RUFUS BLAKELEY
Page 672
RUFUS BLAKELEY
Page 672
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RUFUS BLAKELEY. It is a well established fact that a man of natural ability, if possessed of integrity and energy, can accomplish almost any given purpose in life. Every day furnishes examples of men who commenced their business career empty handed, and in a brief period of time accumulated considerable fortune. Our subject, who is one of the shrewdest and most intelligent agriculturists of Mason County, is one of this class as is shown by the success which has crowned his efforts. His home is on section 8, Killbourne Township, and his real estate comprises eight hundred and thirty-two acres of the very best land. Our subject is a native of this county, having been born in Havana Township, December 15, 1859. He is the eldest son of A. S. and Sarah Jane (Brown) Blakeley, whose sketch will appear on another page in this volume. He attended school mainly dieing the winter months, and the summers were devoted to work on he farm, in which he, as the oldest of the family, bore a prominent part. Young Blakeley remained a home until reaching his majority, when he was married, September 20, 1882, to Miss Sarah J. Drake, also a native of this county, having been born in Topeka Township in 1862. She was the daughter of Piatt and Julia Drake, early settlers and well-to-do farmers of Mason County. Immediately after his removal, Mr. Blakeley located on the old Jones place, which he had purchased in Kilbourne Township, and where he has ever since engaged in farm pursuits. He has been very successful in this vocation, and has been an important factor in the present prosperity of this section of the country, and has accumulated a handsome fortune. To our subject and his estimable wife was born a family of four daughters and two sons, namely: Mabel, deceased; Cora, Oscar, Edith, Daisy and Aaron Scott. Mr. Blakeley has worked hard in the accumulation of his property, and has received valuable aid from his wife, who is a cheerful, capable and willing helpmate. He has always attended strictly to his own affairs, letting other people's business alone, and always gets along well with his neighbors. He is a Republican in politics, and thoroughly identifies himself with whatever will best promote the highest interests of this, his native county, his liberality helping forward many schemes for its improvement, and he is numbered among its most loyal citizens. |