Family Group Sheet for George Edward BLAKEY (1863-1945)

Husband: George Edward BLAKEY

Born: 17 Feb 1863
Place: Hayward? WI
Married: 21 Nov 1894
Place: Jackson, MN
Died: 8 Dec 1945
Place: Jackson, MN
Husband's Father: Henry BLAKEY
Husband's Mother: Jemima THORP

Wife: Lottie KEPHART

Born: 9 Mar 1871
Place: Dubuque Co., IA
Died: 27 May 1964
Place: Windom, MN
Wife's Father: Alfred Brunson KEPHART
Wife’s Mother: Mary Brown MEYERS

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Children

1. Orville Brunson BLAKEY

Born: 25 Oct 1896
Place: Jackson Co., MN
Spouse: Never married
Died: 6 Dec 1961

2. Verland Edward BLAKEY

Born: 10 Sep 1902
Place: Jackson Co., MN
Spouse: Agnes Marie ROE
Married: 22 Aug 1927
Died: 24 Jul 1996

George E. BLAKEY Family

George Edward BLAKEY Family (Jackson, MN: Anderson, c. 1910). From left: George, Verland Edward, Orville Brunson, and Lottie (Kephart) BLAKEY. Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

1910 US Federal Census: George BLAKEY's Family

Detail of 1910 US Federal Census. Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Blakey, George 47 M
Blakey, Lottie 39 F
Blakey, Orville 13 M

Blakey, Verland 7 M

Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Des Moines, Jackson, Minnesota; Roll T624_696; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 96; Image: 1081.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1910. T624, 1,178 rolls.

Orville Brunson and Verland Edward BLAKEY

Verland Edward and Orville Brunson BLAKEY (ca. 1903). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.


Verland Edward and Orville Brunson BLAKEY (c. 1907). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.


Verland Edward and Orville Brunson Blakey (Jackson, MN: Kral Studio, Date unknown). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

1920 US Federal Census: George BLAKEY and Albert ROE's Families

Detail of 1920 US Federal Census. Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Blakey, George 55 M
Blakey, Lottie 48 F
Blakey, Orville 23 M
Blakey, Verland 17 M

Interestingly listed two families below the BLAKEYs are the ROEs. Seven years from now Agnes M. Roe will marry Verland BLAKEY.

Roe, Albert 43 M
Roe, Mina 39 F
Roe, Ella L. 17 F
Roe, Sherman A. 12 M
Roe, Agnes M. 10 F

Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Des Moines, Jackson, Minnesota; Roll T625_841; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 97; Image: 75.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Note: Enumeration Districts 819-839 on roll 323 (Chicago City) Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920; (National Archives Microfilm Publication T625, 2076 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Spirit Lake Beacon (5 Aug 1920)

"Neighborly News," Spirit Lake Beacon (5 Aug 1920). Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Meyers and daughter, Miss Hazel, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Blakey, and sons Orville and Verland, and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Pearson spent last Sunday near Lakefield at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Rost. Other relatives and friends to the number of over thirty enjoyed the day together.

Spirit Lake Beacon (4 Sep 1924)

"Neighborly News," Spirit Lake Beacon (4 Sep 1924). Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey and sons Orville and Verland were visitors last Sunday afternoon at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Meyers.

Mr. [sic] Mary Kephart and family from Lakefield, Minnesota were visitors last Saturday afternoon at the home of Mr. [sic] Kephart's sister, Mrs. George Blakey.

Master Leslie and Merlin Rost from Lakefield, Minnesota spent a very pleasant week last week at the home of their aunt, Mrs. George Blakey.

Mrs. R. C. Kephart and children, Della, Gladys and Seth, from Lakefield, Minnesota, were visitors on Tuesday of last week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey.

Spirit Lake Beacon (13 Mar 1930)

"Neighborly News," Spirit Lake Beacon (13 Mar 1930). Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Mr. and Mrs. L. N. Kephart and son Maynard drove down from their home at Revere, Minnesota, last Sunday morning and spent the day at the home of Mr. Kephart's sister, Mrs. George Blakey. They returned home on Sunday evening.

