In 1668 three brothers of the name Blakeslee, as it was then spelled, came to America from England where they had been workers in iron. From these sprang all of the name now in this country. One of their number located in Plymouth Hollow, now Thomasville, Conn., and there it was that David, the father of our subject, was born. He married Sarah Bailey, to them being born nine children. Of these Mrs. Wealthy Simmons and he of whom we write are the only survivors. Thinking to better his condition David Blakesley forsook the hills of Connecticut for those of Oneida County, N. Y., and there his son Joel was born May 20, 1814. The lad found it tough work farming among the stones of Oneida County and at the age of sixteen years went to the home of his ancestors, there engaging in labor in the Seth Thomas Clock Factory.

After laboring there for two years young Blakesley took up the same employment in Winsted, whence he departed to Dayton, Ohio, after a sojourn of two years. He was still engaged in the clock works and in the progress of his employment has aided in making thousands of clocks. In 1836 his love of sight seeing and somewhat adventurous spirit led him to Peoria County, Ill., where, finding no clock-making, he contented himself with whatsoever his hands found to do. He worked at wood chopping, rough carpentering and farming, for fifty cents a day, and at this figure he says he put in many a faithful day without a thought of striking.

In the prairie lands of this county Mr. Blakesley learned the lesson of love and having wooed and won Amy Deuel, of Elmwood, they were married June 28, 1837, and lived happily together until the death of Mrs. Blakesley February 20, 1879. That lady was born in Delaware County, Ohio, December 9, 1813. Her father was a physician who died when she was but ten days old, leaving four sons and two daughters to the care of the widowed mother. When twenty years of age Mrs. Blakesley came to the West with a brother, making the distance by teams in three weeks. Of quiet demeanor, a lover of order, benevolent and hospitable, she was beloved by all who knew her and her memory is respected by many who mourn her loss. To Mr. and Mrs. Blakesley were born seven children, four of whom are now living. These are Mrs. Mary Darby, a widow whose home is at Elmwood; Sarah, wife of J. B. Tompkins, a resident of Peoria; Henry, a farmer at Peabody, Kan.; and Emily, wife of C. D. Clark, a hardware merchant of Peoria. A portrait of Mrs. Blakesley is shown on another page together with that of our subject.

The winter after his marriage Mr. Blakesley carried a chain during the preliminary survey for the Peoria & Oquawka Railroad, now the Central Iowa, and the next summer contracted for a mile of that road. The succeeding fall he made some improvements on an eighty-acre tract in Trivoli Township, and in 1839 having disposed of it, moved to Elmwood where he lived until coming to Peoria in 1864. At the home of Mr. and Mrs. Blakesley on the border of the settlement, numerous travelers called, claiming hospitality and lodging. Although the facilities were limited, no one was turned away, for in those days a visitor from the great world without was welcomed as a bearer of fresh news and good company, while he remained.

During his active life Mr. Blakesley was extensively engaged in farming, stock-raising and stock-dealing. He live don one farm in Elmwood for twenty-five years. In all his business career he was successful, and accumulated a competency for his declining years.

In the winter of 1840-41 Mr. Blakesley felt it his duty to visit his aged parents in New York, which he did, making the trip on horseback. In 1868-69 he visited California, via the Isthmus, merely to see the land of gold and satisfy his curiosity. Returning overland he endured much hardship, as the winter was a severe one and five hundred miles of the distance had to be crossed by stages. At Salt Lake City they were snowed in eight days and for three days after reaching the railroad were unable to make more than five miles a day owing to the drifts. During this time provisions became scarce and high prices consequently ruled. A cup of coffee, a piece of tough beef and a biscuit cost one dollar. The next year Mr. Blakesley made a trip to Europe, confining his visit to England, France and Ireland. En route he was in a terrific gale on the Atlantic which totally wrecked a vessel attendant upon the one in which he took passage, nothing being saved nor a life spared on the attending boat.

In 1874-75 Mr. Blakesley made a circuit of the globe, starting westward by way of San Francisco. His course was a irregular one as h is curiosity prompted him to deviate from the ordinary or direct line of travel. He visited now the Japanese, now the Chinese ports, thence to Singapore, and from there to Penang, the great spice island, thence to Burmah, and Allahabad, the stronghold of the British forces, and continued from there to Bombay. He crossed Hindostan from Calcutta to Benares, touching the head waters of the Ganges amid the Himalayas, and crossing again to Bombay, where he took passage for Suez. Thence he traveled by rail to Cairo and Alexandria, and from that place to Joppa and the Holy Land, wherein he visited Jerusalem and many points of interest hallowed by recollections of the Savior’s life. During the progress of his tour Mr. Blakesley touched at Naples and Rome, and traversed much of the Italian interior, looking upon the beauties of art and architecture at Florence, Milan and other points. Thence he passed to the wonderful Alpine regions of Switzerland, and after revisiting Paris, London and Liverpool returned to America. The trip was full of excitement and was well worth the cost of making, which, in answer to a question often asked, we may state was about $1700.

January 1, 1880, Mr. Blakesley was united in marriage with Mrs. John Babcock, an educated, cultured and refined woman, well fitted to enjoy with him the pleasures of travel and all the comforts, and even luxuries, with which they are surrounded. They occupy a pleasant home on a bluff overlooking much of Peoria, having the companionship of a large circle of friends. The summer after their marriage was passed in Michigan and several since have been spent in sight-seeing.

Politically, Mr. Blakesley was originally a Whig, but on the organization of the Republican party became identified with its principles and is a stanch supporter of its candidates and platform. During the late war he was a strong Union man. He voted for Gen. Harrison in 1836 and 1840, and also was proud to cast his vote for the grandson of that famous general, in 1888. Religiously, he is an Episcopalian, while his wife holds membership in the Baptist Church.

Pages 867-869