Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1045 - 1046

MAJOR BLASDEL is an enterprising farmer of Union Township, pleasantly located on the northwest quarter of section 24, and although his residence in the county has been short, he has already identified himself with the representative and progressive citizens. He is a native of Dearborn County, Ind., born Dec. 17, 1847. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch origin, one of whom, Nicholas Blasdel, was a great mechanical genius, and to him is assigned the honor of being the inventor of the clock. We learn from history that four brothers came to the United States before the Revolutionary War, and settled in the New England States, and from them have sprung all the Blasdels in this country.

             Jacob Blasdel, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts, and married Ruth Moss, a native of New Hampshire, where he first settled after marriage. In 1799 they removed to Ohio, and settled near Cincinnati, then an embryo town, whence in 1805 they moved to Indiana. Mr. Blasdel became prominent among the early settlers of that region, and it is believed built the first saw and grist mill in that Territory. