John Bleeks, Sr.

Sharon Township page 205

Sunday, June 3, 1833, an event occurred which caused much excitement in Sharon, and at the same time, set the terrible consequence of intemperance in plain view of its inhabitants. John Bleaks, a resident of the township, was in the habit of getting drunk occasionally. It was customary for him to go to Granger-burgh for liquor. One evening he was seen returning from there, far along in the stages of intoxication. Four days having passed without his returning home, and his family growing concerned as to his whereabouts, search was instituted by the neighbors. For several days the woods were rambled through in vain, till, on Sunday, ten days after he was last seen alive, his body was discovered, with a jug of liquor beside it. From the position of the body it was thought that he was stooping over to drink from a little creek, when he lost his balance and fell, his face in the water, from which position, through drunkenness, he was unable extricate himself. A coroner's jury was summoned and verdict returned as above. The body was buried on the land now owned by Esastus Bissell. Before the grave was filled up, Cyrus Taylor threw the jug of liquor in, which was buried with the body.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=32945691