Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-06-13
DEATH OF THE HON. JOHN II. BLAKE.

1t becomes our painful duty to an
nounce the death of another of the early
residents of Brattleboro. The Hon. John
r. Blake died in Boston, Mass, on the 9th
of June 1878, aged seventy-nine years and
four months. Funeral services were held
in he church of the Rev. Rufus Ellis on
the 9Th of June and on the day following
the body was brought to Brattleboro by the
only son of the deceased, DR.. John Ellis
Blake OF New York, and deposited in our
village cemetery, where prayers were said
by the Rev. Mr.. Jenkins.
The deceased was born in Brattleboro on
the Sd day of February, 1893. He was
son of J. w. Blake, lawyer of distinction
and a gentleman of wealth, education and
polished manners, who moved TO this part
Of Vermont at an early period of its settle
ment, from Worcester, Massachusetts. He
at one time resided in Guilford; was the
owner of a large tract of land in and near
this will age, which then consisted of few
stra ggling houses, and he took an active
part in the political affairs of the State, be-
ing one OF its earliest representatives. His
name ccurs in the early records of south.
ern Vermont, as one of its most prominent
citizens. But at the closing period of his
life, becoming reduced in circumstances,
his son, John r. Blake, was taken from
school and compelled TO 60 into business,
and commence the battle with the world as
poor boy at a very early age. His first
experience as a trader was with the Indi-
ans at Onondaga, New York, now SYRIA
cuse, which was then considered far west,
being tax en- from school at Deerfield, Mass,
and sent there to begin life.
Returning to Vermont, he soon entered
upon an extensive business as merchant.
In company with Francis Goodhue, and al
so with Grindal r. Ellis, whose daughter he
married, he carried on an extensive trade
with II artford, Connecticut, shipping hors-
es, cattle and other produce by the river,
and rec ewing back West India and other
goods. Among his traits of character was
great fondness for fine stock, for horses
and ca tile. A picture of one OF his favor
lite horses, done by Fisher, the distinguish
ed New England painter, is still in possess
sion of his family. In the days of staging
he took an interest in stage lines, and es-
pecially in seeing them supplied with fine
horses and he exercised a leading infiu-
ence in promoting the construction of the
Vermont and Massachusetts railroad, which
connecte ed the village with Boston by steam
communication. He also took an active
interest in establishing the old Brattleboro
bank, OF which he was for long time one
of the directors. His financial abilities
were solid and comprehensive.
During the times when the militia was
maintained on respectable footing, he
served as aide de-camp to Gen. Mann; and
in subsequent years he sat for several terms
in the Legislature, both as representative of
his town, and as senator. His career as
legislator was marked for his usual bust
ness-like practical ability, and may be said
to have been distinguished by his frank
decided opposition to the Maine liquor law,
so called, which he believed impolitic, and
for an eulogy pronounced on the death of
Daniel Webster.
But what may best serve TO show his
frank and manly devotion TO the interests
of republican government, was tho part
which he took IN anti-masonic times against
the institution of Masonry. Although a
mason, yet not approving of the principles
of the fraternity when his attention was
called to its unrepublican character, togeth-
er with other Masons, he called meeting
of members of the lodge at Fayetteville,
to assemble on the Goth day of November,
1884, to act on the subject of Masonry.
Among the resolutions adopted at that
meeting was one which reads as follows. {:
"ReSoived, That we most cordially unite
with similar conventions heretofore holden
in several counties in this State, in recon-
mending to all the lodges and chapters in
said State, who have not already surren-
dered, to surrender their charters, and TO all
Masons throughout the country, especially
in the State of Vermont, to abandon the In
stitution."
This creditable fact In the history of his
| life exhibits a strong trait of his character.
He was worthy son OF the times in which
he lived, free, in depondent, acting on his
own convictions of right, and one whom
no amount of money or other inducement
would cause to deviate from his own strict.
Just sense of duty. 1t was this Integrity
and stability OF character that secured to
his business efforts the confidence Of friends
aud the result of an ample fortune.
| Leaving Brattleboro for Boston about the