Elihu Blake

"Blakes of 77 Elm Street: A Family Sketch" Alida Blake Hazard Page 3 "Of Elihu Blake, my great-grandfather, I have no personal recollection, but he was still in the memory of his grandchildren when I was young, and from the many stories told of him he must have been quite a remarkable, if very quaint, old gentleman. His wife was Elizabeth Whitney, sister of Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin, for whom our grandfather was named. They had ten children, all of whom lived to grow up - seven sons and three daughters. The sons were Philos, Eli Whitney, Josiah, Elihu, John, George, and Edward. The three daughters were Elizabeth Whitney, Maria, and Frances. How our great-grandparents even brought up this large family, educated them and started them in life is a mystery. Besides the small farm on which they lived near Westboro, Massachusetts, the only other source of income appears to have been our great-grandfather's talent in mathematics. Today he would be called an expert accountant. in those, he was called a mathematician, and his services were in great demand through the country side and even in far away Boston. It was on one of these business trips, which he always made on horseback, that an adventure befell him which became a family byword. At a crossroads an Indian, in full war paint, suddenly leaped from the bushes and seized the bridle of his horse. pointing in one direction the Indian said, "Old Injun come dis way, 'quire me gone dat way, tell him me gone t'other way, would ye?" and disappeared, probably to the relief of the traveler. in the notice of the death of Elihu Blake in the church records he is described as a "Worthy, Pious and Very Learned Man". Wherever could he have acquired his learning? However, he saw to it that his sons had such advantages as were possible. our grand-father was sent to Yale by his uncle and namesake, Eli Whitney. Josiah went to Harvard. The other sons were content with graduating from the academics of Massachusetts. not only did our grandparents do well by their children, but they provided for their own old age."

"Blakes of 77 Elm Street: A Family Sketch" Alida Blake Hazard Page 8-9

"Uncle Elihu started as a surgeon, but having the Blake talent for invention became interested in inventing dental appliances, and finally took that up altogether. He married Adelaide Mix of New Haven. His practice, however, was in New York, where he lived until he was a very old gentleman, when he retired to his farm at Cherry Hill near New Haven. He was the father of William Phipps Blake and Theodore A. Blake. Cousin William was a very well-known geologist and was the father of Joseph A. Blake, the surgeon; Frank Blake; Theodore Whitney Blake and Constance who was Mrs. Toomey, and who died very young. Uncle Elihu also had two daughters, Adele, who married George Panton of Jamaica, West Indies. She was a great beauty but died in her early twenties. The other daughter was Emma, who many of you should remember."