Francis Blakely/Blakeley/Blakeney/ et al, was best known as an early Ohio pioneer. His parents were most lkely from Ireland, but it could have been Scotland or England. It was passed down that his father did not survive the crossing but his mother and two brothers did. He moved to Dry Creek, Clinton Township Knox County Ohio in the spring of 1805 with his wife Rachel Hardesty and son William. He spent most of his life in North Liberty, Pike Township, Knox County Ohio Where he raised a large family and farmed. The earliest confirmed location was in1800 on the waters of the Middle Wheeling Creek, West Finley Township, Washington Co. PA where William was born and where two daughters died very young.

In Washington County Francis had 48 acres, a horse and one cow for which he was taxed. On the Tax Rolls of 1804 he was listed as a Francis Blakeney. The 48 acres was about the amount of land someone who was indentured would receive upon fulfilling his contract. It is not known who he was indentured to but one possibility would be Francis Hardesty.

This family travelled from Maryland to Pennsylvania to Ohio with the Blakelys and they intermarried. Little is known from direct accounts of this resourceful immigrant on the hostile frontier. Life was threatened by exposure to the displaced native Americans, wolves and the harshness of the climate to simple agricultural skills. In 1810 he signed a petition for public roads to be built from Francis Hardesty's place in North Liberty to Mount Vernon.

Francis was a private in John Greer's Ohio Militia during the War of 1812 and served forty days for which he was entitled to 160 acres of bounty land. On the 24th of December 1816, Francis served on the Ohio Grand Jury. During1819 he relocated to Pike Township where he spent the last 38 years of his life. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopalian Church, specifically the Old Pike Methodist Church in North Liberty. It is reported that Francis Blakely was responsible for helping to help to lay out the town of North Liberty at the centre of four sections in 1838.

In 1855 Francis wrote his Will, naming Hugh Blakely to receive his land warrants. At This time his children, Richard, Mary and Rachel died. That left Sarah, William, Elizabeth, Hugh, Hannah, John and Joel, all from Francis and Rachel who died after 1822. Francis died on Halloween, the 31st of October 1857. Francis lived to be almost 87 years and it is reported that his mother who married a Mr. Canada, lived to be 100.

The children of Francis BLAKELY and Rachel Hardesty are:

1] Female Blakely b. c. 1798.

2] Female Blakely b.c. 1799.

3] Sarah Blakely b. 12 July 1803, Washington Co. PA; m. Adam Johnston c. 1820 in North Liberty, OH. d. 1st March 1861, North Liberty, OH.

4] William Blakely b. 22nd January 1805, Washington Co., PA; m. Sarah (Saloma) Grubb 3rd April 1828 in Knox Co. OH.d. 28th August 1878, Jelloway, OH.

5] Richard Blakely b. 22nd December 1806, Knox Co. Ohio; m. Elizabeth Wallace 30th August 1929. d. 17th June 1853, Butler, Logan Co. OH.

6] Elizabeth Blakely b. c. 1807, Knox Co. OH. m.(1) Kissler. m.(2) George Waddell.

7] James Hugh Blakely b. 20th May 1809, Knox Co., Clinton Twp., OH; m. Catherine E. Wallis c. 1827. d. 16th September 1881, North iberty, Knox Co. OH.

8] Mary Eleanor Blakely b. 1812 Knox Co., OH.; d. Cowden, IL; m. AUSTIN.

9] Hannah Blakely b. c. 1813, Knox Co. OH; m. Daniel Grubb 14th March 1834. d. c. 1886, North Liberty, Knox Co. OH.

10] Rachel Blakely b. 3rd September 1816, Knox Co. OH; m. (1) Wyland, (2) John Bulger 4th June 1834. d. 4th April 1834, Altamont, IL.

11] John Thomas Blakely, b.10t July 1818, Knox Co. OH.

12] Joel Blakely b. 14th May 1821, Knox Co. OH; m. Elizabeth Butler 19th May 1840. d. c. 1879.

