Christian F. Blakey, probably the oldest settler of Union
Township, died at his home last Saturday morning. He was
taken ill with la grippe about four weeks ago, and owing to
his advanced age and feeble condition, he was unable to
withstand the terrible ravages of that disease, which
gradually wore itself into quick consumption, and he has
been called to his reward. His was a busy and useful life.
He was born in Prussia, May 7, 1821, and died March 18,
1899, aged nearly seventy-eight years. He came to this
county in 1840 with his parents, who settled on the farm
where our subject has ever since lived. His early life is filled
with many incidents of dangers as was usual to the Hoosier
pioneers of those days. He arrived with his parents and other
members of the family on the 27th of November, after a long
and tiresome journey from West Virginia. After arriving in
Union Township, where the father had previously entered the
west quarter of section twenty-one, the family lived for some
time in the covered wagon in which they had traveled. In
December following, however, they completed a log house in
which they lived until 1852, when they built the old
homestead where the deceased resided until his death.
In 1849 Mr. Blakey married Miss Louisa Falsing and to them
were born three children, Mary, Sophia and John H. Mrs.
Blakey died in 1856 and a few years afterward, Christian was ​
united in marriage to Mary A. Rupp. Ten children, Eliza,
Charles, Martin, Frederick, Theodore, Edward, Otto, Matilda,
Christian and Christine, were born to them, all of whom are
living, exepting the last two.
Christian Blakey has always been an honest, upright,
industrious citizen and has a countless number of friends and
relatives who mourn the loss of one they have loved and
respected for so many years.
Funeral services were held from the Blakey church Monday
afternoon and the body interred in the cemetery nearby.
Decatur Democrat; Adams County, Indiana
Thursday, March 23, 1899
**
Hands Across Time - A Documentation of Family Roots
by Jara Kern; period 7; Mr. Getty; May 23, 1994
Christian Frederich Bleeke (May 7 or 13, 1821 - March 17,
1899)
Great-great-great grandfather and family)
Christian Frederich, second child of Johann Heinrich Phillip
Bleeke and his wife, Christina Schweir, was born in Germany
on May 7, 1821. He married Louisa Thalsing (sp?) in 1849,
after coming to America and traveling throughout the east
and parts of the Midwest with his family as a young boy.
Christian Frederich and Louisa's children included Mary,
Sophia, and John Heinrich. After Louia's death, Christian
married Mary Rupp in 1858. Their children included Eliza,
Charles, Frederich, Martin, Theodore, Edward, Matilda, Otto,
Christian, and Christine.
It is not recorded as to the date of Christian Frederich
Bleeke's death.
**

CHRISTIAN F. BLAKEY, a farmer residing on section 21, Union
Township, owns 400 acres of land in Adams County. He came
to the county November 27, 1840, with his parents, who
settled on the farm now owned by our subject. His father,
John H. Blakey, was born in Prussia, November 3, 1797, and
died March 8, 1883. The mother, Christina (Schwer) Blakey,
was also born in Prussia, May 11, 1798. She died March 6,
1869. In 1835 the mother came to America with six children, ​
the father having preceded them in the fall of 1834. They
landed in Baltimore, and went directly to West Virginia, where
they met the father, who was working by the month among
the farmers. Here the family lived two years, then removed to
Cincinnati, where they lived three and a half years, where
both old and young members of the family worked at
anything they could find to do. In the fall of 1838 the father
came to Adams County, and after looking around, borrowed
some purchase money from a friend and entered the north-
west quarter of section 21, Union Township. Returning to
Cincinnati, he remained there until the fall of 1840, when,
with one horse and an ox team, accompanied by his family,
he started to make a permanent home in Adams County. The
roads were so muddy, and utterly impassable, that they were
obliged to leave a portion of their household goods at New
Bremen, Ohio. They improvised a cart upon which they
packed the most necessary articles, and again started for
their Indiana home, the mother and children walking. In this
way they made about five miles a day, camping out at night,
and landed in their new home the 27th day of November.
They cut two crotchet poles, set them on the ground,
connected them with a pole, and stretched the wagon cover
over it. In this way they lived until they could construct a
rough log house, moving into it the 24th day of the following
December, without roof or floor. They lived in this house until
1852, when they built the house that Christian now occupies.
They came to the county with only a few dollars, and, as has
been stated, in debt for a portion of the purchase money of
the land first entered. Christian found work on the Maumee
and Erie Canal, where he in part supported the family and
assisted in paying the borrowed money. Mr. Blakey was born
in Prussia, May 7, 1821, and was fourteen years old when his
parents came to America. He was married in 1849 to Miss
Louisa Falsing, who was also born in Prussia, in 1833. She
came to America in 1842, with her parents, Frederick and
Louisa Falsing, who settled in Preble Township, this county.
Mrs. Blakey died in 1856, and in 1858 Mr. Blakey married
Mary A. Rupp, who was Born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, in
1833, daughter of George and Amanda Rupp. By the first
marriage there were three children Mary, Sophia and John H.
By the second marriage were ten children, eight of whom are
living - Eliza, Charles, Frederick , Martin, Theodore, Edward,
Matilda and Otto. The deceased are - Christian and Christine,
who died in infancy.
Biographical and Historical Record - Adams and Wells Co.
Indiana Lewis Publishing Co. Chicago, IL 1887