Daniel Felton Blake




Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake was born September 11, 1854, in West Union, Adams Co., OH, and died January 28, 1934, at the Fellows Convalescing Home, 27 and Fuerst Street, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO, at age 79. Buried in Mount Washington Cemetery, Independence, MO. He is the son of Burdine Blake Jr. of Martinsburg, Bedford (Blair) Co., PA, and Mary Ellen Murray of Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., PA. 

Lillian Florence "Lillie" Rhodes was born June 18, 1852, in Greencastle, Franklin Co., PA, and died November 20, 1908, at her home, 2632 Bellefontaine Avenue, Kansas City, Jackson Co.,  MO, at age 56. Buried in Mount Washington Cemetery, Independence, MO. She is the daughter of William Powell Rhodes of Frederick City, Montgomery Co., MD, and Henrietta Shields Ashby of Accomack Co., VA.

Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake and Lillian Florence Rhodes were married October 25, 1882, in Washington, DC.

Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake and Lillian Florence (Rhodes) Blake had no children.




TIMELINE


Lillian Florence "Lillie" (Rhodes) Blake is buried in Mount Washington Cemetery, Independence, MO. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.


Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake is buried in Mount Washington Cemetery, Independence, MO. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.


Headstone for Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake and Lillian Florence "Lillie" (Rhodes) Blake at Mount Washington Cemetery, Independence, MO. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making this image available.


The 1850 U. S. Census taken on August 20, 1850, shows Burdine Blake (age 29) is an iron furnace worker born in Pennsylvania living in Upper Twp., Lawrence Co., OH, owning real estate valued at $1,200. Living with him is his wife Mary E. Blake (age 19) born in Pennsylvania. Also living there is their son James F. Blake (age 4/12) born in Ohio, and Mary's mother, Mary Murray (age 60) born in Pennsylvania.

Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake was born September 11, 1854, in West Union, Adams Co., OH.

Lillian Florence "Lillie" Rhodes was born June 18, 1852, in Greencastle, Franklin Co., PA.

The 1860 U. S. Census taken on June 2, 1860, shows Burdine Blake (age 37) born in Pennsylvania with personal property of $150 is a Gunsmith and is living in the Village of London, Madison Co., OH. Living with him are his children, all born in Ohio: James F. Blake (age 10), Wm. B. Blake (age 8), and Daniel F. Blake (age 5). Also living there was his mother-in-law, Mary Murray (age 70) born in Pennsylvania.

The 1860 U. S. Census taken on June 19, 1860, shows William Rhodes (age 51) born in Maryland with real estate of $5,000 and personal estate of $600 is a Restaurant Keeper and is living in Hagerstown, Washington Co., MD. Living with him are the following Rhodes: Henretta Rhodes (age 45) born in Virginia; Albert Rhodes (age 22) born in the District of Columbia; Franklin Rhodes (age 18) born in Pennsylvania, a Painter; Virginia Rhodes (age 16) born in Pennsylvania; Dennis Rhodes (age 13) born in Pennsylvania; Silas W. Rhodes (age 10) born in Pennsylvania; and Lilly Rhodes (age 8) born in Pennsylvania.


Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake, about 1870.


Lillian Florence "Lillie" Rhodes, about 1870.


The 1870 U. S. Census taken on July 18, 1870 shows Daniel Blake (age 17) born in Ohio is a Farm Laborer living in Urbana Twp., Champaign Co., OH. He is living in the household of a Farmer and his family, John Evans (age 48).

The 1870 U. S. Census taken on July 26, 1870, shows William P. Rhodes (age 60) born in Maryland with real estate of $1,500 and personal estate of $1,800 is a Merchant and is living in Central Twp., Rockingham Co., VA. Living with him is Henrietta Rhodes (age 57) born in Virginia, a Housekeeper.

The 1880 U. S. Census taken on June 16, 1880, shows Aldine S. Keefer (age 40) born in Misouri to Virginia-born parents is a Printer and is living in Ashby Twp., Rockingham Co., VA. Living with him is his wife, Elisebeth Keefer (age 35) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents, who is Keeping House. Also living with him are his four sons, all born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents: William Keefer (age 12); Shelley Keefer (age 10); Linnans Keefer (age 8); and Luther Keefer (age 2). Also living there are the following unmarried people, all born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents: D. Blake (age 26), Printing; Mahala Hanneron (age 36), a Servant; and Maggie Sours (age 21), a Servant.

The 1880 U. S. Census taken on June 16, 1880, shows William Rhodes (age 70) born in Maryland to Maryland-born parents is living in Ashby Twp., Rockingham Co., VA. Living with him is his wife, Heneretta Rhodes (age 68) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents, who is Keeping House. Also living with him are the following people, all unmarried: Lillie Rhodes (age 25) born in Pennsylvania to Maryland and Virginia-born parents; granddaughter, Georgie Echison (age 17) Maryland to Maryland and Virginia-born parents; granddaughter, Gertrage Echison (age 14) D. C. to D. C. and Virginia-born parents; and granddaughter, Alma Rhodes (age 8) born in Mosorie to Pennsylvania and Maryland-born parents. Also living there is an unmarried Visitor, Virginia Lucis (age 28) born in Pennsylvania to Maryland and Virginia-born parents.

Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake and Lillian Florence "Lillie" Rhodes were married October 25, 1882, in Washington, DC.

In 1891 and 1892, Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake and Lillian Florence "Lillie" (Rhodes) Blake were living in the town of Orrick, Ray Co., MO.

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 4, 1900, shows Daniel F. Blake (age 45) born September 1854 in Ohio to Pennsylvania and Ohio-born parents works in Hardware and Lumber and rents his home at 1819 Summit Street, 4th Ward, City of Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO. Living with him is his childless wife of 17 years, Lillian F. Blake (age 44) born June 1855 in Maryland to Maryland and Virginia-born parents.

The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 4, 1900, shows Dennis A. Rhodes (age 52) born June 1847 in Pennsylvania to Maryland and Virginia-born parents is a Dry Goods Merchant who owns his home free of a mortgage and is living in Liberty Twp., Clay Co., MO. Living with him is his wife of 23 years, Isabella Rhodes (age 47) born March 1853 in Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania-born parents, with 6 of the 7 children born to her still alive. Also living there are his six unmarried children, all born in Missouri to Pennsylvania-born parents: Merale Rhodes (age 21) born February 1879; Matilda Rhodes (age 20) born May 1880; Phillip Rhodes (age 16) born September 1883; Gertrude Rhodes (age 15) born March 1885; Jeanie Rhodes (age 11) born June 1881; and Howard Rhodes (age 9) born January 1891.


The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO, October 30, 1904

IN SOCIETY

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel F. Blake are occupying their cottage, 2632 Bellefontaine avenue.


Lillian Florence "Lillie" (Rhodes) Blake died at her home, 2632 Bellefontaine Avenue, Kansas City, Jackson Co.,  MO, at age 56, at age 56. Buried in Mount Washington Cemetery, Independence, MO. She had Intestinal Cancer.


The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO, Saturday, November 21, 1908

The Death of Mrs. Daniel F. Blake.

Mrs. Lillian Florence Blake, 48 years old, the wife of Daniel F. Blake, died at her home, 2632 Bellefontaine avenue. She left a brother, D. A. Rhodes of Independence, Mo., a brother in Oklahoma City and a sister in Oakland, Cal. The funeral services are to be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the home. The burial is to be in Mount Washington cemetery.


The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO, Tuesday, November 24, 1908

IN MEMORIAM.

LILLIAN FLORENCE BLAKE.

Nothing that God has made is more admirable than a noble, warm hearted, sensible woman, and none more deserving of tender remembrance. Of such was Lillian Florence Blake, wife of Daniel F. Blake, whose remains were consigned on Sunday to their last resting place at Mount Washington. She was a Marylander by birth and rearing, and sprang from an honorable and ancient family stock. Her father was William P. Rhodes of Frederick county, Maryland; her mother, an Ashley of Accomack county, Virginia, a family well and favorably known in that state for more than a century. She and Mr. Blake were married in Washington, D. C., in 1882, and came to reside in Kansas City in 188X. As wife and matron she was all that heart could wish;  her home a model of neatness and comfort, continually lighted by her warm and cheerful personality that spared nothing to make her devoted husband and friends happy. She was the embodiment of those genial and generous traits that serve to lighten the burdens of life and add to the store of human enjoyment. Her very presence was refreshing; it carried the light of the morning, and animated all about her. In the supreme agony of a fatal malady and the dernier resort of the painful surgical operation, it did not fail her, and to the last her heroic fortitude, her cheerful patience, her abiding hope and trust in the here and the hereafter ceased not until her lovely soul had passed to the Great Creator who gave it. She was a member of the Athenaeum club of this city, many of whose members attended the funeral rites and strewed her grave with beautiful flowers. As these, with the other friends, looked down upon the silent form. "They fain did call to mind with loving thought Some kindly deed the icy had had wrought, Some gentle words the frozen lips had said, Errands on which the willing feet had sped."


The 1910 U. S. Census taken on April 19, 1910, shows Dennis A. Rhodes (age 62) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents is a Grocery Store Retail Merchant who owns his home free of a mortgage and is living at 1220 Main Street, 3rd Ward, City of Independence, Blue Twp., Jackson Co., MO. Living with him is his wife of 32 years, Isabella A. Rhodes (age 57) born in Pennsylvania to Pennsylvania-born parents, with 6 of the 7 children born to her still alive. Also living there are his three unmarried children, all born in Missouri to Pennsylvania-born parents: Gertrude T. Rhodes (age 24), a Public School Teacher; Jeanne R. Rhodes (age 22), a Public School Teacher; and Howard S. Rhodes (age 19).

The 1920 U. S. Census taken on January 6, 1920, shows Daniel  Blake (age 63) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents is a widowed Lawyer on his Own Account who owns his home with a mortgage and is living at 2634 Belfountaine Avenue, 10th Ward, City of Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO.

The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 21, 1930, shows Daniel T. Blake (age 70) born in Ohio to Pennsylvania-born parents has No Occupation is a Lodger and is living at 300-310 E. Ninth Street, 1st Ward, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO.


The Charleston Daily Mail, Charleston, WV, Sunday, September 22, 1929

RONCEVERTE

Daniel Blake left Saturday for his home at Kansas City, after several weeks here with his brother, William B. Blake, Sr.


The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 21, 1930, shows Daniel T. Blake (age 70) born in Ohio to Pennsylvania-born parents, and with No Occupation, is a Lodger, and is living at 300-310 E. Ninth Street, 1st Ward, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO.

Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake died January 28, 1934, in the Fellows Convalescing Home, 27 and Forest Street, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO, at age 79. Buried in Mount Washington Cemetery, Independence, MO.


Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake Death Certificate.


The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO, Monday, January 29, 1934

DANIEL F. BLAKE DIES.

End comes to the First Trustee in Bankruptcy Here at 80.

Daniel Felton Blake, 80 years old, the first trustee in bankruptcy in Kansas City and widely known in the city through his activities in bankruptcy proceedings, died yesterday at the Fellows Convalescent Home, 2641 Forest avenue. He was appointed trustee in 1898 and served until he retired in 1913. He was born September 11, 1854, at West Union in Adams County, Ohio. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday at the Ott & Mitchell chapel, Independence.


The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Jackson Co., MO, Thursday, February 1, 1934

To Captain Blake's Memory.

To The Star: The late Capt. Daniel F. Blake's fifty or more years of modest life in Kansas City present a picture. His kindly, happy but firm personality is a reminder that he who keeps in tune with the finest in the world has not lived in vain. There survives him a good name unstained by scandal and a host of good friends who sincerely mourn his loss. The late Gov. Thomas t. Crittenden, upon his appointment as referee in bankruptcy in 1898 sought Captain Blake as his official trustee because of his sterling honesty, sound judgment and business ability. The captain soon established himself in the confidence of the public and was respected and trusted by lawyers generally. With other referees succeeding Governor Crittenden, I often consulted Captain Blake and benefited by his long experience. Captain Blake continued to be a familiar popular figure in our bankruptcy courts. In the past several years he  lived alone and was possessed of scant income, but upon my visit to him a few days before his death he discussed this philosophically and indicated he felt rich in his memory of a large circle of genuine friends.

ELMER N. POWELL.


Following the death of Daniel Felton "Dan" Blake, his personal effects were disposed of, and much of it was thrown into a heap of trash by the street, to be picked up and eliminated. It is indeed fortunate that a neighbor, James H. Doughty, who was walking home when he saw a notebook lying on a heap of trash by a curb. He picked it up, thinking it might have some unused paper. What he found was a discarded notebook full of poetry and notes written by Burdine Blake. It turns out that James H. Doughty had a nephew, William Rinck, who eventually ended up with the notebook, as well as Doughty's partial compilation of the book.

Here is a small portion of the original pages from the Burdine Blake notebook:


The PDF file of Burdine Blake Jr. first four pages of poems, London, Madison Co., OH, January, 1872.


Here is a segment of the original pages from the Burdine Blake notebook, as transcribed by James H. Doughty, who is not a relative.


The PDF file of a segment of the original pages from the Burdine Blake notebook, as transcribed by James H. Doughty, who is not a Blake relative.


Wednesday, November 20, 2019

To: Leigh Larson

Subject: A notebook kept by Burdine Blake b.1823

At age 85 I am in the same situation as your grandmother Emma. I have very interesting notebook that needs to be passed on to somebody or a historical library. Many decades ago my maternal uncle, James H. Doughty was walking home when he saw a notebook lying on a heap or trash by a curb. He picked it up, thinking it might have some unused paper. What he found was a discarded notebook full of poetry and notes written by Burdine, Blake. This happened before days before the internet. It was my uncle’s impression that he was a mayor of London, Ohio. The notebook mentions local people and community problems which would be of interest to historians. His poetry is very nice also. I am sure some of his descendants would like to see it. My uncle wrote letters but could find no one who wanted them. My uncle lived in 2633 Agnes, Kansas City, MO. Searching the internet I found that Burdine’s youngest son, Daniel Felton Blake, died at a convalescent home at 27th and Forest, KCMO., which is not too far from where away from where my uncle lived. My guess is that my uncle stumbled on Daniel’s personal effect that were being thrown out. Coincidentally, I live about 3 miles from where Daniel Blake is buried. I am enclosing my uncles notes, which are a little rambling, but give a flavor of what is in the book. I am also sending you several pages. 

My plan is to:

  1. Digitize the pages and send them to interested people

  2. Find a home for the book itself before I pass on.  I would prefer a historical library where they won’t be thrown out in a few years.

Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks

William Rinck