Mr. and Mrs. Verland Blakey are now driving a brand new Whippet car. It is a dandy.


A 1930 Whippet. Image courtesy of Flickr.

Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey entertained about thirty of their relatives at dinner last Sunday. The occasion was the celebration of the birthday anniversary of Mrs. Blakey. A sumptuous dinner was enjoyed, and the afternoon was spent in a special way and passed all too quickly. Mrs. Blakey received several beautiful and useful gifts. Those who enjoyed the afternoon together were: Mrs. Mary Kephart and son William, Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Rost and three sons, Leslie, Merlin and Eldon, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Kephart and son Seth, and daughter Miss Gladys, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kephart, son Alfred and daughter Miss Lorraine, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Norgrant and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Verland Blakey and son, Mr. and Mrs. L. N. Kephart and son Maynard, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Pearson and Miss Lila Zimmerle, Mr. and Mrs. George Meyers and Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey and son Orville.

Spirit Lake Beacon (17 Jul 1930)

"Neighborly News," Spirit Lake Beacon (17 Jul 1930). Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Mrs. Mary Kephart and son William, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Kephart, daughter Gladys, and son Seth, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Kephart, son Alfred, and daughter, Lorraine, Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Rost and sons, Leslie, Merlin and Eldon, Mr. and Mrs. Lester Norgrant and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey and son Orville, Mr. and Mrs. Verland Blakey and son Gordon, and Mrs. Ernest Pearson drove to Revere, Minnesota last Sunday morning and spent the day visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Kephart. Twenty-eight relatives were present and enjoyed this family reunion. The happy day will be long remembered by all who were present.

Spirit Lake Beacon (6 Jul 1939)

"Neighborly News Weekly Items," Spirit Lake Beacon (6 Jul 1939). Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey and son, Orville, and Mr. and Mrs. Verland Blakey and children drove to Redwood Falls, Minn., and spent the day with Mrs. Blakey's brother and family, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Kephart. They report that a destructive hail storm visited that section recently and destroyed about 50 per cent of all crops.

Spirit Lake Beacon (19 Jun 1940)

"Neighborly News Weekly Items," Spirit Lake Beacon (19 Jun 1940). Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Mr. and Mrs. George Meyers and Milford Trullinger and daughter, Vera, and sister, Mabel Trullinger, were callers Sunday afternoon at the George Blakey home.

Mr. and Mrs. Verland Blakey and family spent Friday evening at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey.

Orville Blakey, Oscar Tiegan, and Albert Roe returned home Saturday after a delightful trip through the west. They visited the Black Hills, Yellowstone, and many interesting places.

Spirit Lake Beacon (7 Nov 1940)

"Neighborly News Weekly Items," Spirit Lake Beacon (7 Nov 1940). Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey and son, Orville, were dinner guests Sunday of Mr. and Mrs. Verland Blakey.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dorschner spent Sunday evening with Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey.

Certificate of Birth: Verland BLAKEY (10 Sep 1902)

Certificate of Birth (15 Mar 1968). Verland BLAKEY (b. 10 Sep 1902, Des Moines Twp., Jackson Co., MN). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Verland Edward BLAKEY Childhood Photos

Verland Edward BLAKEY (ca. 1906). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.


Verland BLAKEY at his country school (9 Feb 1911). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.


Verland BLAKEY at his country school (c. 1913). Verland is second from the left in the front row. Image courtesy of Verla Williams. It is not known who identified the students in this photo.

1. Charles Graves
2. Bruce Graves (Verland's future brother-in-law)
3. Verland Blakey
4. Harry Gieser
5. Harlan Loyal
6. Loris [?] Brabec
7. Willie Vrba
8. Bart Johaness
9. Adolf Drahota
10. Rose Killian
11. Anton Budiss
12. Leslie Budiss
13. Tillie Drahota
14. Kathy Graves
15.Sis [?] Novotny
16. Willie Brabec
17. Alf Brabec
18. L. Wishney [?]
19. Joe Graves
20. Howard Graves
21. ____ Novotny
22. Francis Lewison

Lines on the right of the photo point to the following who are unnumbered: A. Inghram, Leona Graves, Geo. Lindsey Teacher, Violet and Esther Graves.

