The Lanfard Tombstone Site At Ashland Cemetery

Robert L. and Charlotta Lankfard's Tombstone on lower left of this photo.

The Lankfard Tombstone

The Lankfard tombstone is located on the left  of this photo.
It's near the edge.  

The Mystery Of My Grandparents Blakey

Friday, 14 March 2008


The Mystery Of My Grandparents Blakey

I received a comment from someone who said "it would be really fascinating to hear more about your gr-grandparents" Well, here is more... It is a bit long. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One of my fascinations in mysteries has been researching my family history.

In the beginning of my search, I had no idea who my Great Grand Father was. I assumed that his name was John Blakey. But through the years of searching and contacting a cousin in Yankton, South Dakota, I found out that Isaac Blakey was my Great Grand Father. So I thought who was John BLAKEY? Possible Isaac's brother.

It was not to long after my mother's mother passing in Nov 1975, when I came across an article about a family reunion: Slavery Descendants to Have First Reunion.

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Some of the follow was from another blog post: I thought to share it again.

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As I have been re reading some of my old letters from my cousins and others who have came across my path, I am discovering more and more. My mind is wondering...why did not I see that before.

Here is an example... I told you that I thought that our Great Grandpa was John BLAKEY. We found out that his first name was Isaac. Two days ago a revelation hit me. My Great Grandpa had a "full" brother named John. [I believe that they had the same mother and father.]

I knew that my Great Grandpa had a brother named John but I didn't realized something. I thought that John's last name was not BLAKEY. His last name was WHITE.

That's the other name that is in our family. Our Great Grandpa Isaac was the only known person in his family with the Blakey surname. [His family= parents and siblings]

Here is a bit of our oral history from our family reunion booklets. " The White-Blakey Family traces their generations back to the year 1843. After arriving in New Orleans, from Africa on a slave ship, a mother and her three sons and a daughter were sold at a slave auction and given a bill of sale.

Nothing was ever mentioned of the father, but this happened in many slavery cases. The two oldest Isaac 12 and John 10 were sold to a man by the name Blakey and he took them to Forest Green, Mo.

John remained there but Isaac at the age of 16 ran away and joined the Union Army. He fought for three years and nine months until the Civil War ended and the emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln and Slavery was abolished.

Isaac then returned to New Orleans to find the rest of his family who had not been sold with him. He was told that his mother and brothers, Spencer and Dick and his sister, Matt had been sold to a slave holder named White and shipped to Natchez, MS.

He went there and located them easily. He convinced them that Forest Green, MO was a better place to live, so they moved there were where John [Blakey] was still living there...."


I came across more discoveries on this leading. That article that I mention...."Slavery Descendants To Have First Reunion" took place in the early 1970's in Sioux City Iowa. That article confused me some.

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The Mystery of...

My Great Grandpa Isaac and His Wives:

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Isaac was believed to have been the only one in his family with the surname Blakey. Story goes the family was divided by slavery. There was a husband and wife; John Blakey and Frances White who were the slave holders.

There was an assumption that Frances received some slaves as a wedding gift from her father, John White. The Whites were wealthy people from Virginia. Frances, husband, John Blakey died August 25, 1844.

The Blakey estate was in probate court. Isaac was born about 1845 to 1847. There were others born as well. The slaves had to have been sold and the money divided to the heirs of John Blakey.

I had a researcher send my a newspaper clipping. On that clipping listed the slaves who were advertised to be sold in Feb 1858. There should be records of this selling. I have not search the probate records in Howard and Chariton Counties yet.


In my Great Grandpa's pension records, "Isaac and his mother were sold at the breaking out of the war around 1857- 1861. They were south." This was according to Y.C. Blakey who was one of Frances Blakey son, Y.C. was 10 years older than Isaac.

I always wondered how Isaac ran away to join the Union Army in MS. He was between 12- 16 when he was sold. There he and his mother went south. It was believe to have been in Natchez, MS.

