LOGO

FLAG

FLAG

BLAKE BROS
William T. Blake
U. S. Army
Killed In Action
Chauteau Thierry, France
21 Oct 1918
            EDWARD
Edward Leo Blake
U. S. Navy
Missing At Sea
U.S.S. Cyclops
4 Mar 1918

EMBLEM

     The Blake Brothers Post #46, at Benwood, Marshall County, West Virginia, was named in honor of William and Edward Blake. The lives of these brothers were lost during World War I.

     The BLAKE BROTHERS, Edward Leo Blake and William Thomas Blake, lived at 1316 Marshall Street, Benwood, W. Va. and were the sons of William J. Blake (son of Irish immigrants, Samuel S. Blake & Mary Carroll) and Catherine Kessler.

     Edward Leo Blake, born in 1893, was aboard the "U.S.S. Cyclops" when it inexplicably disappeared, with 306 aboard, on June 14, 1918, during World War I. He was a Machinist's Mate, First Class, U. S. Navy.

     William Thomas Blake was born in 1895 and was Killed In Action on October 21, 1918, while serving in World War I with the U. S. Army in Chateau Thierry, France.

     Siblings of Edward and Leo: Mary A., Elizabeth Rose, Helen, Laura A., Joseph J., John "Jack", George, Walter, Robert L., and Frank H.

1910 Census, Benwood, Union District, Marshall County, WV
William J. Blake, Head, 40, Married 17 yrs, Steel Works, b WV, Parents b Ireland
Katie, Wife, 35, 8 children/8 living, b WV, parents b Germany
Edward L., Son, 16, Steel Works, b WV
William T., Son, 14, Steel Works, b WV Mary A., Dau, 12, b WV
Joseph J., Son, 9, b WV
Helen, Dau, 7, b WV
John, Son, 5, b WV
Elizabeth R., Dau, 3, b WV
Laura A., Dau, 1, b WV

1920 Census, Benwood, Union District, Marshall County, WV
1316 Marshall Street
William Blake, Head, Owns Home, 50, Master Mechanic, b WV, Parents b Ireland
Catherine, Wife, 46, b WV, parents b Germany
Mary, Dau, 22, Telephine Operator, b WV
Joseph, Son, 19, Machinist Steel Mill, b WV
Helen, Dau, 17, b WV
John, Son, 15, b WV
Rose, Dau, 13, b WV
Laura, Dau, 11, b WV
George, Son, 9, b WV
Walter, Son, 6, b WV
Robert, Son, 4, b WV
Frank, Son, 3, b WV

ARTICLES & OBITUARIES

EDWARD LEO BLAKE

LEO

Daily Intelligencer, Wheeling, W.Va., April 15, 1918

Submitted by Linda Fluharty.

BENWOOD BOY AMONG LOST ON CYCLOPS

EDWARD LEO BLAKE MACHINIST'S MATE - Parents Informed of the Disaster - Other West Virginians on Board -- One of the West Virginians on board the American collier Cyclops, reported to have gone down at sea, while on route from a South American port to the United States, was Edward Leo Blake, of Benwood. - The young man was formerly a machinist in the Riverside plant of the National Tube Company at Benwood, and enlisted in the United States navy nearly a year ago. His training soon won for him the place for him of machinist's mate in the naval service, and several months ago he was assigned to the Cyclops. His father William Blake, of South Market Street, Benwood, frequently heard from the boy, who was enthusiastic over his work in the navy. The father yesterday morning received a telegram from the navy department at Washington, telling of the probable loss of the Cyclops with all on board. The blow to the family and their friends is a severe one.


WILLIAM "THOMAS" BLAKE

"Moundsville Weekly Echo" - 2 Jan 1919

Submitted by Joseph D. Parriott.

