Spouse:
Florence Emery (married on August 26, 1867)
Children:
Three children (No children during his House service): Jane (died at 5 months old), Lulu Alice, and Florence Elsie (daughters)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Toensing, The Fifteenth Legislature of Minnesota: Biographical Sketches, 1873; and his obituary in the Lyon County News on May 22, 1903 list his birth year as 1840. The Owl, Wing Family; and A Historical and Genealogical Register of John Wing, of Sandwich, Mass., and His Descendants, 1662-1881 list 1839. The 1850 census of Sauk County Wisconsin lists John Blake as 10 years old.
He came to Minnesota in 1871. He moved to Marshall, Minnesota in 1872.
He was one of the founders of Marshall, Minnesota.
His party affiliation when first elected was provided by The Fifteenth Legislature of Minnesota: Biographical Sketches, 1873.
"In July, 1879 a windmill constructed by Major Blake for his grist mill begin operation. It was a massive structure. The blades were 40 feet across and could be seen 12 miles from Marshall. This windmill was the largest windmill in Minnesota." (Lyon County News, July 23, 1879)
He was a direct descendant of Edward A. Winslow, the Governor of Plymouth Colony.
He died in Dalton, Georgia and was buried in Marshall, Minnesota.
Birth place, birth county, birth year discrepancies, middle name, family data, military service details, city founder, secondary education, death date, death location, and burial location provided by a Researcher at Southwest University History Center.
Religion provided by a Researcher at Southwest University History Center.