It was in Natchez, MS where Isaac enlisted in the army as Private Isaac Blaker. He was a farmer. This is how Isaac became a free man. I had other researchers who were helping me out at some points during my research.

This researcher believed that Isaac and his mother were sold to relatives of Blakey slaveholders. Hew Davis was related to the Blakeys. There was some connection there in MS.

Also the thought of a slave boy running away from MO to join the army in MS was highly impossible. This researcher believed that Isaac was already in MS. That was how he got there.

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Some interesting things: What I have learned about Great Grandpa Isaac Blakey.

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He fought on the Union Side in MS: November 1, 1863 - May 13,1866. At 5' 3" Private Isaac Blaker. He was stationed in Natchez, MS and Vidila LA. He moved his family back to MO in March of 1880. By 1890 Isaac was 5'10" and 180 pounds


Isaac's father's name was Andrew White from VA. There was not much mentioned about him.

Isaac's mother's name was Julia White born 1820 in VA. No record found of her death. She was buried in Forest Green, MO. She was listed in the 1880 census as a widow. The number of Julia children....I don't know. I came across at least 15-16 children through searing on this family history. Some could have been nicknames of the children.


You can read more on the discovery of the Family Mystery

The mystery of Isaac brother, John Blakey; He was John WHITE who died September 10, 1918. He was buried in Forest Green. According to what was written on his death record, his parents were Andrew White and Julia White both from VA.


Isaac was listed on his death record as an African. He died Dec 23, 1917 and was buried on Christmas Day 1917.

Isaac's married his first wife Martha Scott from Mississippi. Not much is know about about Great Grandma Martha. She was said to have been part American Indian. Isaac knew her about 2 years before they were married.

She later died giving birth two twin sons, John and Andrew on Hew Davis Plantation in Woodlong, MS on 21 June 1871.Andrew later died. John was my Grandpa.

After Isaac's first wife passed away about two years later , he married his second wife, Rachel Lefew / Lafayette / Leftridge. I am not for sure which one was her maiden name. She was half Spanish.


Rachel gave birth to 18 children. I did come across more than that. Some of their children died very young. She did give births to twins.

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I still wonder some things about... my Great Grandpa Isaac.

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Who helped take care of his son, John for two years after his mother died? Perhaps Martha's parents or siblings? I have not found Isaac on the 1870 MS census.


I thought about how Isaac started looking for his parents and siblings after the war. It appears that Isaac know where to locate his family in MO.


I wonder why Isaac choose to keep the BLAKEY surname? I think that there was much more to it. I do see some friendship in the relationship between Y.C. Blakey and the former slave owner who sold Isaac. Y.C. testify that Isaac was a Blakey. That was the family name.

Isaac had contacts with his former slave owners. They could have helped him in the search.

When Isaac moved back to MO, he lived not to far from his former slave owners.

I always wondered why Isaac was stated as an African on his death record. He was born in MO. Here is a blog to that mystery. I thought that that was an Unusual Thing


Isaac had to prove who he was to receive military pension benefits around 1899. He was injured in the war.....a wound to his left leg.Isaac searched for people who knew him before the war and during the war.

There was a minister who came to testify for my Great Grandpa Isaac. There was a surname difference in Isaac's record. His name was Private BLAKER. The minister said he knew Isaac as Isaac BLAKEY.

The minister proved who Isaac was. They recalled some of the events that they went through during the Civil War. They wrestled and played marbles together. I thought that that was some things to take notes on.

Great Grandpa was a deacon in the church where this minister preach at. Great Grandpa was a deacon. I believe that he did called upon Jesus as Lord of his life.

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I made the journey to Yankton SD in 1981, I was on a search for more information.

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I posted a series of blogs on this site. While my stay in Yankton, I got to see a rare photo of my Great Grandpa Isaac with his second wife Rachel.

