Who Was John Blake?

On October 23, 2011, I was re reading some of my letters from my cousin. I saw some things that I began my search to find more on John Blake. I had very little clues to follow.

I first heard of John Blake in the late 1980's. Cousin Willie (White) Winfrey was sharing with me some of the family history. She mentioned that her father, Richard White had another brother named, Josh White.

Josh White had a son named John BLAKE and three daughters. John Blake was raised by a large family. John tooked the BLAKE surname.

As I've been searching I came across a family in Chariton County, Missouri on the 1900 census. There was  John Blake listed with a Louis and Mary A. Blake with many children.

As I've looked through other census records, I came across this John born around 1882 in MO. He was the step son of Louis BLAKE. Louis married Mary Ann Johnson in 1885.

There was a John Blake on the 1910 census with a Arretta Blake and Mattie White. I think that this could be a connection. This Mattie White was widowed. She was the mother of 5 children. Only 4 were living. None of her children were listed at this place.

I found Mattie White listed as a widowed with 4 children. She was the mother of 5 children on the 1900 census. I think that Mattie could have been counted twice on the 1910 census.

Here are the BLAKEs 1900 - 1920 census
1900 Chariton, Howard County Missouri
Lewis Blake born about Aug 1863 Married in 1885
Mary A. Blake born about Jan 1865. She was the mother of 10
Merritt
William
Nelllie
Rector H.
Oscar
George
Frank
Elenor
John (Stepson)

1910 Burton, Howard County,  Missouri
Lewis
Mary
Merrit
Rex
Oscar
George
Frank
Elnora
Maggie
Corina
William

1910 Burton, Howard County Missouri
John Blake age about 30: Born MO
Arrette Blake

Mattie White age about 46;
Born about 1864 in MO.
Widow: Mother from VA.

1910
Mattie White age about 46:
 Born in MO. Widow
Parents From MO.
Elda (Ella) age about 24
Oressie age about 8

1920
Lewis
John
Will (William)
Rex
Frank
Elnora
Maggie (Valentine)
Corine
Swetzie

The information matches up with what some of my cousins told me. I  believe that this John Blake was relatives to the Mattie White listed on the census.  She was most likely her Aunt.

The story of Josh WHITE  children is still a mystery. I haven't come across any BLAKE descendants.  Nor of Joshua's daughters. Perhaps some of Joshua White's descendants will make some discoveries on the journey.

Thanks for reading.

My Assumption On Who John Blake May Have Been

I was re reading some of the old family letters. Two of my cousin spoke of a John Blake who was a son of Josh or Joshua White. Joshua was the son of Andrew and Julia White.

According to my cousins, Josh White had three daughters and a son named John. Joshua died. John was raised by a large family with the BLAKE surname. The cousins didn't mention about Josh's three daughters.

I  searched the census looking for this John Blake. I believe that I've found him. I saw at least to coincidences. I first notice on the 1910 census that there was a John Blake with wife Arrette. There was a Mattie White listed with them.

This Mattie was born about 1877 in MO. Mattie was a widow. She had 5 children. Only 4 were living at the time the census was taken. However, the children's names were not listed with Mattie.

I searched to back track and to find out who was this Mattie White?. I saw that this Mattie may have been counted twice on the 1910 in Howard County. I came across a Mattie White who was a widow with 5 children with one deceased. She was listed with her 4 children.

I searched records to find out; who was John Blake?  I came across one John who fits the description on what my cousins spoke about. John was raised in a large family. This John was listed on the 1900 census with Louis and Mary Blake. John was Louis' step son.

As I continued to search for John Blake, I saw some similarities. He was the same John listed with Mattie on the 1910 census. John later was divorce some time before 1930. Louis was listed as John's father on the 1920 and 1930 census. Also on the WW II draft Louis was listed as John's father. John was born in 1880.

In my later search, I discovered more about John. I located his death record and pieced together who John Blake could have been. John H. Blakey was born on May 29, 1880 in Fayette, MO. His mother was Mary Anna Johnson or Potte.

Mary was born on Dec 4, 1865 and passed away on April 15, 1918 in Howard County MO. Her parents were Merritt Potte and  Becky Bentley. Mary married Louis Blake in 1885.
John's the father's first name on John's death is a ? It appears to start with the letter J. It appears to James not Louis Blake. John's surname was listed as Blake. Louis was the son of Ceaser and Trusty Blake

Mary had about 12 children: John her first born then Merritt, William, Nellie, Rector, Oscar, George , Frank, Eleanor, Maggie, Corine, (1907 - 1967) and Swetzie Blake.

I'm not for sure if this John had  any children. He was listed with a son named Cortez Jaco, He was born about 1926 in Missouri. and Harold Valentine born about 1927 in MO. Cortez and Harold could have been his nephews. But I'm not for sure.

It appeared that John carried the BLAKE surname through out his life. His surname wasn't BLAKEY. John may have never know that Josh White was his father.

John passed away on Oct 5, 1930 in Hannibal, Missouri. He was listed as a widow and a barber. Nettie Black was the informant on John's death record. I reached for Nettie Black. She was John's sister.

Perhaps some one will come across this website and clarify some things.

Thanks for reading.