My Genealogy Hound

EDWIN A. BLAKESLEE. There is no name more prominently connected with the history of the prosperous village of Galien than that of Blakeslee, and this volume would be incomplete were no mention made of their life and works. It is therefore with pleasure that the biographer invites the attention of the reader to the following outline of the career of our subject, as well as his immediate ancestors. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch was James Blakeslee, who was born and reared in the State of New York and there married Miss Louisiana Edmunds, a cousin of the illustrious statesman, Judge Edmunds, and a daughter of one of the Revolutionary heroes, who was taken prisoner by the British and remained in captivity for some time.

While residing in New York, James Blakeslee began to preach in the church of the Latter-Day Saints, and continued his ministerial labors after removing to Perth, Canada, in 1836. Thence he went to St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and from there to Waterville, Oneida County, the same State, later locating in Utica, where, as in other places, he devoted the most of his time to preaching. On the 5th of July, 1848, he arrived in southern Iowa, where he engaged in ministerial work for five years. In 1848 he located in Batavia, Kane County, Ill., and there resided until his death, which occurred December 18, 1866. A man of great ability and an interesting speaker, he was very prominent in the Church of the Latter-Day Saints and was one of the twelve apostles in whose hands reposed the authority of the church. His wife also passed away in Batavia, Kane County, Ill.

The paternal grandparents of our subject had a large family of children, George A. being the eldest, he received his schooling in the various places of which his father was a resident, and was also the recipient of excellent advantages under the training and preceptorship of his father. When a mere boy he commenced to work for himself and early developed traits of self-reliance and industry. He frequently made overland trips to Chicago in order to haul wheat to the market there. His first business venture was as operator of a sawmill in Batavia, Ill., and in 1849 he embarked in the lumbering business, which he continued for seven years.

Coming to the present site of Galien in 1856, Mr. Blakeslee became the founder of this now prosperous village, and in the midst of the woods erected and operated a sawmill. Soon afterward he purchased a stock of goods and opened a general mercantile store, which he conducted in connection with the lumber business. He owned several thousand acres of land in Berrien County, from which he cut the lumber and disposed of it in the market. Under the administration of President Buchanan he was appointed Postmaster at Galien and retained that position uninterrupted through the various administrations until the election of Grover Cleveland to the Presidency, when he resigned. He also owned a saw-mill here and engaged extensively in the manufacture of handles. In 1880 he opened a banking establishment. Upon his farm, which consisted of one thousand acres or more, he raised stock and grain and shipped largely to other places. In his mill he manufactured over one million five hundred thousand handles annually.

The marriage of George A. Blakeslee occurred on the 13th of February, 1848, and united him with Miss Lydia Alcott, who was born in England, being the daughter of a manufacturer of queensware in that country. She came to America in her girlhood and with her father settled in McHenry County, Ill., where she resided until her marriage. In his youth Mr. Blakeslee united with the Latter-Day Saints and became a prominent member of the church, being its Bishop for the world, in which position he had charge of the finances and their property throughout the entire world. For ten years he filled that honored position to the universal satisfaction of the people and with credit to himself. Aside from the office of Bishop he also preached occasionally, and was a member of the High Priest Corums, which was one of the most important positions in the gift of the church. He aided in the organization of the Galien branch of the church and was its most influential member.

A member of the Whig party during its existence, Mr. Blakeslee united with the Republican party in 1856 and was one of its most devoted adherents until his death. He served as Justice of the Peace from 1857 until 1882, a period of twenty- five years. He was one of the organizers of the public schools at Galien and was a member of the School Board for many years. As President of the village for a long period, he was instrumental in securing many improvements and in promoting the welfare of the citizens. Socially, he was identified with the Royal Arch Masons. His death occurred at his home in Galien on the 20th of September, 1890, and was deeply deplored by his acquaintances throughout the United States. A man of splendid physique and fine appearance, he won friends wherever he went and retained the admiration and respect of all his associates. To him more than to any other man is due the rapid growth of Berrien County and its high position among the counties of Michigan.

In the parental family there were nine children, of whom Ella and George A., Jr., are deceased. Of the seven survivors we note the following: Eliza is the wife of Alexander Emery, an attorney of Buchanan, Mich.; Sarah married W. W. Fry, who is in the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad at Joliet, Ill.; Georgiana is the wife of J. W. Wright, a traveling salesman; Lydia is the wife Charles A. Clark, who devotes his entire time to our subject’s store; Viola married W. A. Blair, a merchant residing in Lamoni, Iowa; Belle is the wife of S. B. Smith, a music dealer of Jackson, Mich.; and Edwin A. is the youngest.

Our subject, who has succeeded his honored father in business, was born July 18, 1865, in Galien, Mich., and received his education in the Normal School at Ypsilanti, graduating from that institution in 1887. Later he entered the literary department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he remained for two years, he also took a course of lectures in the law department and is a member of the Phi Gamma Delta and the Phi Delta Phi. At the time of his father’s death he returned to Galien and settled the large estate and assumed charge of the business, with which he has since been connected.

A Republican in his political opinions, Mr. Blakeslee has served as a member of the Village Council and is the present Clerk of Galien Township. He takes a deep interest in educational matters and is a Director of the Galien schools. He is proprietor of the firm of G. A. Blakeslee & Co., which conducts a general banking business, also engages in a general mercantile business, and in buying and selling grain. In the store may be found a large and complete assortment of goods, including everything from the size of a needle to a threshing-machine. As has been heretofore mentioned, the store is managed by Mr. Clark, while our subject devotes his entire attention to looking after the large estate inherited from his father. He and his mother reside on the old homestead, where they are surrounded by all the comforts of life. In addition to his other interests he is a stockholder in the First State Savings Bank of Niles.

The honored son of an honored father, Mr. Blakeslee is justly held in high esteem by the people of Berrien County. While he is largely indebted to his father, yet he personally possesses the attributes of a noble character. Like his father, he is a man of firm convictions, and when he once decides upon the right course of action, nothing swerves him from his course. In disposition generous, in resources fruitful, in character rounded, and in business dealings honorable, he has gained a name and a reputation as one of Michigan’s most prosperous and noble sons.