Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-19
ELI w FLAX K.

ELIw BLAKE.
 Death Of one Of Our Ctty's Most
 Venerable And Leading men-A
 Long Life And Honorable-Dfstin
 guished As An Inventor-Respected
 For His Worth And High Charac-
 ter.
 Mir. Eli Whitney Blake passed away yes- terday morning at o'clock surrounded by his family, at his residence on Elm street, in the ninety ty-second year of his age. The following obituary which was prepared ex- pressly for the COURIER and appeared in yesterdays Register with our consent, gives full resume of the principal events in the long and honorable life of the deceased and pays modest but just tribute to his genuine and marked abilities in various fields of use- fitness:
 Eli Whitney Blake was born January 27, 1795, at Westboro, Mass. He graduated at Yale college in 1916. He intended to enter the legal profession and studied law in the then famous school of Judge Gould at Litch- field, Conn.,, but gave up that purpose at the request of his uncle, Eli Whitney, who desired his assistance in erecting and organ izing the gun factory works at Whitneyvllle. After the death of MT. Whitney in 1895, Mr.
 
 Blake) carried on the business until 1886, when they joined their brother, John A. Blake, in forming the partnership firm of Blake Bro- thers and established at Westville manu- factory of door locks and latches ot thelr own invention. This business was afterward extended to include other articles of hard ware, such as casters, hinges, etc., most of which were covered by patent. In this branch,of manufacture Blake Brothers were among the pioneers in this country and long held the front rank. It is not too much to say that the ideas which they originated still characterize the forms of American locks, latches, casters, hinges and other articles of house furnishing hardware wherever wanu- factured, and are the foundation of their acknowledged superiority.
 In the year 1859 MT. Blake was appointed on committee to superintend the macadam- izing of Whalley avenue and his attention was thus directed to the great want of ma chine for breaking stone into fragments of a nearly uniform size suitable for road making The problem was a very old one, but no sue cessful solution had ever been effected. MT. Blake devoted himself to it's study for nearly five years and in 1857 produced and patented the ''Blake stone breaker" which for origin ality, simplicity and effectiveness has just ly been regarded by experts as almost unique. It has since come into gene ral use in all parts of the world for road making and for mining purposes and has introduced new era into both depart ments of industry. It's value directly and indirectly as a labor saving and wealth = creating agency can hardly be over-estimated. The occurrence of the civil war, however, which retarded it's introduction, and subse- quent competition by infringers of the pat ent, greatly interfered with the profits that the inventor should have realized, and the pecuniary reward which MT. Blake reaped from this and his other inventions amounted in the end to only moderate competence. Mr. Blake's abilities and requirements in the field of mathematical and physical science were of high order, and he contrib uted many valuable papers to scientific jour nals on various subjects. Several of the most important of these which had been re- gently published in the American Journal of Science together with some additions of a late date were collected by him in 1882 and printed together in small volume entitled F'Original Solutions of Several Problems in Aerodynamics. These papers, which were the result of original research and experi- ment, treat of the laws which govern the flow of elastic fluids through orifce; the pro- pagation of pulses in elastic media: the mode of expansion of elastic fluids; and the velocity and transmission of sound. The final paper aud perhaps the most elaborate of all, covering many printed pages of close scientific and mathematical discussion, was written by him when far advanced in his eighty-seventh year. The originality and value of MT. Blake's investigations in this and other subjects, and also his ability and general merit as physicist were recognized by scientific authorities at home and abroad and drew from his alma mater, Yale, in 1879, the honorary degree of l. l.. D. He was one of the founders and for several years the president of the Connecticut Academy of Science
 In 1891 Mir. Blake united with the Center church, and for over sixty-fve years was identified with it's growth and prosperity. In 1922 he married Miss Eliza O'Brien of New Haven, whose self sacrificing fidelity and devotion in all the relations of wife and mother brought unbroken domestic happi ness to him and his household until her death in 1876 Seven of their children sur vive him. Few men have more worthily enjoyed the reverence and affection of their families and friends and to few have these been rendered in larger measure. His name was synonymous with integrity. His benev- olence was like fountain, active, spontane- ous and overhowing. The poor were always in his thoughts. He was considerate and liberal as we'll as just in all business transac- tions. He took a deep interest in public of civil and social progress and virtue. The later years of his life were spent in peaceful retirement in the midst of his family circle attended 'by all that should ac- company old age, as honor, love, obedience, troops of friends" In that quiet retreat his mind in it's strength and serenity difused perpetual sunshine. Men of intellect and culture sought him to enjoy the wit and wis dom of his conversation. Little children, whom he dearly loved, delighted to throng about him; and none could enter that benig- nant presence without feeling how truly ''the hoary head is 8 crown of glory, when it is found in the way of righteousness.