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THE BLAKELY'S OF KNOX COUNTY
Part 2: Will Blakely

William Blakely was the 4th child of Francis Blakely & Rachel Hardesty. He was born in West Finley, Washington County on the 22nd of January 1805 and he was reared for farm life in Ohio.

After attaining manhood he married Sarah (Saloma) Grubb, who was a native of Rockingham County, Virginia on the 3rd April 1828 in Knox County. and was the daughter of Daniel Grubb who was born in the old Dominion and represented one of the prominent families of that state, his ancestors having established a home in Johnston, Virginia, during a period of it's early settlement.

William was already a farmer by occupation and ably provided for his family. His political support was given to the Whig party until dissolution, when he joined the ranks of the new Republican Party. Both and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were loved and respected by all. The father died at the age of 72, the mother long surviving, passed away at the ripe old age of ninety years. They became parents of twelve children - nine sons and three daughters, namely: Mary Ann, Rachel, Mary Jane, John, David, William, Samuel, Daniel, Christy Ann, George W., Henry H. and Elkana F.

The family was well represented by loyal sons of the family in the Civil War, William being a member of the Ohio Regiment, while George served in the Eighty-second Ohio Infantry and John served in the service for a time as a mechanic. Henry Harrison Blakely joined Company F of the Eighty-second and fought at Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg. William Blakely suffered a stroke with partial paralysis about 1866 and died twelve years later in 1878. He was buried in the Biglow Cemetery in Knox County, near Jelloway. Following her husband's death, Sarah went to Kansas and made her home with her son's Henry and Elkanah. They owned farms near Lyons, Kansas. Here she died in 1897, not quite 90 years of age.

The children of Wil Blakely and Sarah Grubb were:

[1] Mary Ann Blakely b. 24 Jan. 1829, Knox Co. OH., d. 4 May 1830 Knox Co.

[2] Rachel Blakely b. 31 Mar. 1830, Knox Co. OH. d. 29 Dec. 1867, Mt Morah IL.

[3] Nancy Jane Blakely b. 28 Oct. 1831, Knox Co. OH. d. 26 Dec. 1907, North Liberty, Knox Co. OH.

[4] John Blakely b. 26 May 1833, Cincinnatti, OH. d. 21 June 1882, West Pea Ridge, AR: m. Jane Reed.

[5] David Blakely b. 27 Nov 1834, Knox Co. OH. d. 3 Feb. 1851, Biglow Cemetery, Knox Co. OH.

[6] William Blakely b. 5 Aug. 1836, Knox Co. OH. d. 21 Feb. 1904, Altamont, IL

[7] Daniel Blakely b. 8 Mar 1838, Knox Co. OH. d. 27 Nov. 1838. Knox Co.

[8] Samuel Blakely b. 8 Mar. 1838, Knox Co. OH. d. 21 April 1838, Knox Co.

[9] Christiana Blakely b. 24 Jan 1840, d. 5 Nov. 1911, m. Robert Finely Waddell, 3 May 1868.

[10] George Washington Blakely b. 18 Nov. 1842, Jelloway, Knox Co. Ohio, d. 19 Feb. 1925. Jelloway, Knox Co. Ohio.

[11] Henry Harrison Blakely b. 18 Jan. 1844, Jelloway, Knox Co.,Ohio. d. 26 April 1918, Lyons, Kansas.

[12] Elkanah Franklin Blakely b. 15 Nov. 1845, Jelloway, Knox Co. Ohio. d. 6 Mar. 1903, Preston, Kansas

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THE BLAKELY'S OF KNOX COUNTY
Part 3: Henry H Blakely

Henry Harrison Blakely was the son of William Blakely and Saloma Grubb and grandson of Francis & Rachel Hardesty. He was born on the 18th of January 1844, in Jelloway, Knox County Ohio. He died on the 26th of April 1918 in Lyons, Kansas.

