William Burdine Blake
William Burdine "Will" Blake was born January 21, 1852, on an Ohio River steamboat somewhere in the vicinity of Ironton, Madison Co., OH, and died December 4, 1938, at home, Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV, at age 86. Buried in Riverview Cemetery, Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV. He is the son of Burdine Blake Jr. of Martinsburg, Bedford (Blair) Co., PA, and Mary Ellen Murray of Shippensburg, Cumberland Co., PA.
Alice Mary Horne was born October 6, 1850, in Mount Solon, Augusta Co., VA, and died March 11, 1942, in Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV, at age 91. Buried in Riverview Cemetery, Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV. She is the daughter of Strother P. Horne of Virginia, and Sarah J. Miller of Virginia.
William Burdine "Will" Blake and Alice Mary Horne were married Sunday, August 24, 1879, in Dayton, Rockingham Co., VA.
William Burdine "Will" Blake and Alice Mary (Horne) Blake had seven children:
TIMELINE
William Burdine "Will" Blake and Alice Mary (Horne) Blake are buried in Riverview Cemetery, Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making these images available.
Bessie Mabel Blake is buried in Dayton Cemetery, Dayton, Rockingham Co., VA. Thanks to Find-A-Grave for making these images available.
The 1850 U. S. Census taken on June 15, 1850, shows Strother Horn (age 27) born in Virginia is a Mill Wright living in District No. 2, Augusta Co., VA. Living with him is Sarah J. Horn (age 24) born in Virginia. Also living there are two Horn children, both born in Virginia: Catherine J. Horn (age 3); and Nancy E. Horn (age 2). Living nearby is Johnathan Horn (age 55) born in Virginia, who is a Mill Wright, along with many other Horn members.
Alice Mary Horne was born October 6, 1850, in Mount Solon, Augusta Co., VA.
William Burdine "Will" Blake was born January 21, 1852, on an Ohio River steamboat somewhere in the vicinity of Ironton, Madison Co., OH.
The 1860 U. S. Census taken on June 2, 1860, shows Burdine Blake (age 37) born in Pennsylvania is a gunsmith living in the Village of London, Madison Co., OH with personal property valued at $150. 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 July 18, 1860, shows S. Horn (age 38) born in Virginia with real estate worth $200 and personal estate worth $120 is a Mill Wright living in North Subdivision, Augusta Co., VA. Living with him is S. J. Horn (age 36) born in Virginia, a female. Also living there are five Horn children, all born in Virginia: C. J. Horn (age 13), a female; N. E. Horn (age 11), a female; M. A. Horn (age 8), a female; J. C. Horn (age 3), a male; and H. M. Horn (age 8/12), a female. Living nearby are many other Horn families.
Name:
Strother Horn
Enlistment Date:
23 March 1862
Distinguished Service:
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
Side Served:
Confederacy
State Served:
Virginia
Unit Numbers:
742 742
Service Record:
Enlisted as a Private on 23 March 1862 Enlisted in Company I, 5th Infantry Regiment Virginia on 23 March 1862. Discharged Company I, 5th Infantry Regiment Virginia on 27 July 1862
Burdine Blake (age 41) enlisted as a Corporal on May 2, 1864. On May 9, 1864, he was in Company I, 154th Infantry Regiment Ohio. He was mustered out of this company on September 1, 1864, in Camp Dennison, OH.
The 1870 U. S. Census taken on June 5, 1870, shows Burdine Blake (age 47) born in Pennsylvania is a gunsmith living in the Village of London, Union Twp., Madison Co., OH with real estate valued at $9,000 and personal property valued at $700. Living with him is his son William Blake (age 18) born in Ohio who is a telegraph operator.
The 1870 U. S. Census taken on April 18, 1870, shows Strother Horn (age 48) born in Virginia with real estate worth $300 and personal estate worth $100 is a Millwright living in District No. 3, Augusta Co., VA. Living with him is Sarah J. Horn (age 45) born in Virginia, who is Keeping House. Also living there are seven Horn children, all born in Virginia: Catherine J. Horn (age 22); Elizabeth Horn (age 20); Mary A. Horn (age 19); John C. Horn (age 13), Without Occupation; Robert Horn (age 8); Jonathan Horn (age 6); and Samuel Horn (age 4). Living nearby is Catharine Horn) age (72) born in Virginia, along with two other Horn members.
