Posted on: BLAKESLEY Biographies Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/surnames/b/l/BLAKESLEY/biographies/10008 Surname: Blakeslee, Blakesley, Crouch, Ward ------------------------- John B. Blakesley, (son of John and Nancy (Ward) Blakeslee or Blakesley) was born November 1, 1823 and came west from Meadville, Crawford County, Pennsylvania in 1841 and settled in McHenry County, Illinois. He purchased a farm near Crystal Lake, Illinois obtaining the deed for the same from the government. The deed bears the signature of Zachary Taylor, who was President of the United States at the time the purchase was made. The farm had never changed ownership since the purchase from the government and was owned by John B. Blakesley at the time of his death on September 27, 1910. John B. Blakesley was never allied with any religious denominations. He was a member of the Calvary Commandery of Woodstock, Illinois. (Elgin News, September 28, 1910, page 3) Crystal Lake Herald Newspaper, October 3, 1910 Obituary John B. Blakesley, age 86 yrs., 10 mos, and 27 days died at the home of his son Otis, in Elgin Tuesday evening. He lived most of his life on the farm near Crystal Lake, but had been with his son in Elgin the last 9 years. Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763 - 1900 BLAKESLEY, J B ASENETH COUCH, MC HENRY CO. 07/12/1846 A/ 9 375