As I reflect back on that trip in 1981, I thank God that I made the journey. I had a glimpse of some of my ancestors in photographs. The thought of being an offspring of a person who fought in the Civil War. What an honor.


When the time comes, I believe that I will get to see my ancestors who called upon the Lord in heaven. I have a much deeper relationship with God through the discoveries of some things. Life has a lot of mysteries.

I would have never thought of the many different name changes in my family tree. I thank God that He gave me the desire to go deeper into the mystery of my family history. I even found out that I am on God's Family Tree in the process of seeking my bloodline.

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From my book of thanks and blessings:

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I am so thankful that God has given my leads to find out more on my family history. I am thankful that God give me the desire to wonder. I am so thankful for the people God has placed in my life.

In Family History: March

HAPPY MONTH OF MARCH!

In Family History: March Outline

I didn't add links to this blog.
If you want to see last year's blog.
Here are some of the links.

Have A GREAT Month of March!


In Family History: February 24 - March 2
In Family History March 3 - 9
In Family History: March 10 - 16
In Family History: March 17 - 23
In Family History March 24 - 30

In Family History: March


In Remembrance: Update: 2015

~ On March 1, 1878 ~
 Jordan BLAKEY and his twin, Julia BLAKEY were born in Mississippi. Their parents were Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE) BLAKEY.

~ On March 1, 1893 ~
 Rosa BLAKEY was born in Missouri. She was the daughter of Isaac BLAKEY and Rachel (LEPHRIDGE) BLAKEY
...

~On March 1, 1895 ~
Richard T. "Dick" BENTLEY was born in Salisbury, Missouri . He was the husband of Mary (JACKS) BENTLEY and Edna (BLAKEY) JACKSON MARION BENTLEY.

~ On March 1, 1984 ~ Barney Dewey KING passed in Los Angeles, California. He was the husband of Hazel (DADE) KING.

~ On March 1, 2004 ~
Lawrence John "Larry" CANFIELD passed in Fayetteville, Cumberland, North Carolina. He was son of Vernon and Harriett CANFIELD. Larry was the husband of Tanya J. (BLAKLEY) CANFIELD.

On March 2, 1895 ~
Ledrew TERRILL was born in Armstrong, Missouri, He passed on March 2, 1946 in Jackson County, Missouri. He was the husband of Willie (WHITE) TERRILL WINFREY.

On March 2, 1926 ~
Richard Lee TERRILL passed in Armstrong, Howard, Missouri. He was the 9 month of infant son of Ledrew TERRILL and Willie (WHITE) TERRILL WINFREY.

On March 3, 2006 ~ Marjorie M. DADE passed on in Quincy, Adams, Illinois. She was the wife of Clarence N. DADE.

~ On March 4, 2009 ~ Charles "Puffy" LANKFORD passed in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of Louis "Add" LANKFORD and Elizabeth Sarah (WRIGHT) LANKFORD.

On March 5, 1943 ~
Ralph Louis CLAY Jr. was born in Quincy, Illinois. He was the son of Ralph Cecil CLAY and Doris Ivy (MANLEY) CLAY.

On March 5, 1960 ~
Kevin Arthur PRICE was born the son of Robert PRICE and Wanda (BLAKEY) PRICE.

~ On March 6, 1906 ~
Isaac BLAKLEY was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of John BLAKEY/ BLAKLEY and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE. He was the husband of Anna C. (LANKFORD) BLAKLEY.

~ On March 6, 1924 ~
 Leo "Sam" LANKFORD Jr. was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of Leo and Mary (ALLEN) LANKFORD.
He was the husband of Lois (STEWART) LANKFORD HILL

On March 6, 1935 ~
Vernon DUKE passed in Rice, Minnesota. He was the son of Clarence Oliver DUKE and Uldene Frances (YOUNGER) DUKE.


On March 6, 1947 ~
Nesbeth Inez (HENDRED) REYNOLDS was born in Ottumwa, Iowa. She was the daughter of Raymond O. HENDRED and Berenice (AKERS) HENDRED.

