IowaJones/Biographies/L. T. Blackledge

L. T. Blackledge–J. Bodeker

L. T. Blackledge
Born September 4, 1805

L. T. BLACKLEDGE, firm of Hoffman & Blackledge, general merchandise, Martelle; he was born in Jefferson Co., Ohio, October 8, 1832; came to Linn Co., Iowa, in October, 1854; in 1874, came to Martelle and engaged in the produce business; in 1875, he engaged in general merchandising with P. Hoffman, who had first commenced this business in 1852, and who opened the first store in Martelle.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 585.

space

P. C. Blackmer
Born 1848

P. C. BLACKMER, farmer, Clay Twp., Sec. ——; P.O. Onslow; was born in Enfield, Mass., in 1848. At the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion in 1861, he enlisted in Springfield, Mass., in Co. I, 27th Mass. V.I.; participated in a number of hardfought battles, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. In the latter part of 1865, he went to Kendall Co., Ill., where his parents (Luke and Huldah Blackmer) lived, and remained in that county until 1867, when he came to this (Jones) county. July 4, 1871, he married Roseltha Eckler; their children are William E., Alice J. and Charlie L. Mr. Blackmer and wife are members of the Free-Will Baptist Church; in politics, Mr. B. is a strong Republican. He is extensively engaged in farming, and is a man of much enterprise.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 701.

J. A. Blakeley
Born September 16, 1828

J. A. BLAKELEY, farmer, Wyoming Twp., Sec. 19; P.O. Wyoming; born September 16, 1828, in Genesee Co., N.Y.; in 1856, he came to Jones Co.; he owns 202 acres of land; has been Justice of the Peace, Township Trustee, etc. He married Caroline R. Curtiss in 1858; she was born in New York; they have two children—Hattie M. and Ward H. Democrat; member of the M.E. Church.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 598.

John Blanchard
Born March 31, 1842

JOHN BLANCHARD, publisher of the Monticello Express; is a native of Crawford Co., Ohio, and was born March 31, 1842; when he was only 2 years of age, his parents removed to Canada; he grew up to manhood there, attended the common schools, and afterward entered Albert University. In 1860, he came to New York, and, for ten years, was connected with the publishing business, and was correspondent for newspapers. In 1871, he came to Jones Co. and located at Monticello, and, the following year, bought the Express, and since then has published that paper. He married Miss Sarah L. Young, a native of Canada, December 25, 1861; they have two children—Clarence and Eva; they have lost one daughter.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 660.

James Blaney
Born February 14, 1801

JAMES BLAYNEY, retired farmer; P.O. Olin; born in Virginia February 14, 1801; removed to Ohio and remained there nine years; came to Iowa in 1855; bought 215 acres and now owns 146 acres in Sec. 3, and made all the improvements on the place now occupied by his son. In politics, Democrat; in religion, Presbyterian. His first wife, Rebeca Blayney, was born in Ireland; came to America when young; married in Pennsylvania; died in 1863; had six children, three boys and three girls. His second wife, Elvira Shaw, was born in Ohio March 12, 1817; came to Iowa in 1856; remained till 1860, and married in Ohio in 1864.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 643.

Joseph Bleasdell
Born 1823

JOSEPH BLEASDELL, farmer, Hale Twp., Sec. 23; P.O. Clarence; born in Lancashire, England, in 1823; came to America in 1847, and remained five years in New York; then, in 1852, to Iowa; he helped to build the house for Benjamin Freeman; bought 100 acres of land of Mr. Francis, and now owns 260 acres and has a fine house; horse-barn, 32x42 feet, with basement, 8-foot rock, 16-foot posts; cow barn, 26x40 feet, 16-foot posts, and wing 20x22; corn-crib, double, 32 feet in length; this is one of the finest places in Hale Township. In politics, Republican; in religion, Free-Will Baptist. His wife was born in North Carolina; Adeline Thomas; came to Iowa in 1851. Married in 1854, and have seven children—Mary B., Columbus (at school at Milton), David, Oscar, Ida, Albert and Cashie.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 638.

Thomas Bleasdell
Born 1857

THOMAS BLEASDELL, farmer, Hale Twp., Sec. 33; P.O. Clarence; born in Iowa in 1857; owns sixty acres of land. In politics, Republican; in religion, liberal. His wife, Jennet Karin, was born in Illinois in 1856. Married in 1875, and have one child—Elmer Ellsworth.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 638.

Jerry Blessing
Born November 1, 1843

JERRY BLESSING, farmer, Greenfield Twp., Sec. 33; P.O. Mechanicsville; born November 1, 1843, in Dauphin Co., Penn.; in 1849, came to Linn Go., thence to Muscatine Go. He enlisted, in 1868, in Co. A, 35th I.V.I.; served to the end of the war. In 1865, he came to Jones Co.; owns seventy-seven acres of land. Married Elizabeth Zimmerman in February, 1870; she was born in Pennsylvania; have three children—S. D., George E. and Hiram J.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 585.

Viet Blizek
Born 1853

VIET BLIZEK, farmer, Oxford Twp., Sec. 11; P.O. Oxford Junction; born in Bohemia in 1853; came to America in 1871, and stopped in Chicago, and then came to Jones Co., and now owns 110 acres. His wife, Annie Wasoba, was born in Bohemia in 1854; came to America in 1854; settled in Jackson Co.; she is a daughter of Frank Wasoba; married in 1876; had one child, who died in 1878. In politics, Democrat; in religion, liberal Protestant.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 590.

E. S. Blodgett
Born 1810

E. S. Blodgett, farmer, Sec. 6; P.O. Bowen’s Prairie; was born in Deerfield, MA, in 1810; his parents removed to New Hampshire when he was 7 years of age. He was married to Rebecca Whittemore, who was born in Cheshire Co., NH, in 1811; they came to Jones Co. in 1848, and settled where they now live; they have had 3 children, none of whom are living—William B., Joseph T. and Frederick H.; the latter was Orderly Sergeant of Co. H, 31st I.V.I.; he died in Memphis Mar. 26, 1863. Mr. and Mrs. Blodgett are members of the Congregational Church.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, 1879, page 689, and submitted by Lori J. Mentzel

John Bodeker
Born 1825

JOHN BODEKER, farmer, Wayne Twp., Sec. 21; P.O. Monticello; born in Germany in 1825; came to America and Jones Co. in 1866. Owns eighty acres. His wife's maiden name was Annie Tobiasen, a native of Germany also; they were married in 1861; have one child—Francis. Mr. Bodeker was a soldier in the old country. He and all the family are Lutherans; Mr. B. is a Republican.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 621.