Obituary - Lyons Republican, 30th of April 1918:

"On Friday, April 19, H. H. Blakely, one of the early settlers of Wilson Township and one of the best known men in Rice County, was stricken with paralysis from the effects of which he died just one week later. H. H. Blakely was born near Jelloway, Knox County, Ohio, January 18, 1844, and died at his home, four and a half miles southeast of Lyons, Friday, April 26, 1918, aged 74 years, 3 months and 8 days. The funeral was held at the Methodist Episcopal church in this city last Sunday at 2p.m., conducted by Rev. W. L. Hinshaw, of Sterling, pastor of the United Bretheren church, Liberty Chapel, a friend of nearly 40 years. A large number of old friends, old neighbors, and old settlers were present to pay their last tribute of respect to the man they loved while living in their midst. Nearly al of the old soldiers now living in this vicinity ere in attendance and sat in a body of seats reserved for them. The remains were laid to rest in the Graceland Cemetery in the family lot.

Mr. Blakely came to Rice County from Knox County, Ohio, in 1879, and purchased the farm on which he resided up to the time of his death. When he arrived here from the east, the country was new and needed leaders. He took his place at once as a man who could be relied upon at all times to help advance any project which would be for the good of the county he had chosen to make his home. In church work he was always willing to do his part. He was always ready to help those in need and would leave his work at any time to visit the sick, or help a neighbor with his work and no-one was afraid of being refused assistance for any worthy cause.

He was a Republican and a worker in his party and had the confidence of his fellow men. For many years he held the office of Justice of the Peace when Atlanta comprised Wilson, Atlanta and Harrisaon townships and this city. He kept his office open in Lyons at all times and walked or rode to and from his home every day, the state of the weather being no obstacle to him. For years nearly every case was tried before him in this place and many came before him on a change of venue from all over the county. In those days there were many law suits, probably caused by the newness of the country, and the had times generally. His decisions were always just and gave general satisfaction. Of course, many cases were carried to the district court, but few decisions were reversed.

When Mr. Blakely was 18 years of age, President Lincoln called for 600,000 volunteers and he at once responded, joining Company F, 82nd Ohio Infantry under Colonel Catwell, who was killed at the battle of Bull Run. The Company was commanded by John Costin, who was killed at Gettysburg. The deceased was in battles of Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, and was with General Sherman on the March to the Sea. He was one of 3,600 Union Men who were taken prisoner at Gettysburg and were placed in a rebel prison camp at Staunton, VA., with 600 others. With a comrade, he made his escape over the dead line, which seemed well guarded but they managed to effect their departure, after 30 days of imprisonment. For twenty one days they were without food except for one meal and such wild berries as they could get in the mountains. Finally after much hardship they reached the north and out of danger of capture. In a short time he was able to join his company again and served his country well.

After the war was over he taught school and engaged in farming. On Feb 23, 1838 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Bailey, who died De. 18, 1901. To this union were born nine children, one dying at the age of two years, On Nov. 7, 1905, he was married to Mrs. Lucilla Hunsburger of this city who as his constant companion until his death.

Mr. Blakely is survived by his wife, four sons, four daughters, and one stepdaughter; also one brother, George Blakely, who lives in Ohio. Mrs. C. F. Sangster, J.T. Blakely, and Mrs. G. M. Shepherd of Lyons, Mrs. E. D. Blackwelder, Isabel, KS.; Mrs. R. A. Armstrong, Hutchinson; H. R. Blakely, Cimarron, N.M.; G. W. Blakely, Clayton, N.M.; R. W. Blakely, Eldon, MO.; Miss Mildred M. Blakely, Lingayen, Panguisinan, Phillippine Islands~ are left to mourn the loss of a kind and affectionate husband and father. Thirteen grandchildren are also left to mourn the taking away of a dear relative. Mr. Blakely embraced the Christian faith early in life and was an active worker in all church and Sunday School work of the community as long as his health permitted."

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