~ On March 6, 2006 ~
Janie Lee (WHITE) SMITH passed in Missouri. She was he daughter of Moses WHITE and Etta Mae (WILLIAMS) WHITE.

~ On March 7, 1929 ~
Juanita / Wauneta (BARTLETT) ARMSTRONG passed in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the daughter of Elias W. BARTLETT Sr. and Harriett (HOOPER) BARTLETT.

On March 7, 1934 ~
Maurice JACKSON was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of Ambrose W. JACKSON Sr. and Thelma Rowena (LANKFORD) JACKSON. Maurice was the twin of Maureen JACKSON.

On March 7, 1969 ~
Emerson Thomas JACKSON Sr. passed in Sacramento, California. He was the son of Dabney "Dab" JACKSON and Edna (BLAKEY) BENTLEY.

~ On March 8, 1898 ~
John Cecil CARTER was born in Oklahoma.
He was the son of Joseph and Irene CARTER. John was the husband of Rachel (BLAKEY) CARTER....

~ On March 8 1938 ~
Roberta D. (INGRAM) BLAKEY was born . She was the wife of Zackrious "Buddy" BLAKEY.

~ On March 9, 1877 ~
Louetta (ROBINSON) DADE was born in La Grande, Missouri. She was the daughter of Phil ROBINSON and Sarah (MASON) ROBIINSON. Louetta was the wife of Noar Den / Dennie DADE.

~ On March, 9, 1918 ~ "Baby Boy" BLAKLEY passed in St. Joseph, Missouri. (He was born on March 12, 1917.) He was the son of John BLAKEY / BLAKLEY and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE.
...

~ On March 9, 2010 ~
Lola (PITTS) HENDRED passed in Ottumwa, Iowa. She was the daughter of James Albert PITTS and Camellia (GIBSON) BUNDY PITTS. Lola married Marshall HENDRED.

~ On March 10, 1885 ~
Ceola (WHITE) REED was born in Missouri.
She was the daughter of Spencer WHITE and Malinda (BANKS) WHITE. Ceola was the wife of Victor "Vic" REED.

On March 10, 1934 ~ Maurice JACKSON passed in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of Ambrose W. JACKSON Sr. and Thelma Rowena (LANKFORD) JACKSON. He was the twin of Maureen JACKSON.

~ On March 11, 1923, ~
Geraldine Margaret / Marguerite (OVERTON) HENDRED was born in Ottumwa, Iowa. She was the wife of Raymond / Ray Olin HENDRED.

~ On March 11,1956 ~
Michael Leon DILLIGARD was born. He was the husband of Donna Jean (CLAY) DILLIGARD.

~ On March 12, 1895 ~
 Pleas / Plez William CARR was born. He was the husband of Bobella / Ella (WHITE / BENTLEY) CARR and Bettie (CRUS) CARR.

~ On March 12, 1917 ~
Baby Boy BLAKLEY was born. in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of John BLAKEY / BLAKLEY and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE.

~ On March 12, 1918 ~ Lula Neal MADISON passed in St. Joseph, Missouri. Lula N. Madison was the daughter of William MADISON Sr. and Lula Mae (LANKFORD) MADISON.
...

~ On March 12, 1954 ~
Katherine A. "Katie (ROBINSON) PEYTON passed in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee . She was the wife of Wade Hampton PEYTON Jr.

On March 12, 1985 ~
Wade Hampton PEYTON, III passed in Alameda, California. He was the son of Wade H. PEYTON Jr. and Katherine A / "Katie" (ROBINSON) PEYTON.

~ On March 13, 1908 ~ Rachel Darlene (BLAKEY) CARTER was born in Yankton, South Dakota. She was the daughter was the daughter of Isaac and Maggie (WILLIAMS) BLAKEY. Rachel was the wife of John Cecil CARTER.

