East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-11-25
CAPT. BLAKELY
100 YEARS OLD
BIRTHDAY IS TOMORROW
Pioneer to Celebrate in Midst OF Sew
cral Generations OF Children-Was
born In 1912 In Tennessee-Local
Relatives Leave to BE Present on
Birthday.

To attend the celebration Of the
one hundredth anniversary of the
birth of his father William NJ. Blake
ly, accompanied by his wife, left yes
terday on No. II for Brownsville
where the centenarian, Captain
James Blakely has lived Tor more
than a half century. Deputy Sheriff
Joe Blakely. another son of the aged
pioneer, left last week for his fathers
home.
Captain Blakely has nine children
yet livi4g and eight of these will be
with him on his Tooth birthday, which
is tomorrow. Besides the two sons
who live in this city, he has three
others, Henry Blakely of Browns
vile, George Blakely of The Dalles,
and James Blakely, Jr., of Wallowa.
His four living daughters are Mrs.
Kate Lewis of Portland, Mrs. Harriet
Cooley of Brownsville, Mrs. Margaret
Smith of Blackfoot, Idaho, and Mrs.
Sarah Mcfarland Of Brownsville. Mrs.
Smith is the one child who will not
be present at the centennial. the sick
ness of one of her children prevent
ing 1t.
Captain Blakely's other descend
ants are legion, he having large
number of grand children and great
grandchildren and four great-great-
grandchildren. In this city, besides
his two sons, he has four grandchil-
dren, Mrs. Sam Il. Thompson, Nadine
and Archibald Blakely and Mrs. Will
liam Stillwell. and five great-grand-
children, Carl Cooley, Mrs. Merle II.
Chessman, Miss Thelma Thompson,
Beryl and Paul Stillwell.
Captain Blakely was born near
Knoxville. Tenn, on November 26,
1912, the year in which his country
was involved in the second war with
Great Britain. In 1898 with an un-
Gle, Hugh l.. Brown, he built flat
boat and transported his belongings
up the Mississippi river to Missouri
where he lived until 1916 when he
and the same uncle and the three chill
dren which he then had crossed the
plains to Oregon. He took up do
nation claim at Brownsville and is
living today, &C years from the date
he took IL, upon the same place
though part of it has since been ia
ken for the townsite of Brownsville
In 1856 he participated in the Rogue
River Indian war, being the captain
of a company raised near his home
His wife, who was Miss Sarah Dick
and whom he married when he was
- years old, died % years ago.
Until last winter the aged pioneer
had enjoyed splendid health and dur
ing the century of his lifetime has
been consistent abstainer from IL
quor or tobacco in any form, to which
he attributes his longevity. He has
been a church member since his early
DAYS and his one boast is that no man
or woman ever heard foul oath pass
his lips.
Captain Blakely has visited in Pen
dleton several times. In his 9Sth
year he made trip overland by au'
to from Pendleton to Wallowa and
shortly before his 99th year attended
the Roundup on each of the three
days Last winter he became i'll anC
for the first time in his life, was un'
able to take care of himself. The
thought that he is a burden to 9th
ers has weighed upon him and vii
probably prevent him from ever re
gaining his former good health.