Wedding portraits: Verland Edward and Agnes Marie (Roe) BLAKEY

Verland Edward and Agnes Marie (Roe) BLAKEY (22 Aug 1927). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.


Clockwise from left: Bertha Paulson, Orville BLAKEY, Verland BLAKEY, and Agnes (Roe) BLAKEY (22 Aug 1927). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

Wedding Announcement and Marriage Certificate: Verland E. BLAKEY and Agnes Roe (22 Aug 1927)

Wedding Announcement. Agnes Marie Roe and Verland E. BLAKEY (22 Aug 1927). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.


Marriage Certificate. Verland E. BLAKEY and Agnes Roe (22 Aug 1927). Image courtesy of Verla Williams.

State of Minnesota
Certificate of Marriage County of Jackson SS.

I hereby Certify, That on the 22nd day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and Twenty Seven, at Jackson in said County, I, the undersigned, a Minister did join in the holy bonds of Matrimony, according to the laws of this State

Verland E. Blakey

of the County of Jackson, State of Minnesota, and

Agnes Roe

of the County of Jackson, State of Minnesota in the presence of

Orville Blakey
Bertha Paulson
Witnesses.

C. L. Hocking

Early Fall Nuptial of Jackson Couple

  
Wedding Articles. Verland BLAKEY and Agnes ROE (22 Aug 1927).

EARLY FALL NUPTIAL OF JACKSON COUPLE
Miss Agnes Roe and Mr. Verland Blakey Were Married Monday, August 22nd, at M. E. Parsonage

One of the pretty autumn weddings marked by simplicity took place at the Methodist parsonage in this city on last Monday morning at eleven o'clock Rev. C. L. Hocking performing the services, when Miss Agnes Roe was united in marriage to Mr. Verland Blakey. The young people were attended by Miss Bertha Paulson and Mr. Orville Blakey, the young man being a brother of the groom.

The bride wore a pretty traveling suit of blue. Her bridesmaid was also gowned in a charming suit of blue.

After the wedding ceremony at the parsonage the four young people went to the farm home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Roe of Des Moines Township where a wedding dinner was served to them, only the parents of both contracting parties being present and Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Graves, Mrs. Graves being a sister of the bride.

Immediately after the wedding dinner, the young couple left on a motor trip to the northern part of the state and in South Dakota, to be gone for several weeks. On their return they will make their home on the Blakey farm in Middletown township where they will be only about two miles from the farm home of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Graves.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Blakey, and is a young man with a good reputation for integrity and industriousness. He has many friends who are congratulating him on this happy event in his life. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Albert Roe of Des Moines township. She is a graduate of the class of 1927 of the Jackson high school. She is a young lady who is accomplished in household duties as well as fitting herself educationally, and will preside over her new home most graciously.

The editors of this paper have known this young lady for some years and wish her all the happiness that this life holds. We congratulate the young man. May blessings numerous preside over this new home.

1930 US Federal Census: Verland BLAKEY family

Detail of 1930 US Federal Census. Image courtesy of Ancestry.com.

Blakey, Verland E. 27 M
Blakey, Agnes M. 20 F
Blakey, Gordon R. 3/12 M

Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Middletown, Jackson, Minnesota; Roll 1103; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 16; Image: 243.0.

Source Information: Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

Couple Observe 25th Anniversary

"Couple Observe 25th Anniversary" (22 Aug 1952).

Couple Observe 25th Anniversary

Open house hours were held at the Windom Evangelical Lutheran church on Sunday afternoon for Mr. and Mrs. Verland Blakey, who were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary.

The guest book, which was in [the] charge of Miss Elaine Graves of Minneapolis, showed that 125 relatives and friends visited with the honored couple and enjoyed the afternoon program.