~ On March 13, 1989 ~
William Nathaniel GETHERS passed in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the husband of Elizabeth Toni (WHITE) MORRISON GETHERS.

~ On March 13, 2002 ~
Pvt Amer Nazif LYLE passed. He was the son of Faris C. LYLE and Catherine (STRANGE) LYLE.

On March 14, 1922 ~
Sarah Belle (LANKFORD) JOHNSON was born in St. Joseph, MO She was the daughter of Leo LANKFORD / LANKFARD and Mary (ALLEN) LANKFORD /LANKFARD. Sarah was the wife of Rev Aile J. JOHNSON.

On March 14, 1923 ~
Willard Jerome CARR was born in Omaha, Nebraska. He was the son of Pleas / Plez William CARR and Bobella / Ella (WHITE / BENTLEY) CARR.

On March 14, 1970 ~
Julia Mary (BROWN) COLLINS passed in Columbia Missouri. She was the daughter of Charles W. BROWN and Margaret "Maggie" Elizabeth (DADE) BROWN.

~ On March 15, 1923 ~ Katherine "Katie" (ESTELL / ESTIL) WHITE passed in MO. She was the daughter of Tom and Lizzie ESTELLL ESTIL. Katherine was the wife John WHITE.

~ On March 16, 1939 ~
Melvin Milford COLLINS Jr. was born in Moberly, Missouri. He was the son of Melvin Milford Trix" COLLINS and Julia Mary (BROWN) COLLINS.
 

~ On March 16, 1904 ~
  Oressia HEFEFORD was born in Missouri....
  She was the daughter of Mattie WHITE and Robert "Bob" HEREFORD. Oressia never married.

~ On March 16, 1958 ~
Teresa "Terrie" Maxine CRADDOCK was born in Atchison, Kansas. She was the daughter of Harry and Raylotha (BANKS) Craddock. Her birth father, David THOMAS . Her birth mother, Betty GARCIA. (Terrie on BLAKLEY Family Connections)

~ On March 17, 1895 ~
 Margaret "Mike" CASON BLAKEY was born in Missouri. She was the daughter of Hebert CASON and Grace H. (CASON) CASON. Margaret was the wife of Ollie BLAKEY.

~ On March 17, 1909 ~
Cecil BLAKEY was passed in St. Joseph, Missouri.. She was the daughter of John BLAKEY / BLAKLEY and Jennie (BARTLETT) BLAKLEY LYLE.

~ On March 17, 1916 ~ Rachel (LEPHRIDGE) BLAKEY passed in Chariton County Missouri. She was the daughter of Andrew and Charity LEPHRIDGE. Rachel was the 2nd wife of Isaac BLAKEY.

On March 17, 1945 ~ an Olive GREEN  passed in Yankton, South Dakota. This Olive is believed to have been Rev. Ollie GREEN. He was the husband of Mary WHITE (BLAKEY) GREEN.

~ On March 18, 1905 ~
 Kathryn "Kittie" BLAKEY CHURCH was born in Missouri. She was the daughter of Isaac and Maggie (WILLIAMS) BLAKEY. Kathryn was the wife of Henry CHURCH.

On March 18, 1963 ~
Megan M. (BLAKEY) CADER was born in Sacramento, California. She was the daughter of Clarence Ollie BLAKEY and Zenolia (HAVARD) BLAKEY.

~ On March 19, 1897 ~
David WASHINGTON passed in Missouri. He was the husband on Louisa Jane "Janie" (DADE) WASHINGTON.

On March 19, 1915: ~
On The Record: Mary WILLIAMS and Isaac BLAKEY had a son born on March 19, 1915 in Yankton, South Dakota.

Isaac Blakey was married to Maggie WILLIAMS. Perhaps Mary could have been her middle name. The infant born 100 years ago today had no name. It appears that this child passed on the same day. There is a BLAKEY listed on death index on that day.

