WI BIO - Dane Co - BLAKE, James
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893. Vol II, pp 438

James BLAKE, a retired farmer of Mazo Manie [Mazomanie], Dane County, WI, was 
born in County Clare, Ireland, 15 Aug 1835. His parents, Henry and Margaret 
(MANGNER) BLAKE, were native of Limerick and Clare Counties, respectively. 
They were the parents of five children: Patrick, James, George, Henry, and 
Mary. The mother and two sons, Patrick and George, died of cholera in 
Ireland, in 1848. In 1852 the father and remainder of the children came to 
America, locating in Canada, but in the same fall came to Milwaukee 
[Milwaukee County], WI, one month later went to Janesville [Rock County], WI, 
and remained there about three years. While there both our subject and his 
father worked on the Prairie du Chien railroad. Henry BLAKE then began 
farming in Rock County, later conducted the Oran BACON grist mill in Green 
County, WI, one year, and then bought 80 acres of land at Blue Mounds [Dane 
County], WI. He was engaged in farming and milling on that place 15 years, 
then ran the Summer Side farm in Black Earth valley [Dane County, WI] 10 
years, and in 1889 purchased 12 acres of land in Mazo Manie, where he has 
since lived in retirement.

James BLAKE was married in 1857, to Catherine DIUNEM, a native of Ireland, 
and who came to this country in 1851. They have raised eight children: 
George, Patrick, Henry, Jane W., John J., Margaret, Kate, Ellen, and Lizzie. 
All the children have gone from home except John J. and Lizzie. The former 
will graduate at the State University [Madison, WI] in Jun 1893, and the 
latter will graduate at the high school of Mazo Manie in Jun 1893. James 
BLAKE affiliates with the Prohibition party, has served on the grand and 
petit jury several times, and also on the U. S. petit jury. Religiously he 
is a member of the Catholic church. James BLAKE deserves much credit for his 
high standing and business ability, having come to this country with no 
education, and was long afterward taught to read by his employer.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly