Posted on: BLAKESLEY Biographies Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/surnames/b/l/BLAKESLEY/biographies/10002 Surname: Blakesley, Crouch, Westcott ------------------------- Willard John Blakesley, son of John B. Blakesley and Aseneth (Crouch) Blakesley was born on July 24, 1857 at Ridgefield, Illinois in Mc Henry County. He and his brother, Barney traveled to Douglas County, Minnesota in 1878 from Woodstock, Illinois, and 18 day trip by horse and wagon. They brought horses to sell and on a later trip, brought Jersey cattle. Willard married Jessie May Westcott on October 1, 1891 at Alexandria, Minnesota. Willard and Jessie lived on a farm in Lake Mary Township, Douglas County until 1902, when they purchased 20 acres of lake front property on Lake Andrew. They built a winter home back off the lake and several cottages for summer tourists, thus becoming the first resort on Lake Andrew (Blakesley's Resort.) Their operation of the resort lasted until 1928, when their daughter Agnes and her husband Bernard Rooney joined the operation until 1946. The cottages had big screened porches overlooking the lake and used lamps and candles for light. Each morning water was dipped out of the lake and taken to each cabin, where it was placed in china bowls, for tourists to wash with. The tourists traveled to Alexandria by train, and then by cab to the Blakesley's Resort. The Blakesley's then went to Alexandria with the horses and wagon to fetch their trunks and luggage. The tourists usually stayed a month or two or all summer. Willard had many interests. He used the knowledge he had gained from helping his father a veterinarian in Illinois, to help neighbors care for their sick and injured livestock. The race horses he kept in harness races at nearby fairs. He trapped and tanned furs, did taxidermist work. As a hobby he raised unusual plants, birds and animals including peacocks, guinea hens, Chinese peasants, miniature ducks, foxes and wolves. Willard John Blakesley passed away on April 19, 1946, and his wife Jessie May on January 4, 1955.