The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-04-20
CAPTAIN J. T. BLAKE.
Death ofs Gorhsm. BOY who Had a
Successful Life Tn the West.


Capt. John 4. Blake snative OF Cor
ham. Me-, and = well-known citizen Of
Kansas City, Mo-, died at his home on
April ID. He had been afflicted with tu.
berculosis for some time. lie was 60 years
IF age. Capt Blake was educated in the
schools of Maine. and left his home at
the age of IL for vinton county. D. Later
be completed his education at Milton
college In Wisconsin. In the early part of
1851 he went to Missouri and located at
Independence. 1t was there that he en-
tered the service of the overland mall
company and during his connection with
that company he crossed the plains from
Independence to Santa Fs, N. NJ, more
than 40 times. This trip consumed 40
days and Capt. Blake had many advsn-
lures with Indians.
In 1860 Capt Blake was the Republican
candidate for sheriff of jackson county
and in spite of his views on the question
of slavery was defeated by only an incon-
siderable majority. ny old politicians
IL is said he was the first Republican
candidate for office In jackson county.
At the outbreak of the Civil war he
was In New Mexico and on his return
to Missouri, in December, 1861, he Joined
the federal forcss. He recruited in the
country districts and raised a company
which was consolidated with Company
u of the second battalion of the Missouri
state militia. During the winter Of 1851
90 he was stationed at Kansas City and
made numerous scouting expeditions into
the surrounding country in search Of re-
cruits and to harrass the enemy. At the
battle of Independence, August IL, 1862,
although only q non-comInissioned
officer, he had charge of "A men, whom
he had led into the thiokest of the fray.
Capt. Blake was wounded and taken
prisoner, but was placed ON parole by the
guerilla chieftain. w. q. Quantrell. This
parole was not at all binding, as Guam
trell had no commission and no recog-
nized authority. After recovering from
his wounds, he raised company of 100
men and entered the service as captain
of Co. l, Sixth Kansas cavalry. This
company was mustered into service at
Fort Leavenworth In 1853. He served
through numerous engagements and at
the end of the war was offered a commits
sion in the regular army by Secretary
Stanton, but declined 1t.
In 1866 Capt. Blake returned to Kansas
City and entered the field of politics.
He was chairman of the Republican
central committee for several years. At
forwards he engaged in securing con-
tracts for furnishing supplies for the
quartermaster department of the regu-
lar army and was also engaged in mer
chandizing in Colorado. He was a men,
Der of the Republican state central COM
mittee from Colorado from 1878 to 1881
and was well-known In that state.
In 1896 he went to Honolulu in quest
of health, and was somewhat improved
by the trip. His anxiety to get home
again led him to out his visit short and
he failed. rapidly after his return.
Capt. Blake was married to Annie l..
Maxwell in 1866. Mrs. Blake died in
Kansas city in 1881, leaving five chill
dren, four sons and daughter, all Of
whom are residents Of Kansas City and
who we've with their father when he died.
Capt. Blake was the owner Of several
pieces OF property besides
having considerable holdings in Colorado
and Arizona. The value OF his estate is
between $500, 900 aud $780, 600.