The Family of Alton M. Blake and Cleora Adelle Doolittle Blake

The Parents of Alton M. Blake

Benjamin Blake and Ann Bennett Blake

The Parents of Cleora A. Doolittle

Alvah W. Doolittle and Caroline Moon Thorp Doolittle

Blake Family Tree

Bennett Family Tree

Doolittle Family Tree

Moon Family Tree

Marriages of Alton M. Blake

Marriage to Cleora A. Doolittle in 1882

Marriages of Cleora A. Doolittle

Marriage to Alton M. Blake in 1882

Married Fifty Seven Years

From the Naples Record, 27 December 1939

Tomorrow, at their winter home in St. Petersburg, Florida, Mr. and Mrs. Alton M. Blake of Naples, will observe the fifty-seventh anniversary of their marriage, Mr. Blake and Miss Cleora Doolittle having been married on December 28, 1882.

They have four children, Harold D. Blake, of Cleveland, Ohio, Mrs. Ernest VanKeuren of Evansville, Ind., Mrs. B. Gregg Abbey of Niagara Falls and Homer Blake, of Chatham, N. J.

The Record joins with their many friends in extending congratualtions to Mr. and Mrs. Blake.

Fatal Crash Kills Alton M. Blake

From the Lima Recorder, 22 February 1940

Lima - Alton M. Blake, 77, of South Main street, Naples, trustee of G.W.S since 1920, was instantly killed in an automobile crash, Friday, at St. Petersburg, Fla., where he was spending the winter with Mrs. Blake.

Mr. Blake was a most loyal friend to our seminary, and visited the school innumerable times. All five children of the family were educated here, and all are living except Mrs. Anna M. Smith of the class of 1906, who died in Utica in 1934. Her husband is Prof. Wm. E. Smith, commercial teacher.

Born May 5, 1863, Mr. Blake attended Naples schools, and was married at Livonia, Dec. 29, 1882, to Miss Cleora Doolittle of Canadice. The Rev. John M. Brown, retired Methodist minister of Richmond Center, performed the ceremony. Mr. Blake conducted a vehicle and harness business in Naples for many years, and also for a period owned a men’s clothing store in Rushville. He was an active member off the Methodist church, and a past president of Naples village. Mrs. and Mrs. Blake celebrated their golden wedding in Naples, Dec. 29, 1932.

In more recent years, they resided during the summer at their cottage on Canandaigua lake.

Mr. Blake leaves his wife, two daughters, Mrs. Caroline VanKeuren, Evansville, Ind., and Mrs. Elsie Abby, Niagara Falls; two sons, Harold D. Blake, Cleveland, O., and Homer Blake, Chatham, N.J.; three sisters, fourteen grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

The Obituary of Alton M. Blake

5 May 1862 - 16 February 1940

From the Naples Record, 21 February 1940.

Naples - Alton M. Blake was born in Canadice on May 5, 1863, a son of Benjamin and Ann Bennett Blake. The greater part of his life had been spent in Naples.

For a few years, when a young man, Mr. Blake was engaged in publishing county histories in the New England States, but his main business activity was conducting an extensive carriage and wagon business in this village and surrounding towns. For a few years he also conducted a clothing store in Rushville. On October 2, 1908, he sold his carriage and wagon business to the late Edwin C. Yaw, Jr., and a few years later disposed of his clothing store and retired from active business.

The brick paving on Main Street and the electric service in Naples are lasting monuments to Mr. Blake’s civic spirit and dynamic power. It was while he was serving as president of this village that he planned and led the campaigns to secure these improvements. He was president of Naples Village from 1911 to 1917. He also served several terms as a member of the local Board of Education.

He was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church, and was influential in its affairs and also in the affairs of the Conference. He was this Conference’s lay delegate to the General Conference in 1920, 1924 and 1928.

For many years he was a member of the Board of Trustees of Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, at Lima, and Blake Hall on the Seminary grounds, is one of his benefactions to that institution. For several years he conducted the Naples Flower Carnival, and activity of the local church.

On December 28, 1882, Mr. Blake was united in marriage with Miss Cleora Doolittle, of Canadice, who survives. He also leaves two sons, Harold D. Blake, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Homer Blake, of Chatham, N. J.; two daughters, Mrs. Ernest W. VanKeuren, of Evansville, Ill., and Mrs. B. Gregg Abbey, of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; three sisters, Mrs. Ida Woodard, Mrs. Augustus Shepard and Mrs. Emma Walker, all of Naples; fourteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Two daughters, Florence and Olive, died when quite young, and another daughter, Mrs. William Smith, died a few years ago.

The Obituary of Cleora A. Doolittle Blake

31 May 1859 - 27 April 1950

From the Naples Record, 3 May 1950.

Naples - Mrs. Cleora Doolittle Blake, 90, widow of Alton M. Blake, of Naples, died last Thursday, April 27, 1950, at her winter residence in St. Petersburg, Florida. Mrs. Blake and her companion, Mrs. Gertrude Washburn, had arranged to return to Naples last week.

Mrs. Blake was born May 31, 1859, in Canadice, a daughter of Alvin Wilson Doolittle and Caroline Thorpe Doolittle. In 1882, she was united in marriage with Alton M. Blake, of Naples. His death occurred about ten years ago.

She was a member of the Naples Methodist Church and of auxiliaries, and of the W. C. T. U.

She is survived by four children, Harold D. Blake, of Cleveland, Ohio; Mrs. Ernest VanKeuren, of Park Ridge, Illinois; Mrs. G. Gregg Abbey, of Niagara Falls, and Homer Blake, of Chatham, N. J.; fourteen grand-children; fifteen great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Services were held on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m., from the Naples Methodist Church, conducted by her pastor, Rev. William H. Jessop. Burial was made in Rose Ridge cemetery, in Naples.

...

From the Wayland Register, 4 May 1950

Canadice - Mrs. Leslie Paine received word of the death of her aunt, Mrs. Cleora Doolittle Blake, at her winder home at St. Petersburg, Fla., at the age of 90.

She was born in Canadice May 31, 1859, a daughter of Alvah Wilson and Carolyn Thorpe Doolittle. She was married to Alton Blake of Canadice in 1882. She has spent most of her life near Naples.

Surviving are four children, 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

The funeral was held Tuesday, May 2, at the Methodist church in Naples, with Rev. Wm. Jessup officiating. Interment was in Rose Ridge cemetery.

The Burial of Alton M. Blake

Rose Ridge Cemetery in Naples NY

The Burial of Cleora A. Doolittle Blake

Rose Ridge Cemetery in Naples NY

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