Col James Bleakley

Colonel James Bleakley, President of the International Bank, and one of the most prominent business men in Western Pennsylvania, died at his residence in this city yesterday, October 3rd, after a short but severe illness.  For several months he had been in failing health, but was able to attend to his affairs, and there was nothing in his physical condition to excite alarm until within the last ten days.  His disease was dropsy, complicated with other derangements of his system, for which medical skill could find no remedy. 

Colonel Bleakley was born in Berks county, PA, on the 13th of September 1820.  At the age of thirteen he came to Franklin with his father, the late John Bleakley, in the summer of 1833, and three years later entered upon a three years' apprenticeship in a printing office here.  After the expiration of his apprenticeship he went to Butler, PA, where he worked for three years as a journeyman printer.  In 1842 he returned to Franklin and in connection with John W. Shugert established the Democratic Arch newspaper, the immediate predecessor of THE SPECTATOR. On the third of August, 1843, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Dubbs, who survives him.  In 1844 he retired from the Democratic Arch and began merchandising in a small way.  Everything he touched seemed to prosper, for he had a talent for business and was shred and energetic.  In 1851 he bought a half interest in THE SPECTATOR from the writer of this sketch and continued to be interested in its publication for nearly two years.  In 1851 he was the Democratic nominee for Treasurer of Venango county and was elected to serve for two years.  He performed the duties of the office to the satisfaction of the people.  

In March, 1864, in connection with Hon. Arnold Plumer and others he was instrumental in organizing the First National Bank of Franklin, and served as its Cashier until the fall of 1867, when he resigned.  In March, 1868, he started the International Bank of Franklin, of which he was the owner and the President at the time of his death.  In the spring of 1870 he established a banking house in Sharon, PA, under the firm name of James Bleakley & Son, which still exists, but is now conducted by his son-in-law, Maj. Alexander McDowell, in his own name.   Colonel Bleakley has also operated more or less in oil and real estate, and at one time was engaged in the foundry and tinning business.  In all his operations he has been eminently successful.

His death leaves a void in the business circles of Franklin that it will be hard to fill.  The last forty years he has taken a prominent part in our daily business life, and few men among us have contributed more toward making the town what it is today.  He was a self-made man in the truest sense of the phrase.  He began life as a poor boy, almost alone and friendless among strangers, and made his way step by step to the summit of financial success. His career in this behalf is worth studying, for it tells the young man just entering upon active life what perseverance, energy, and strict attention to business can accomplish. 

Colonel Bleakley leaves a wife, four sons and three daughters, to mourn the loss of an affectionate husband and father.  He was permitted to live to see his children, grown to be men and women, comfortably situated around him, and to know that he left them amply provided for in this world.  They have sympathy of the whole community in their hour of grief.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Sep 22 2019, 18:18:01 UTC