John BLAKLEY Sr. was born John BLAKEY on June 21, 1871 with his twin brother, Andrew Blakey. They were born on Hew Davis Plantation in Woodville, Mississippi.

Andrew and their mother, Martha Scott Blakey passed in 1871. John's father, Isaac Blakey a.k.a. Isaac WHITE, an Ex-slave and Civil War MS Union Veteran' enlisted as Private Isaac BLAKER. .

Isaac later remarried and John was raised by his stepmother Rachel (JACKSON /Leftridge) BLAKEY..
She was the mother of 18 children: Mary, Charity, Isaac, Jordan, Julia, Frances, Henry, Beecher, Spencer, Lillie, Martha, Joe, Rosa , Edna, Ollie, Lawhorn, Annie and Archie..

Throughout John's lifetime, he worked varies jobs as a grader and perhaps other jobs to support his family. On July 28, 1902, he was married with the and of John Blakye. His bride was listed as Jennie Bartle. The surnames were misspelled. .

At some point, John changed his last name to BLAKLEY between 1902 - 1909. Oral history has it that there were many John Blakeys. This brought confusion.

It was some time during the mid teens, John became very sick. He was planning to move to Yankton S.D were some of his siblings resided.

John made the journey to Yankton S.D. He was trying to find a house here his family could live. He couldn't find a house.

Sadly to say, John didn't get to make that trip back to St. Joseph, Missouri. His journey had ended on July 10, 1918.

He passed in a covered wagon. He was staying with his brother, Henry Blakey.

John was buried in Yanton, SD with the BLAKEY surname. As for Jennie, she was told of John's death through a letter by her sister in law L. Mary (Kinney) Blakey..

Jennie was ask to come to Yankton. South Dakota. She decided to stay with her family, siblings and friends in St. Joseph.

John was the father of 12 children. Seven children were living at the time of his death.
----------------------------------.
10 July 2019
Info by Susan Ann Blakley