The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-09-20
B. (, BLAKE

Bensley Edwin Blake was born
at Landau, New Hampshire, Decem-
Der 23, 1888, and died at his late
home in Liberal, September, IL,
1912.
For a quarter of a century Mr..
Blake had been in this southwest
territory and his acquaintance and
friendship extends to the farthest
corner of the country which is known
and considered this southwestern
section.
1t was in the early days of 1868
that he came to Kansas and immed-
lately enlisted in the 18th Kansas
cavalry and served six months. His
company escorted supply train
from FIT. Hays through the Indian
territory to Ft Cobb, Texas. A lit
tie later he took a claim in Mitchell
county, then lived in Hodgeman and
Greenwood counties. He bought
land south of Liberal, near the state
line in the year of 1887 and engaged
in stock farming.
From the day that the schooner
of the prairie conveying the Blakes
arrived on the tract of land which
b. e. Blake had purcnaseu, they be-
came one of the important history
makers OF the west Mr.. Blake
studied the climatic conditions and
the success that attended him tells
the story of how we'll he discovered
the conditions peculiar to this sec
ton. He was among the first OF
the farmers to discover that this
country was the melon paradise of the
world and he went into the business
of raising watermelon seed for the
eastern seed houses on large scale.
One year, 1t Is related that he and
his sons put 225 acres to watermel-
ons and the crop yielded 5000
pounds, which sold for about $4,000.
Mr.. Blake had been on the plains Of
Kansas for over forty years and his
experience will make a huge volume
OF interesting stories. He has often
claimed the distinction of being in
the state longer than any other DEM
ocrat and it had never been disputed,
He entered business life in Liberal
in the early sos, and until last
spring was identified with the B. Il,
Blake & Son Hardware Mfg. Co.
The deceased was united in mar
riage with Miss Christine Mcleod
in 1855, who preceded him to the
future world five years, passing away
June 23, 1907. To this union was
born bour children, three boys and
one girl, all living at or near Lib
eral.
Mr.. Blake was a loyal and enter
prising citizen, kind and loving
father, faithful husband, thought
full and obligng neighbor. He
rests from his labors and his works
do follow him."
In June, 1909, Mr.. Blake was
married to Mrs. Anne Bryant, who
survives him.
The funeral services were held at
the residence September IL, 1912,
at four o'clock p. m, and conducted
by Rev. Fl. G. Bond pastor of the
Christian Church and assisted by the
Rev. McQuerry, pastor of the Bap-
tist Church. The deceased became
member of the Baptist Church in the
year of 1875.
There is such thing as communi-
ty of interest between the merchant
and his customers-betwee the peO-
Pile of the town and the country
between one human being and his
human neighbor. and neither can be
exploited without a reflex upon the
entire community. We are trying
to build up a farming community,
often under adverse conditions, and
the greater the benefit extended to
the inhabitants and workers, the
larger will be the measure of sue
cess to all.
The pail bearers we're selected by
members and employers of the old
Blake firm and are as follows; o. P.
f. e. Bradley, E. j. Stuts
man, Arthur Prater, Joseph Buckland
and John @. Nuss.
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