The 1880 U. S. Census taken on June 16, 1880, shows William Blake (age 29) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents is living in Dayton, Rockingham Co., VA. Living with him is his wife Alace M. Blake (age 26) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents, who is Keeping House. Also living there is their son Charles S. Blake (age 7/30) May 1.
The 1880 U. S. Census taken on June 8, 1880, shows Strouther Horn (age 56) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents is a Laborer living in North River, District No. 25, Augusta Co., VA. Living with him is his wife, Sarah J. Horn (age 53) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents, who is Housekeeping. Also living there are his five unmarried children, all born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents: Cate J. Horn (age 32); Clark A. Horn (age 22), a female; Robert Horn (age 17); Jonathan Horn (age 14); and Samuel Horn (age 11).
The 1890 West Virginia Veterans Index shows William B. Blake is living in Fort Spring District.
The 1900 U. S. Census taken on June 4, 1900, shows William B. Blake (age 48) born January 1852 in Ohio to Pennsylvania-born parents who owns his own home free of a mortgage is a Newspaper Editor living in the City of Ronceverte, Fort Spring District, Greenbrier Co., WV. Living with him is his wife of 21 years, Allice M. Blake (age 49) born October 1850 in Virginia to Virginia-born parents, with 6 of the 7 children born to her still living. Children living at home, all unmarried and born to Ohio and Virginia-born parents, are: Charles S. Blake (age 20) born May 1880 in Virginia; William B. Blake, Jr. (age 16) born August 1883 in Virginia; Henry St. J. Blake (age 14) born June 1885 in Virginia; Robert R. Blake (age 13) born March 1887 in Virginia; Mary E. Blake (age 11) born February 1889 in West Virginia; and Edmond L. Blake (age 8) born June 1891 in West Virginia.
The 1910 U. S. Census taken on April 22, 1910, shows William B. Blake (age 57) born in Ohio to Pennsylvania and Unknown-born parents who owns his own home free of a mortgage is a Newspaper Editor living in the City of Ronceverte, Fort Spring District, Greenbrier Co., WV. Living with him is his wife of 31 years, Alice M. Blake (age 59) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents, with 6 of the 7 children born to her still living, who is a Dressmaker At Home. Two unmarried children living at home, born to Ohio and Virginia-born parents, are: Russel Blake (age 23) born in Virginia, who is not employed; and Edward Blake (age 18) born in West Virginia,, who is a Typesetter at a Printing Office. Also living there is their married daughter and son-in-law: Mary Cline (age 21) born in West Virginia; and her husband of less than one year, Charles H. Cline (age 25) born in West Virginia to Kentucky and Tennessee-born parents, who is a Salesman for Swift Co.
History of Greenbrier County, J. R. Cole, Lewisburg, WV, 1917
WILLIAM B. BLAKE, JR.
William B. Blake, Jr., was born at Dayton, Rockingham county, Virginia, August 14, 1883. He is a grandson of the late Burdine Blake, of London, Madison county, Ohio, who was a gunsmith by trade and who served in the Civil war in the 154th Ohio Infantry on the Federal side. For many years following the war he was a resident of London, Ohio, but died about eight years ago at Mountain Grove, Mo., at the age of 84 years. His wife was Miss Mary Ellen Murray, who bore him three sons: James F., William B. and Daniel F.
William B. Blake, Sr., was born January 21, 1852, in London, Ohio; went to Virginia in the early 1870s and became connected with the music publishing house of the Ruebush-Kieffer Company, and remaining with this firm until 1889, when he moved to Ronceverte. He married Miss Alice Mary Horne, of Augusta county, Virginia, a daughter of Strother P. and Sarah Home. (Strother P. Horne was a Confederate soldier throughout the Civil war.) To this union were born seven children: Charles Stanley Blake, Bessie Mabel, William B,. Jr.. Henry St. John, Robert Russell, Mary Ellen and Edward Lester. At Ronceverte, Mr. Blake, Sr., associated himself in partnership with J. W. Hess in the publication of the Ronceverte News, a newly-established paper in the new lumber town, buying out the interest of Richard Burke, who had been a prominent figure in West Virginia journalism for a number of years. Burke had been the publisher of a vigorous newspaper at Union, Monroe county. About the year 1891, Mr. Blake bought out the interest of Mr. Hess and became the sole proprietor of the enterprise, changing the name of the paper to the Valley Messenger and News. This publication continued until April 21, 1901. Several years prior to this, in December, 1897, The West Virginia News had been established with Mr. Blake as publisher, and from one newspaper plant two newspapers were issued until April 21, 1901, when the latter publication, which covered a more extensive field, absorbed the Valley Messenger. This consolidation brought to the newer paper the good will of the older and the growth of the West Virginia News has been steady and continuous to this day. At the present time and for a number of years the News has enjoyed a larger circulation than any other weekly newspaper published in the State.
