Bio of BLAKE, John D. (b.1838 d.1906), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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JOHN D. BLAKE - Vol II, pg 135-136
John D. Blake, a well known figure in real estate circles, operating extensively
and successfully in that line, also contributing to the moral as well as to the
material development of Minneapolis, was identified with many philanthropic
interests which aided in alleviating hard conditions of life for the
unfortunate. In a word, he wan constantly extending a helping hand where aid was
needed and there are many who have reason to bless his memory. Mr. Blake came to
Minnesota from the Green Mountain state, his birth occurring in Marlboro,
Vermont, May 16, 1838, his parents being Benona W. and Marilla (Dunklee) Blake.
The public school system of Vermont provided him his educational opportunities
and the period of his boyhood and youth was passed in New England. On the 15th
of April, 1858, when about twenty-one years of age, he was married in
Somerville, Massachusetts, to Miss Julia R. Ingraham, a daughter of Orman and
Zilpha (Tunison) Ingraham. They began their domestic life in New England, but in
1860 removed to the middle west, settling first in Rochester, Minnesota, where
Mr. Blake established a general merchandise store and conducted a successful
business for twenty-two years, building up a trade of very substantial
proportions. As he prospered his generous support of important public measures
increased. He gave the first five hundred dollars toward the founding of the
first library in Rochester and he became one of the early members of the Young
Men's Christian Association there, joining the organization when it was formed
in that city. He was selected its treasurer and in various ways contributed to
its steady growth and development, because of his deep interest in the matter of
safeguarding the youth of the land in order to develop character and inculcate
high principles among the boys who are to make the future citizens.
In 1882 Mr. Blake removed from Rochester to Minneapolis and in this city
concentrated his efforts and attention upon real estate business, in which he
continued to the time of his death. He brought with him a substantial capital
with which to make investments, and he largely handled his own property. He
thoroughly informed himself concerning the worth of realty here and he was thus
successful in developing and conducting a real estate business, which added to
his income as the year passed. He built the first street car line on the east
side and operated it until it was taken over by Mr. Lowry and he never lost an
opportunity to advance the material, intellectual and moral welfare of the
community with which he was identified.
To Mr. and Mrs. Blake six children were born: Clarence J., whose birth occurred
in Brattleboro, Vermont, and who is deceased; Clara Julia, the wife of Louis D.
Pugh. and a native of Rochester, Minnesota; Anna W. and Charles O., who have
passed away; Jessie M., at home; and Beatrice B., who was born in Minneapolis
and who is at home with her mother. The family circle was again broken by the
hand o: death when on the 28th of October, 1906, Mr. Blake departed this life.
He left behind him a blessed memory because of the many good deeds which he
performed and the valuable service which he rendered in the efforts of the
church to Christianize the world. He gave the ground on which the First
Methodist Episcopal church on the east side of Minneapolis was built and he was
long a most prominent and active worker in the church, taking helpful part in
the Sunday school and in all branches of church service. He was a very thorough
Bible student and fully realized the value of early religious training tor the
young. Thus it was that he became a most earnest worker in the Sunday school,
hoping to lay the foundation for character building, his labors in this
direction reaping rich fruition in the lives of many who came under his
instruction. He not only gave freely to his own church, but to other religious
organizations and to philanthropic enterprises, and it seemed that his aid was
never withheld from any project which he believed beneficial to the community
and the state.