There are not many people in the entire country, not to mention this locality, who live to celebrate their 64th Wedding Anniversary. It is for Mr. and Mrs. John A. Blakely of Platteville to be parties to such a distinctive anniversary. It was 64 years ago that they plighted their troth, and all those 64 years they have lived in this locality among their family and friends and are today the fine specimens of sturdy stock and good living. They have seen changes of the past three score years together and have been blessed with splendid health, a devoted family, and enough of the world's goods to carry them through life most comfortably. Mr. Blakely is 84 years of age and his wife is not far behind him in years. She is the last survivor of a family of ten children. Mr. Blakely is the only surviving member of the G.A.R. Post who has been able to attend its meetings with regularity the past few years. He and Mr. Youmans are the last, spry ones now living. Mr. Blakely has held offices of trust in his former town - Chairman of the Town of Harrison - and was a director in the school district for 20 years. He has been honored with the highest offices in the Post in Platteville Mr. and Mrs. Blakely were the parents of six children, three of whom are living. Mrs. Ernest Jentz, their daughter in Platteville prepared a wonderful anniversary dinner for them on Sunday and Glendora of Bloomington, Illinois was here for the occasion. Lillian of Milwaukee was unable to attend. Friends extend hearty congratulations to this worthy couple on such an auspicious event. Letters cards, flowers, cakes, and other mementos signified the esteem in which Mr. and Mrs. Blakely are held. The Journal is joined by countless friends in wishing more years of joy to this distinguished pair. - Platteville Journal. From the pen of Mr. Blakely himself Friend Henry, It has been a long time since I have anything of you, but hear of your being in this neck of the woods quite often. It pains me today to read in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald the passing of my old comrade and friend J. F. Heberlein, whom I had not seen since last fall. He was a frequent and well liked comrade of our G.A.R., when he used to visit our post when at his daughter's here, in years gone by, and the relatives have the sympathy of the few remaining G.A.R. comrades of this place. We have six of the old boys left here but four of them are confined their beds and homes by one thing or another, only two that get around much, Christian Schroeder the oldest member, 92 in June, and myself, in my 85th year and the youngest of a Post that once boasted 265 members. Such is life and shows that time is passing and we have passed our usefulness and must give way for the younger generation. But Henry, me and my good wife passed another milestone in our travels through life when 64 years ago on April 26th, 1868 we tied a knot with our tongues that we have never been able to untie with our teeth, although there have been many changes to us in that length of time, and we have seen many changes. Our daughter, Mrs. Ernest Jentz, gave us a splendid repast last Sunday for our anniversary, which was enjoyed by all. Our daughter Glendora, head of the City Nurses at Bloomington, Illinois, was here for the occasion but our daughter Lillian of Milwaukee was not able to be with us. We spent the day quietly at home, I not being well. We received some nice presents and a good many surprises, as we received 13 letters and cards from second cousins I never knew existed and they were well scattered in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Louisiana. This was all brought about by a Miss McLaughlin of Henderson, Kentucky, who sent us a large Anniversary cake, which was awful nice and came in good shape. I never knew there was such a person living until October last year. She is my second cousin and is collecting data on the Endicott family and has traced them back to Governor John Endicott, first Governor of Salem, Massachusetts, to me at Platteville. It happened through my writing the War department Washington for some dates on my Great-grandfather, Moses Endicott, who served in the Revolutionary war. A woman from Massachusetts who gathers those dates, was hunting up some data at the War Department and ran across my name and what I was looking for, and set down and wrote me where I could find all I wanted to know. The Endicotts (Note for clarity: MOSES- Jeff) came to Kentucky from North Carolina in 1786 with Daniel Boone as leader of the colony that settled in and around Harding County, and where my grandfather, John A. Endicott was born in 1789, and where he enlisted in Colonel Richard Johnson's regiment of mounted infantry and went up to Canada where fought in the Battle of the Thames, with the British and their allied Indians. Colonel Johnson was the man who killed the noted Indian Chief, "Tecumseh". My grandfather said it happened this way: Colonel Johnson had his horse shot under him and falling caught his leg under it. Tecumseh, seeing his plight and thinking to get an easy scalp, rushed out to get it, but he did not know the boys from Old Kentucky. The Colonel drew his dragoon pistol out of his saddle holster and shot him dead. My Grandfather and his brother Joseph Endicott, were both in the War of 1812, and my Great-great grandfather, Moses Endicott, and his father in the revolutionary war, so you see, I come from a family of warriors. So watch your step and don't dodge me all the time, but call in and see if I look natural. John A. Blakely Platteville, Wisconsin, May 1, 1932 --

Hi, Please go to this site for more information concerning the discrepancies around the death of the great Indian warrior and chief, Tecumseh. http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Cove/8286/tdeath.html Daniel Paxton > > > The Endicotts (Note for clarity: MOSES- Jeff) came to Kentucky from > North Carolina in 1786 with Daniel Boone as leader of the colony that > settled in and around Harding County, and where my grandfather, John A. > Endicott was born in 1789, and where he enlisted in Colonel Richard > Johnson's regiment of mounted infantry and went up to Canada where > fought in the Battle of the Thames, with the British and their allied > Indians. Colonel Johnson was the man who killed the noted Indian Chief, > "Tecumseh". > > > > My grandfather said it happened this way: Colonel Johnson had his horse > shot under him and falling caught his leg under it. Tecumseh, seeing his > plight and thinking to get an easy scalp, rushed out to get it, but he > did not know the boys from Old Kentucky. The Colonel drew his dragoon > pistol out of his saddle holster and shot him dead. My Grandfather and > his brother Joseph Endicott, were both in the War of 1812, and my > Great-great grandfather, Moses Endicott, and his father in the > revolutionary war, so you see, I come from a family of warriors. So > watch your step and don't dodge me all the time, but call in and see if > I look natural. > > > > John A. Blakely > > Platteville, Wisconsin, May 1, 1932