Roland Graves of Lakefield was master of ceremonies during the program which included a cornet solo, "The Lord's Prayer," by Dean Brand, a vocal duet by Pastor and Mrs. F. R. Lien, and a reading which was given by Mrs. Olga Swenson. Rev. Lien also gave a short message and presented the Blakeys with a gift. Mrs. Lyder Larson played the wedding marches.

Refreshments were served from a table prettily decorated in blue and silver, centered with a three-tier wedding caked, which was cut and served by Mrs. George Freeman of Walnut Grove. Mrs. R. R. Rost of Lakefield and Mrs. A. C. Leen of Windom poured. Mrs. B. F. Barklow, Jr., and Beverly Miller of Windom were dining room hostesses. A group of eight friends of the family made kitchen arrangements.

Special guests at the affair were the bridesmaid and best man of 25 years ago. They were Mrs. Harlan Cook, a friend, of near Bergen, and Orville Blakey, the bridegroom's brother of Jackson. Mrs. Lottie Blakey, only living parents [sic] of the couple, was also here to enjoy the day.

Other out-of-town guests came from Minneapolis, Triumph, Jackson, Lakefield, Walnut Grove, Sanborn and Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Verland & Agnes Blakey observe golden wedding

"Verland & Agnes Blakey observe golden wedding" (22 Aug 1977).

Verland & Agnes Blakey observe golden wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Verland Blakey of Windom will observe their golden wedding anniversary at an open house Sunday afternoon.

The open house will be held at the American Lutheran Church in Windom from 2-5 p.m., with a short program at 2:30.

Agnes Roe and Verland Blakey were married at Jackson Aug. 22, 1927.

Their four living children are Gordon of Aurora, Colo.: Mrs. Vincent (Verla) Williams of Iowa City, Iowa; Mrs. Dalen (Sharon) Asche of Minneapolis and Mrs. Robert (Pamella) Bergan of Red Oak, Iowa. The couple also has 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Friends and relatives are invited to the open house. Gifts will not be given.

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Fifty Golden Years – the Blakeys
by Verla (Blakey) Williams
22 Aug 1977

Who would have believed that on September 10, 1902 wheels would be set in motion culminating in our celebration today? Were George and Lottie Blakey expected to know as they rejoiced in the birth of their second son, naming him Verland Edward?

Could Albert and Mina Roe foresee as they announced the birth on August 22, 1909, of their third child and called her Agnes Marie?

And so on an evening in 1925, when Agnes and her friend Bertha were asked to go for a ride with a couple of sporting young men, even then no one would have guessed that we would all be here today. For Verland in his usual boisterous and ebullient manner, uttered only two words – good night. And Agnes, curious to find out with whom she had been, had to ask future brother-in-law Bruce who it was. Well, his reply was “if they’d given girls a ride it couldn’t have been – but when he had seen them earlier it was Verland Blakey.” Humpfh, Agnes declared, he has a pretty name, anyway.

That’s where it began – so that in 1927, on August 22, the date for this celebration today was set – when Verland Edward gave his ‘pretty ‘name’ to Agnes to share, in a quiet ceremony witnessed by friend Bertha Paulson and brother Orville Blakey.

In the early months of their married life they lived on the Blakey farm homestead where Verland assisted his father and his brother in the farming operation. But soon they decided to strike out on their own and moved to a farm in Middletown Township, Jackson County. There they endured the toils and hardship of ekeing out a living in the Great Depression; but there they enjoyed the joys and pleasures of good friends and neighbors. Even I remember the Friday night Rook parties – continued after the Blakeys had moved from Middletown, and the summer Sunday picnics held at places like Fort DeFiance where the men played softball and the women loaded the tables with all kinds of foods, much more than any of us needed. And I remember names of people like Stade, the Hassings, Graves —do you remember?

It was on the farm in Middletown that the family grew from 2 to 5 with the births of Gordon, Verla, and Averland, each momentous occasions, each remembered in minute detail, at least by Agnes. (Mothers are like that, you know.)

On a cold, cold day in mid-December Gordon was born and it was thought, I’ve been told, he was the prettiest boy they’d seen –with his thick, dark curly mop of hair.

