Biography of Levi Lowell BLAKE (1830-1904): Charles County, MD/Washington D.C. Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Pat Close Copyright. All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ******************************************************************************** LEVI LOWELL BLAKE Levi Lowell Blake was born in Addison County, Vermont April 27, 1830. He left his home at a young age to serve in the Mexican American War. He then made a small fortune in the California gold fields. He was in Montana with the Gov. Stevens Railroad Survey and worked closely with John Mullen who pioneered the first wagon road from Fort Benton to Walla Walla, Washington. In an election held July 14, 1862, Levi was elected representative to the Wash. Territorial Legislature. However, “on his way to the legislative session in Olympia, he was side tracked by the gold fields near present day Boise, ID, and never assumed the office.” In 1870 Levi Lowell Blake returned to the east to live. He located in Wash. D. C. where he became part owner in the Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall Steamship Company. His partner in this venture was Joseph A. McKibben. Captain Blake is variously listed as captain of the “Mary Washington” and the “W. W. Corcoran.” He was with the “Charles Macalaster” from 1890 onwards. These boats were owned by the Mount Vernon & Marshall Hall Steamship Company, which was owned and operated by Blake and McKibben. They also owned the “Steamer Arrow,” and later acquired the famed “River Queen,” of 1864. The “River Queen” had frequently been referred to as “Lincoln’s Favorite,” a/c his frequent use in the closing days of the Civil War. Marshall Hall was located almost directly across the river from Mount Vernon, in Charles County, MD. It was one of several resorts and amusement parks which once lined either side of the Potomac River. The pleasure steamers owned by the Marshall Hall Steamship Co. made regular trips up and down the river. The Steamer Washington had a carrying capacity of 1,500 people, and in her day she is said to have carried more passengers than any other vessel on the Potomac. The Charles Macalaster was a side-wheeler, like most of the Potomac excursion boats. She plied between Wash., and Mt Vernon and Marshall Hall for more than forty years. These pleasure steamers made night trips also, and had bands on board which never failed to play "Nearer My God to Thee," or some other fitting piece, as they passed Washington's home, Mount Vernon. And always, "tolled their bells in honor of the Father of Their Country," as they passed. . At the age fifty-six, Levi Blake married Marie (Robinson). They had a daughter, Marion, and a son Lowell Stearns Blake. Levi Lowell died in Wash. D. C. in 1904 and, “with the consent of his wife, his burial expenses were assumed by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association as a gesture of appreciation and thanks for his many services.” His body was shipped, via Penn. R.R. to Northfield, VT, where he is buried with other members of his family. =========================== I have wonderful articles about Captain L. L. Blake, from the Sunday Star, Wash. D.C. July 20, 1941, The Columbia Historical Society “Recollections & Reminiscences,” and Wash. Past & Present “Steamboating on the Potomac.” I also have a copy of his obituary.