That their second son had died for his country was the sad message broken to Mr. and Mrs. William J. Blake of 1316 Marshall street, Benwood, by Father Schoenen of the St. Mary's [St. John's?] Catholic church of Benwood, yesterday. The message bearing the news was received the day before Christmas but was not given to the heart-broken parents until yesterday that they might enjoy their Christmas as much as possible under the circumstances. - The following is a part of the letter that was received by Mrs. Robert Shepherd, from her son Private Walter Shepherd, who is now serving in France as an ambulance driver, and which bore the news of the death of Thomas Blake. - "I am sorry to say that Tom Blake met his finish here last month. He was dead when I received your letter stating his mother had said he lines. (?) William Sculley and Dave was being moved from the front Tyson are also well, safe and O. K." - Private Thomas Blake was among the first draftees that left Marshall county and sailed for overseas on Easter Sunday, 1918. He was serving with the seventh machine-gun battalion, third division. - His brother was Seaman Edward Leo Blake, who was a mechanic on the cruiser "Cyclops" which has been given as lost, after being missing for more than six months. - As yet, Mr. and Mrs. Blake have received no official word from the war department announcing the death of their son. - Besides his parents, Private Blake is survived by four sisters, Mary, Rose, Helen and Laura, and six brothers Joseph, John, George, Walter, Bobbie and Frank.

"Moundsville Journal" - 27 Dec 1918

Submitted by Joseph D. Parriott.

Mr. and Mrs. William J. Blake, 1316 Marshall Street, Benwood, have just received word of the death of their second son in the cause of the war for ---. - Confirmation of Blake's death comes after lifelong chum of the deceased, ---- Shepherd, of Benwood, in the --- of a letter to his mother, Mrs. --bert Shepherd. - The news was received the day before Christmas and turned over to Father Schoenen, pastor of St. Mary's [St. John's?] Catholic church at Benwood to be carried to the parents. The news was purposely withheld until after Christmas so as not to mar the pleasures of that day. - Private Thomas Blake was one of the first draftees to leave Marshall county and he sailed for overseas duty on Easter Sunday this year. - His brother, Edward Leo Blake, was a mechanic on the lost naval collier Cyclops, which has long been given up for lost.

Daily intelligencer, Thursday, Aug 25, 1921

BENWOOD HERO'S BODY WILL ARRIVE SUNDAY

Submitted by Linda Fluharty

Word has just been received by Mr. and Mrs. William Blake of Marshall Street, Benwood, that the body of their son Thomas Blake, who was killed in France while fighting with the American forces on October 21, 1918, will arrive home probably next Sunday. The body landed at Hoboken yesterday. After preliminary services are held, it will be shipped direct to this city. It will be remembered that Tom Blake was 22 years of age and is a brother of Leo Blake, who was the first young man from Marshall County to lose his life. - Thomas Blake left Benwood Junction on September 10th, having enlisted, and was assigned to the 314th field artillery. He left this country on Easter Sunday, 1918, and while fighting with the first division was struck with an enemy bullet just twenty days before the armistice was signed. A verification of the hard fighting that Tom Blake was in, is given by the government medal which was sent to his parents after he was killed. The medal has six bars engraved on it which represented some of the worst battles of the war. Although no funeral arrangements have been made, pending the arrival of the body, the Albert Mountain post of the American Legion are planning to take charge of the services.


JOSEPH JAMES BLAKE

"Moundsville Daily Echo" - 22 Nov 1971

Submitted by T. Vernon Anderson.

Joseph James Blake, 71, of 600 Main street, Benwood, died Saturday at his home. - He was born in Benwood, May 7, 1900, the son of the William J. and Catherine Kessler. He was a member of St Johns Catholic church; was a retired employee of the City of Benwood street department; was a veteran of World War II; and was a member of the Blake Brothers Post, American Legion, Benwood. - Surviving are four brothers, John P. George P. and Robert L. all of Moundsville, and Frank H. of Benwood; two sisters, Mrs Emil (Mary) Stahl of Glendale, and Mrs A. A. (Laura) Mercer of Moundsville. - Friends received at the Altmeyer Funeral Home, 214 Marshall street, Monday from 7 to 9 pm and Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm. Mass of Participation will be held Wednesday at 9:30 am at St John's church, Benwood. - Interment will be in Mt Calvary cemetery. - Rosary devotions will be held at funeral home Tuesday at 8 pm.