The connection of William B. Blake, Jr., with the publication business established by his father began in early youth, he being active in its affairs from the age of fourteen. On January 1, 1905, the joint partnership of William B. Blake & Son was formed for the ownership, editorial and business management of the paper. This firm continues. The News has its home in its own building, a modern three-story brick and stone structure, virtually fire-proof, erected in 1909, and its plant equipment is modern in every way.
On November 16, 1909, Mr. Blake, Jr., married Miss Lena Lee Edwards. then of St. Louis, Mo., but a native of Belton, Tex., and a daughter of Joseph F. Edwards, of Texas. To this union came three children: William III, Norman Bradbury and Marjorie Alice.
The 1920 U. S. Census taken on January 19, 1920, shows William B. Blake Sr. (age 68) born in Ohio to Pennsylvania-born parents who owns his own home is a Newspaper Editor living in the City of Ronceverte, Fort Spring District, Greenbrier Co., WV. Living with him is his wife, Alice M. Blake (age 69) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents. Child living at home, unmarried, is: Edward L. Blake (age 28) born in West Virginia to Virginia and Ohio-born parents, who is a Newspaper Printer.
The 1920 U. S. Census taken on January 8, 1920, shows Chas. H. Kline (age 35) born in West Virginia to Kentucky and Nebraska-born parents is an Assistant Manager at a Packing Company who rents his home, and is living at 741 North 4th Avenue, Knoxville City, Ward 1, Knoxville, Knox Co., TN. Living with him are: his wife, Mary B. Kline (age 29) born West Virginia to Ohio and Virginia-born parents; and his sons, Chas. H. Kline Jr. (age 9) born West Virginia to West Virginia-born parents.
William Burdine "Will" Blake.
Alice Mary (Horne) Blake, and William Burdine "Will" Blake, ca. 1920. Photo courtesy of Brian Blake.
Edward Lester "Ed" Blake, Alice Mary (Horne) Blake, and William Burdine "Will" Blake, ca. 1920. Photo courtesy of Brian Blake.
William Burdine "Will" Blake and Alice Mary (Horne) Blake with their children, ca. 1921. Photo courtesy of Brian Blake.
Left to right: Lena Blake; Charles S. Blake; Bertha Blake; Wm. B. Blake Jr.; Wm. B. Blake Sr.; Mary (Blake) Kline; Alice M. Blake; Charles Kline; Russel R. Blake; Edward L. Blake; and Henry St. John Blake.
William Burdine "Will" Blake and Alice Mary (Horne) Blake with their grandchildren, ca. 1921. Photo courtesy of Brian Blake.
The Charleston Daily Mail, Charleston, WV, Monday, April 3, 1922
ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED
Mrs. W. A. Porter, of Bradford street, announces the engagement of her daughter, Elizabeth, to Mr. Edward L. Blake, of Ronceverte. The wedding will take place at an early date.
The 1930 U. S. Census taken on April 2, 1930, shows William Blake (age 78) born in Ohio to Pennsylvania-born parents and first married at age 26 is a Printing Printer who owns his own home valued at $3,000 and is living on Main Street, City of Ronceverte, Fort Spring District, Greenbrier Co., WV. Living with him is his wife, Alice Blake (age 79) born in Virginia to Virginia-born parents and first married at age 27.
William Burdine Blake and Alice Mary (Horne) Blake were separated, but never divorced, 1930 - 1938 in Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV.
This document was written about 1937 by William Bradbury Blake profiling his father, William Burdine "Will" Blake. Document courtesy of Brian Blake, 2006.
William Burdine "Will" Blake died December 4, 1938, in Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV, at age 86. Buried in Riverview Cemetery, Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV.
The West Virginia News, Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV, Thursday, December 8, 1938
WILLIAM B. BLAKE SR.
