Thatcher Blake, left Maine, and came to the area that later was called Rockford, IL in 1834. In St. Louis, MO, he heard stories of the Rock River Valley and Galena. On August 24, 1834, Germanicus Kent and he came to the present site of the City of Rockford, and were the first permanent white settlers. After helping Germanicus Kent establish the first saw mill in the area, he actually worked as a business manager for Kent. Thatcher Blake bought 15.54 acres in Section 36 on February 15, 1836. This was on the west side of Rock River and was the first land sold in Winnebago County. He built a house on his claim on the North side of Kent Creek, a few rods from what is now Main Street.
He married Mary Jane Goodhue, November 6, 1838, Stephenson County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Elizabeth (Cunningham) and Thomas Fletcher Goodhue.
He had practical farming knowledge and acquired a lot of land, but in about 1851 he moved to the city and went into real estate.
He had no children of his own, but had one adopted daughter, Kate,(#27936620) born about 1852; she later married Clarence Bean.
He is noted as one of the three founders of Rockford. His family lived in Pecatonica and then settled in Rockford.
One of the markers by his grave site is from the Robert Hempsted Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Colonists.
Published in the Piscataquis (ME) Observer 16 Dec 1880 p2: "DIED---In Rockford, Illinois, Oct. 4th [discrepancy], Thatcher Blake, formerly of Foxcroft, aged 71 years."
Contributor: Cemetery Hopper (46953331) • [email protected]
He married Mary Jane Goodhue, November 6, 1838, Stephenson County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Elizabeth (Cunningham) and Thomas Fletcher Goodhue.
He had practical farming knowledge and acquired a lot of land, but in about 1851 he moved to the city and went into real estate.
He had no children of his own, but had one adopted daughter, Kate,(#27936620) born about 1852; she later married Clarence Bean.
He is noted as one of the three founders of Rockford. His family lived in Pecatonica and then settled in Rockford.
One of the markers by his grave site is from the Robert Hempsted Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Colonists.
Published in the Piscataquis (ME) Observer 16 Dec 1880 p2: "DIED---In Rockford, Illinois, Oct. 4th [discrepancy], Thatcher Blake, formerly of Foxcroft, aged 71 years."
Contributor: Cemetery Hopper (46953331) • [email protected]
Thatcher Blake, left Maine, and came to the area that later was called Rockford, IL in 1834. In St. Louis, MO, he heard stories of the Rock River Valley and Galena. On August 24, 1834, Germanicus Kent and he came to the present site of the City of Rockford, and were the first permanent white settlers. After helping Germanicus Kent establish the first saw mill in the area, he actually worked as a business manager for Kent. Thatcher Blake bought 15.54 acres in Section 36 on February 15, 1836. This was on the west side of Rock River and was the first land sold in Winnebago County. He built a house on his claim on the North side of Kent Creek, a few rods from what is now Main Street.
He married Mary Jane Goodhue, November 6, 1838, Stephenson County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Elizabeth (Cunningham) and Thomas Fletcher Goodhue.
He had practical farming knowledge and acquired a lot of land, but in about 1851 he moved to the city and went into real estate.
He had no children of his own, but had one adopted daughter, Kate,(#27936620) born about 1852; she later married Clarence Bean.
He is noted as one of the three founders of Rockford. His family lived in Pecatonica and then settled in Rockford.
One of the markers by his grave site is from the Robert Hempsted Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Colonists.
Published in the Piscataquis (ME) Observer 16 Dec 1880 p2: "DIED---In Rockford, Illinois, Oct. 4th [discrepancy], Thatcher Blake, formerly of Foxcroft, aged 71 years."
Contributor: Cemetery Hopper (46953331) • [email protected]
He married Mary Jane Goodhue, November 6, 1838, Stephenson County, Illinois. She was the daughter of Elizabeth (Cunningham) and Thomas Fletcher Goodhue.
He had practical farming knowledge and acquired a lot of land, but in about 1851 he moved to the city and went into real estate.
He had no children of his own, but had one adopted daughter, Kate,(#27936620) born about 1852; she later married Clarence Bean.
He is noted as one of the three founders of Rockford. His family lived in Pecatonica and then settled in Rockford.
One of the markers by his grave site is from the Robert Hempsted Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Colonists.
Published in the Piscataquis (ME) Observer 16 Dec 1880 p2: "DIED---In Rockford, Illinois, Oct. 4th [discrepancy], Thatcher Blake, formerly of Foxcroft, aged 71 years."
Contributor: Cemetery Hopper (46953331) • [email protected]
Inscription
"One of the three Founders of Rockford who came 1834; dedicated by Robert Hempstead Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Colonists"
Aged 71 Years 6 Mos 22 Days
"An honest man is the noblest work of God"
Gravesite Details
He has markers
Family Members
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