Isaac Blakey was born in 1845 in Howard County, Missouri. He the son of Andrew White and Julia (Finney) White. They were from Virginia. Isaac was rise as the enslaved in Missouri and was separated from his family between 1858 to 1861. It was about the time in 1861 when Isaac and his mother were sold and they went south. Oral history states that Isaac ran away to join the Civil War.

It was on Sunday, Nov 1, 1863, Isaac, at the age of about 16, enlisted as Private Isaac Blaker in Natchez, Mississippi. He was stationed in Natchez, Mississippi with Company H. Regiment 2, 5. and 6, US Colored Heavy Artillery. It was during the Spring on 1864, Isaac was accidently wounded to his leg by a bayonet. His wound was a running sore since that day. He was honorable discharged on Sunday, May 13, 1866.

Isaac had stories about his freedom years from slavery and of his time serving in the Civil War. Later in his teen years he became a free man in which he lived out for at least 54 years.

After the war, Isaac remained in Mississippi where he met his first wife, Martha Scott who was from Mississippi. They later married on Sunday, February 13, 1870 in Wilkinson County, Mississippi. To this union, they had twin sons born on Wednesday, June 21, 1871 in Woodville, Mississippi. Martha and her son, Andrew passed in June of 1871 on Hew Davis Plantation. Isaac was left to raise his son, John.

Isaac met Rachael Lefew (Lephridge / Jackson) in Mississippi. She was from Mississippi. They later married on Thursday, July 3, 1873. And to this union they had 18 children.

He resided in Mississippi from at least 1863 to about February or March of 1880. It was sometime, after the war, Isaac was trying to locate and reunite with his family from Missouri. The family was divided and sold to other enslavers. Isaac searched and located his family in Mississippi. They moved back to Forest Green, Missouri.

Isaac returned to Missouri around 1880. He was living with his mother, Julia, his wife Rachel, their children and some of his brothers, John, Spencer, David, Joshua, sister Mattie, nephews and niece and relatives in Chariton County.

Isaac was a farmer. He was a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Forest Green, Missouri in which some of his ancestors help build. Isaac was of the faith.

In Isaac's latter life, he became disable before 1889. He was unable to work due to his injury during the Civil War. He did received his military pension in 1900 in Missouri. He lived out the rest of his life in Chariton County Missouri.

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On Christmas Day of 1917 was a sad day for the Blakey Family, relatives and friends. The family gathered together to bury their beloved one. Isaac departed this life on Sunday, December 23, 1917. Isaac Blakey, a Civil War Veteran was laid to rest on Christmas Day 1917, two days after his passing.

He was preceded in his death by parents, Andrew White and Julia (Finney) White. His 1st wife, Martha (Scott) Blakey and 2nd wife Rachel Ann (Lephridge) Blakey, his children, Andrew, twin of John, Charity, Julia, twin of Jordan, Frances, Beecher, Joe, Rosa and Annie Blakey, his siblings, and other relatives.

Isaac was survived by his children, John and his wife, Jennie, Mary and her husband, Rev. Ollie Green, Isaac Jr. and his wife, Maggie, Jordan and his wife, Flora, Henry and his wife, Mary Elizabeth, Lillie and her husband, Edward Hayes, Spencer and his wife, Mary "Lovie" Blakey, Martha and her husband, Ernest "Jap" Hayes, Ollie and his wife, Margaret, Edna (Blakey) Jackson, Lawhorn, and Archie Blakey. And a number of grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins and a host of friends.

On Tuesday, Christmas Day, December 25, 1917, Isaac was laid to rest next to his wife, Rachel. He was buried in the black cemetery (Hoffman Cemetery) in Chariton County, Missouri. This was the place where the family were buried.

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If Isaac had an obituary it may have been headline as:

Isaac Blakey Sr. Formerly Enslaved and Civil War Veteran, Passes at 72

According to Isaac's death record: He passed in Chariton County Missouri.

Isaac Blakey's name on death record. Isac Blakey. He was listed as an African. Father's name, Andrew White. Mother's name was unknown. Isaac was buried on Christmas Day in Forest Green, Missouri.

Pension Record

Isaac's date of birth was unknown. But, his accepted birthday was on Wednesday, June 30, 1847. According to one of Isaac's former enslavers, Y. C. Blakey, Isaac was born in the year 1845

Bio by Susan Ann Blakley