Funeral service for William Burdine Blake, 87, editor-emeritus of the West Virginia News, who died Sunday evening, Dec. 4, 1938, at his home in this city, following an illness of four days of pneumonia, were held Tuesday afternoon at the home of his son, Wm. B. Blake Jr., with the Rev. L. E. Crowson, pastor of the Southern Methodist Church, conducting the brief service. A male quartet composed of Charles N. McWhorter, H. H. Blackburn, Horace Goodman and Frank Zimmerman, of Lewisburg, sang his favorite hymn, "Lead Kindly Light." The appropriateness of this may be found in a sketch of the life of Mr. Blake on page 8, and the reason, as well, for the honor accorded him by American Legionnaires in electing pallbearers and a military escort. The staff of out neighboring newspaper, The Greenbrier Independent, presented a floral piece in the design of "30" - meaning in the parlance of the news room, "the end of the string," or "the end of a take." Comprising the American Legion escort and pallbearers were W. W. Waldrop, P. M. Scott, R. D. Kauffelt, Mark L. Withrow, Frank L. Owen, Fred W. Porter, C. M. Wheelwright, Ccecil Burdette, W. H. Corkrean, D. Spurgeon MacQueen, G. M. Moore, Thomas L. Moss. Burial was in Riverview cemetery here.
The Staunton News-Leader, Staunton, VA, Thursday, December 15, 1938
Dayton, Dec. 14, - William Burdine Blake Sr. died at his home at Ronceverte, W. Va., Dec. 4 after a four-day illness of pneumonia. Born at Ironton, O., Jan. 21, 1852, he enlisted in the Union army in 1864 at the age of twelve years and served the last year of the war as a drummer boy in his father's company in the 154th Ohio infantry. At the close of the war he entered the newspaper field which he made his life work, working for dailies in Springfield, Columbus, and Cincinnati. In 1872, at the age of twenty, he came to Singers Glen and became associated with the Joseph Funk Publishing Co., later known as the Ruebush-Kieffer Co. There he finished his musical education in the music school established by Joseph unk and continued by his sons Timothy, Solomon, and Benjamin. A friendship formed between him and the poet Kieffer and Ephriam Ruebush, resulting in the founding of the Rebush-Kieffer Co., which they moved from Singers Glen to Dayton in 1878. The years from 1872 to 1885 were the prolific years of the literary career of Mr. Blake. He was co-editor with Kieffer, Ruebush, and others of a great number of songbooks, that reached enormous sales. "The Temple Star is one of their outstanding productions and has reached a sale of more than a million copies. "Room At The Cross," words and music by Blake, has been sung around the world. Soon after locating in Dayton, he was united in marriage to Mary Alice Horn, of Augusta county, who survives at the age of ninety. She was of great assistance to him in his literary work and was connected with the Ruebush-Kieffer firm for many years. A great achievement of his life was the adoption of the "character note" system of reading music through the patronage of Blake, Kieffer, and the late J. B. Aiken, of Philadelphia. After the destruction of the Dayton Organ company's plant by fire, Mr. Blake moved to the "boom" town of Ronceverte, W. Va., in 1887, where he spent the last fifty-one years of his life. The same year he became associated with the late J. W. Hess in the publication of the West Virginia News, which has enjoyed the largest circulation of any weekly paper in the state.
Alice Mary (Horne) Blake died March 11, 1942, in Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV, at age 91. Buried in Riverview Cemetery, Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV.
The Staunton News-Leader, Staunton, VA, Friday, March 20, 1942
MRS. W. B. BLAKE SR.
Ronceverte, W. Va., March 19, - Mrs. Alice Mary Horne Blake, widow of William B. Blake Sr., long-time editor of the West Virginia News, died Friday evening, March 13, at her home here. In October last she passed her ninety-first birthday anniversary. She was born Oct. 6, 1850, near Mount Solon, Augusta county, Va., a daughter of the late Strother and Sara Miller Horne. Before her marriage, both she and her husband were connected with the music and book publishing house of Ruebush-Kieffer, & Co., at Dayton, Va., and lived there until 1889, when Mr. Blake disposed of his interests in the concern and they moved to Ronceverte, to become a partner in a newly-established newspaper, the Valley Messenger, which was later merged with with the News, established as a separate paper in 1897 and combined in 1901. Her husband preceded her in death Dec. 4, 1938. Besides the present publishers of this newspaper, William B. Blake Jr. and Edward L. Blake, two other sons and a daughter survive: Charles S. Blake of Somerset, Ky., and Robert Russell Blake of Winston-Salem, N. C., and Mrs. J. Wade Bell, Lewisburg; four grandsons, four granddaughters, and two great-grandchildren also survive. Funeral arrangements were made in accordance with several requests; a brief service for the family and relatives preceded a simple funeral service at the grave in Riverview cemetery at two-thirty o'clock Sunday afternoon. The Rev. W. Carroll Thorn, of the Episcopal Church, read these services. The last seventeen months of her full and worthy life were inactive only because a hip injury limited her to a wheel-chair and bed.
