Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-26
Death Of DIR. John B. Blake.

IT'S UNEXPECTED OCCURRENCE THIS MORNING
SKETCH OF THE DECEASED.
DR.. John B. Blake, whose illness has been noted
in THE STAR, died this morning at 10 o'clock, at his
residence, No. 511 4th street. Death came very
unexpectedly, as ne appeared early to-day to be
conyaleseing rapidly, and in unusually good
walked about his room, and breaKfasted with
members % OF his household, and when his physician
ca eaed talked ssowea sign
planned OF his heart, and lying down soon ex-
pired. He had, however, time to say to some OF
his attendants that he was not afraid to die and
had lived out the years allotted to man. The i'll
ness which had confined him to his house was an
anection of the kidneys, but death is attributed to
DIR. Blake was son of James Fl. Blake, who was
mayor OF Washington under the administration of
chester Fairfax county, va, When hem PresIdemt @ lent
Madison was inaugurated. Dr. Blake was born at
Colchester on August 18th, 1sO0 and was therefore
ton at Charlotte Hall Academy, st. Marys county,
Nd, ana at georgetown college, where he gradu-
ated; he studied and graduated in medicine at the
University OF Maryland, in Baltimore Returning
TO Washington he practiced with the late DIR. Wm
Jones for some years. Being sterling democrat,
or The Old school on the election of Gen. jackson to
the presidency, he received an appointment at his
hands to clerkship In the Office Of register OF the
Treasury Treasury This position he filled until 1855, when
PRESIDENT Pierce appointed him to the office of
commissioner of public buildings, where he re-
mained until Mr.. Lincolns administration in 1861.
director of the National Metropolitan Bank with With
which his father had been connected before him
For he 3as as sfn for
Ser 81 sae d Of WGr and for time
ment association. For the past few years he was
president Of the Metropolitan Fire Insurance
company: DR.. Blake has been a communicant OF
and was for many years one of the vestry His
M1ie WI died ,,d many years ago. and he leaves son,
GeOrgetown-Mrs Gordon Is now the only survivor
OF family OF IL children.
40 great part OF the energies OF Dr. Blake's long
ument, and he lived to see the patriotic enterprise
SO long neglected taken up again by the people
credit for the resumption Of the work is due to him
In DR.. Blakes death the District mOurns one OF
its Oldest inhabitants and most honored citizens.
came from the consciousness OF an upright and
useful life. Though years enfeebled his limbs and
men awys fon6 neasre IN ni his eom
partnership His figure has been familiar on
the streets Of the city for years. No one had
the grandfathers OF the young men who thrOng
the streets to-day, and wa was loved by them His
and national interest. For more than half a cen
tury he watched passing events and he could relate
anecdotes touching every period Of our city's his
Old men Of the city has been testified by his long
continuance in the O1ce OF president OF the Oldest
to o6 Sde 81 es
regard for the past. DR.. Blake, while contrib
utng to the fullest measure to this object OF the
society, has never been neglectful OF the pres
ent, for few men could be found better
posted on the current affairs OF the world:
He took pardonable pride in his Office OF
president OF the Oldest Inhabitants Society. With
the late Maj. Thomas DonOhO, and few Others, he
founded the Oldest Inhabitants Association. The
late Benjamin Ogle Tayoe was its first president,
ana upon his death Dr. Blake was elected to the
presidency. The funeral will take place from
Trinity Church on Friday next, and the interment
Will be In Oak Hill cemetery.
~
THE VACANCY IN THE PATENT OFFICE OF a prin-
cipal examinership caused by the resignation of
MT. Geo. r. Fisher win be filled In q day or two
The report Is that the present chief clerk Malcolm
SeatOn, VIII receive TIE appointment There was
competitive examination for the place, in which
there were fourteen contestants. Mr.. SeatOn, how
ever, was not q competitor.
FRIGHTFuL BOILER ExpL0sI0N.-A boiler at Pin.
neo Daniels hub and spoke factory, at Dayton,
Ohio, exploded yesterday afternoon, tearing down
the south wing OF the building and bufying a
number OF w0rkmen In the ruins. A brick dew
fINo fOI1o oI,sv