAKE.

Martha / Mattie White was the mother of 4 daughters and a son.
Her son was killed in 1906.

Richard / Dick White was the father of 13 children.

There is no information of any off spring on the following family members.
Linda White
Mary White
Ben White
Andrew White
Lydia White
David White

I believe that the other siblings could have had children.
The White surname is hard to trace.
I hope that descendants on our family tree will somehow find one another.
I pray that some of the unknown relatives will make that discovery.

I believe that they are out there. I have come across two searches who believe that they are connected with our family. They don't know where the connection is.

Thanks for reading.
Susan Ann Blakley

Place Of Worship: The First Baptist Church of Forest, Green Missouri.

The First Baptist Church of Forest, Green Missouri.

The Photo was given to me by my cousin, Sylvester on my father's BLAKEY / WHITE FAMILY Connections. This building is the First Baptist Church in Forest Green, MO. It was built by slave labor in 1854. Slaves and former slaves and descendants worshiped there.... (Some of our relatives still gather weekly.)

Thanks for reading.
Susan Ann Blakley  September 20 at 3:29pm

Blakey Slave Ad: 1858

W. C. Harvey was the son in law of Frances (WHITE) BLAKEY widow of John BLAKEY. In this Slave AD this list appears to be a family. Father, Andrew, Mother Julia and 5 children, Linda, Mary, Isaac, Ben and Spencer. (2 other children not named ? )

Thanks for reading,

Susan Ann Blakley  September 20 at 3:19pm

Introuduction: Who Am I?

May I introduce myself. My name is Susan Ann Blakley. I'm the 2nd Great Granddaughter of Andrew WHITE and Julia (FINNEY) WHITE: I'm on the branch of Isaac BLAKEY and Martha (SCOTT) BLAKEY, their, son, John BLAKEY / BLAKLEY. John had a son named, David, my father. If you're wondering why BLAKLEY? My Grandpa John BLAKEY changed his surname sometime after he married in 1902.

Thanks for reading,
Susan Ann Blakley September 19 at 9:24pm

Julia WHITE's Children

Here is the list of Julia WHITE's children
source from censuses, letters, etc...
Linda White
Mary White ...
Isaac BLAKEY
Ben White
Andrew White
Lydia White
Spencer White
John White
Josh / Joshua White
David White
Martha / Mattie White
Richard / Dick White

Thanks for reading,Susan Ann Blakley September 18 at 2:57pm

Some Death Records of Julia FINNEY WHITE's Children: Spencer, John, Richard WHITE and Isaac BLAKEY

 This is Spencer WHITE's death record.
And it's the only record that I've found with both parents names.
 Andre / Andrew WHITE and Julia FINNEY.

 John WHITE's death record: parents Andrew and Julia WHITE



 Richard "Dick" WHITE's death record: Parents names unknown.



 Isac / Isaac BLAKEY's death record. List only Andrew WHITE

Thanks for reading.
Susan Ann Blakley

added photos to Records. September 18 at 2:31pm

Blakey /WHITE Family Connections: Blog Site

This blog was created for Blakey / White Family Connections who don't have facebook.  My original plan; I was trying to locate all the Blakey / White Family Connections on facebook. I know that there are more...The goal is the share Blakey / White Family History and current family happenings on this site.  Susan Ann Blakley created the group. September 17 at 2:52pm

Source for Blakey / White Blakley Family Reunion Booklet.

Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion: Article ca 1971

This was the first article that I saw about the Blakey / White Family Connections in the 1970's.

Article dated about 1971

 

Susan Ann Blakley September 17 at 3:08pm