And then on a beautiful day in April (I hear it every year) Verla decided to arrive and in short order. Doc was out on the golf course, and almost didn’t make it; but Verland made a good midwife – mid husband – and mother and daughter did fine. In fact, when Verla was about 3 weeks old she was taken on her first picnic – and she’s been a picnic ever since – or is that because Cousin Elaine dumped her out of the buggy on her head.

Two Aprils later, the third child, Averland joined the family – I don’t remember much, I must have gone visiting for the day – but I’ve heard Mom talk about all of Gordon’s dark curly hair – and Averland was the bald one.

As time moved on, so did the Blakey family – to a farm 2 miles north of Jackson, which Verland rented from Oscar Teigen. Other names emerge with their memories – Burresons, Evensons, Nasby, Teigens – Valde and Phyllis, Bertha, Julia, Andrew and Elise, Vickmark, Christenson, Nestegard, Seim.

Snatches of happenings wander in the recesses of the subconscious – family gatherings such as Grandma and Grandpa Roe’s 40th Wedding anniversary at the Graves farm; yearly Christmas celebrations with Elaine, the oldest of us cousins in charge of the program, the kids sitting on the stairs behind the banister, emerging to perform;

-- the folks going Yulebukkin, leaving all of us kids at the Graves – and we almost gave away their identity;

-- near tragedies such as Gordon falling in the water tank in the barn and luckily coming up in the same hole he fell into, the folks carrying him to the house, in freezing weather, spitting and sputtering, coughing and choking – the book Mamie Paulsen was reading to Averland and me by light of an aladdin lamp quickly laid down, warm and dry clothing and blankets brought;

-- sadnesses as when Bruce and Ella stopped by in the middle of the night to tell us Grandma Roe had quickly and quietly ended her pilgrimage on earth;

-- District 13 – with all the memories of country school living – Mom walking the snow-blocked last ½ mile with us in cold blustery weather to be sure we’d make it – and then turn around and walk back to the car, various programs with the sheet-curtain, recitations, plays, parents sitting in desks as the audience, snow forts, grass and branch huts, red-light, green-light, Captain, may I, pom pom pull away, work-up, a soft ball in the middle of my forehead, Gordon being picked on by older kids and me sticking up for him, ah, yes, country school.

Another move in the spring of 1943 brought the Blakey family here to Windom, purchasing the present homeplace. New Adventures, new friends, new names, -- Nehlsen, Barklow, Nielsen, Guttormson, Ketzenberg, Smith – new children: Sharon and Pam. I remember with what glee on an evening in February I heard Dad home from the hospital, announce Sharon ’s birth – at last I was no longer the only girl. And with what dismay I heard of Pam’s birth, because I was away at school and it was an announcement by mail. But Mom managed to talk the Dr. into an early dismissal from the hospital so while I was home for the weekend, I could hold the newborn Pam.

As the years cantered, and sometimes galloped by, changes were evident, the three oldest leaving the nest for wider horizons -- Gordon to military life for a time, then farming and finally a finishing carpenter; Verla away to school and a job or two; Averland to work in California, Idaho, Texas in landscaping. And in due time Sharon and Pam struck out on their own – Sharon into banking, and Pam into computers.

Before long the family multiplied and increased, as wives or husbands and children were added to the roster – so Agnes and Verland count their grandchildren – an even dozen to date, and a bonus of 2 great grandchildren.

Yes, countless joys have been shared through the years, as well as countless sorrows – sorrow and grief come to mind in the loss of brothers, parents, aunts and uncles, a niece and nephew and a son as Averland in the spring of 1970 succumbed to cancer, but went home to be with Jesus.

Can a life together of 50 long years, of 50 short years, they’ve been both, be summarized in a few sheets of paper? Not really – and yet the ever increasing rippling effect of their contributions to the stream of life will be noticed and noted as these grandchildren and great grandchildren and eventually great-great grandchildren make their marks in life.

Mom and Dad – congratulations and from Gordon, Averland in absence, Sharon and Pam – we say – THANK YOU FOR YOU!