NOTE: Joseph James Blake was the brother of William "Thomas" and Edward "Leo" Blake, for whom American Legion Post No. 46 was named.


MOTHER OF "BLAKE BROTHERS" DIED

Moundsville Daily Echo from December 11, 1962:

Submitted by Tom Welch.

Mrs. Katherine Kessler Blake, former resident of Benwood and Moundsville, died Tuesday at the Wetzel Nursing home at New Martinsville. She had been in failing health for several years. - She was born at Wheeling, Christmas Day, December 25, 1873, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kessler. She was a member of St. John's Catholic church in Benwood, the Ladies Auxiliary of Blake Brothers Post No. 46. Her husband, William J. Blake, died in 1940. - Surviving are six sons: Jack, Robert, and George, all of Moundsville and Joseph, Walter and Frank, all of Benwood; three daughters, Mrs. Emil Stahl, Glendale, Mrs. A. A. Mercer of [blurred on my copy] and Mrs. Rose Emloch of [blurred] Crux, California; fourteen grandchildren; a number of great-grandchildren; and two brothers, William and Charles Kessler, both of Wheeling. - Two sons were killed in World War I; Edward L. and William T.; Blake Brothers Legion Post at Benwood was named in their memory. - Friends will be received at the Altmeyer funeral home, 214 Marshall Street, McMechen. High Mass of Requiem will be held at St. John's Church on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Internment will be held in Mt. Calvary cemetery in Wheeling. - Rosary devotions will be held Wednesday evening at eight o'clock.


JOHN PAUL "JACK" BLAKE

JACK BLAKE


The following membership rolls were submitted by Beth Polsinelli Wolfe.

BLAKE BROTHERS POST #46 CHARTER MEMBERSHIP ROLL
All are deceased.
Miles T. Barrett Harry Chalk
Daniel L. Criswell John Dado
William Donovan Samuel Goegeloin
William P. Green Frank Hall
Daniel J. Hanley George E. Kessler
Robert Little Samuel Mahood
William H. McCellan James McCormick
John McKee Hugh R. McShane
Raymond P. Miller Thomas J. Miller
Paul M. Moran Edward M. Morningstar
Leonard M. Morningstar Louis Nemek
Llewellen Niebergall Joseph R. Nolan
James L. Peel Thomas M. Parker
William Parker Jr. Oscar T. Rainey
Harry Roseberry Walter Ryan
Raymond Scanlon Joseph H. Schmid
Patrick J. Scully Joseph F. Skazinski
Albert Tushey Albert Warsinsky
J. Watson  
Source: Beth Wolfe

SONS
SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION
CHARTER MEMBERSHIP ROLL
Ryan T. Richards Joseph A. Risden
Spence A. Risden Dave A. Kociban
Steve O. Zelic Aaron W. Miller
Michael W. Smith Michael W. Smith, Jr.
Robert N. Smith Samuel A. Rubright
Bruce E. West John T. Giovengo
Jeffrey A. Giovengo Jost T. Giovengo
Edward R. Richards James T. Richards
Source: T. Vernon Anderson

AUX
THE AMERICAN LEGION AUXILIARY
CHARTER MEMBERSHIP ROLL
Mrs. Blanche L. Alexander, President
Ruth Hanley, Secretary
Mrs. Frances Parker, Treasurer
Mrs. Catherine Blake Mrs. Ella Hanley
Frances Phillips Mrs. Alice Silber
Margaret Hanley Mrs. Elizabeth Marple
Rosalie Hanley Nell Robinson
Mrs. Ethel Silber Rose Blake
Mrs. Helen Tyson Ellen Hanley
Frances Hanley Clara Hanley
Mary Skazinski Mrs. Ada Miller
Source: T. Vernon Anderson


BAR2

BACK