William Burdine Blake, Sr.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Burdine Blake, Sr. (1852-1938) was a music composer and newspaper publisher. He was born January 21, 1852, in London, Ohio. He moved to the area of Dayton, Virginia in the early 1870s. There he worked with the publishing house of the Ruebush-Kieffer Company. Blake remained with Ruebush-Kieffer until 1889. Then he moved to Ronceverte, West Virginia. Here Blake became a partner with J. W. Hess in publishing the Ronceverte News. Circa 1891 Blake purchased Hess' part of the newspaper, and also changed the name to Valley Messenger and News. In December of 1897, William B. Blake formed The West Virginia News. He published both papers until 1901, when the Valley Messenger and News was consolidated into the latter paper. Sons William B., Jr. and Edward L., as well as grandson Norman B., followed Blake in this newspaper endeavor.
William B. Blake, Sr. married Alice Mary Home, of Augusta County, Virginia. They had seven children: Charles Stanley, Bessie Mabel, William Burdine, Jr.. Henry St. John, Robert Russell, Mary Ellen and Edward Lester.
Blake's musical publications include Sweet fields of Eden: for the Sabbath School, with J. H. Tenney and Aldine S. Kieffer (Dayton, VA, 1882); Sabbath Bells: for the Sunday School, and for prayer, praise, and gospel meetings, with A. J. Showalter, B. F. Nysewander and Charles E. Prior (Dayton, VA, 1884); and The Royal Proclamation, edited by Aldine S. Kieffer and Blake (Dayton, VA, 1886). One of Blake's most popular songs was When the Battle's Over, which added the rousing chorus "And when the battle's over, We shall wear a crown! In the new Jerusalem!" to Isaac Watts' "Am I a soldier of the cross".
William Burdine Blake, Sr. died in 1938.
Robert Russell Blake died May 9, 1968, at Lamb's Nursing Home, Clemmons, Forsyth Co., NC, at age 81.
Robert Russell Blake is buried in Forsyth Memorial Park, Forsyth Co., NC.
Mary Ellen (Blake) (Kline) Bell died July 2, 1971, in Greenbrier Valley Hospital, Ronceverte, Greenbrier Co., WV, at age 82. Buried in Rosewood Cemetery, Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co., WV.
Spirit of Jefferson Farmer's Advocate, Thursday, July 8, 1971
MRS. J. WADE BELL, SR.
Funeral services were held on Sunday afternoon in St. James Episcopal Church, Lewisburg, W. Va., by the Rev. David Jones, for Mrs. Mary Blake Kline Bell, 82, if Lewisburg, widow of J. Wade Bell, Sr., Quinwood Coal Operator, who died Friday, July 2, in the Greenbrier Valley Hospital, following an illness of several weeks. Burial was made in the Rosewood Cemetery in Lewisburg. The deceased was one of the last surviving circle of friends of the inventor of Thomas A. Edison and Mrs. Edison. Her real estate enterprises included Sunset Drive in Fairlea, Buckingham Acres in Lewisburg, and a land development in the Ft. Meyers Florida area. Her home in Lewisburg stands on the site of one of the early and historic homes of Lewisburg. The deceased is survived by one step-son, John Wade Bell, Jr., of Lewisburg; two step-daughters - Mrs. R. W. Speas of Rocky Mount, Va.; and Mrs. Sue B. Dean of Alexandria, Va.; one brother, Edward L. Blake, of Summit Point; eight nieces and nephews. She was the daughter of the late William B. Blake, Sr., founder of the West Virginia News of Ronceverte, where she was born and raised. Her only son, Charles H. Kline, Jr., who was associated with the U. S. News and World Report magazine, died several years ago.