~ On March 19, 1911~
Robert Louis Lankford MADISON and Charlotte (MADISON) WILLIAMS were born in St. Joseph, Missouri. They were the twins of William MADISON Sr. and Lula (LANKFORD) MADISON. Robert was the husband of Gertrude (MOORE) MADISON. Charlotta was the wife of Ernest WILLIAMS.

Happy Spring!

~ On March 20, 1891 ~
John Wesley DADE was born in Lewis County Missouri. He was the son of Louis and Mary Ann (VENOY) DADE. John was the husband of Helen N. HOLDER DADE.

~ On March 20, 2001 ~ James Pittsburgh BLAKEY passed MN.  He was the son of Isaac and Maggie (WILLIAMS) BLAKEY.  James was the husband of Arlene C. (MITCHELL) BLAKEY.

~ On March 21, 1921 ~
Beatrice (EMERY) HENDRED was born. She was the wife of Willard Jerome CARR.

On March 22, 2012 ~
 James Zell LIGHTNER Jr passed in Yankton, South Dakota. He was the son of James Z. LIGHTNER Sr. and Mary Jane (BLAKEY) LIGHTNER.

~ On March 23, 1908 ~
Henry Leo BLAKEY was born in South Dakota. He was the son of Henry BLAKEY and Mary Elizabeth (FRISTOE) BLAKEY.


~ On March 23, 1926 ~ Harry Lewis GARR Jr. was born in Missouri. He was the son of Harry Lewis GARR Sr. and Evelyn / Eva Lena (MANLEY) GARR.
...

~ On March 23, 1950 ~ Gary Lee LANKFORD was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of Leo LANKFORD Jr. and Lois (STEWART) LANKFORD - HILL. Gary changed his name to Ghalee Askia MUHAMMAD

~ On March 24, 1976 ~
Robert Lewis "Lank" MADISON passed.  He was the son of William and Lula (LANKFORD) MADISON.

On March 24, 1924 ~
Thelma Marie JACKSON was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was the daughter of Ambrose W. JACKSON Sr. and Thelma Rowena (LANKFORD) JACKSON.

~ On March 25, 1891 ~
 Alie JOHNSON was born in Mississippi.  He was the husband of Sarah Belle (LANKFORD) JOHNSON.

~ On March 25, 1940 ~ Lewis Edgar TATE passed in Monticello, Lewis, Missouri. He was the son of Edgar L. TATE and Juanita (WASHINGTON) TATE.

~ On March 26, 1927 ~
Betty Lou (HENDERED) EWING was born in Knox County Missouri. She was the daughter of Isaac HENDRED and Elsie (MARSHALL) HENDRED.

~ On March 27, 2011 ~
Robert Leon "Big Bobby" FARMER passed in St. Joseph, Missouri He was the son of William FARMER JR. and Leola (LANKFORD) FARMER.

~ On March 27, 1970 ~
Jacob Harvey EDUNIJOBI was born in Minnesota. He was the son of Jacob Afolabi EDUNJOBI and Patrica (Pasty) Lynette (LANKFARD) EDUNJOBI.

In Remembrance: ~ On March 28, 1937 ~   My parents were married in Troy, Kansas.

~ On March 28, 1872 ~ William "Willie" WASHINGTON was born in Missouri. He was the son of David WASHINGTON and Louisa Jane "Janie" (DADE) WASHINGTON.

~ On March 30, 1908 ~
 Joshua Randolph MADISON was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He was the son of William MADISON Sr. and Lula (LANKFORD) MADISON.

~ On March 30, 1900 ~
Chancey Harold BARTLETT was born in Missouri. He was the son of Charles BARTLETT and  Isabelle / Isabella (QUEENSBERRY) BARTLETT.

~ On March 31, 1949 ~
James J. WESTON Jr. passed on in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the son of James WESTON Sr. and Lucy (FINDLEY) WESTON. James Jr. was the husband of Betty Marie (LANKFORD) WESTON.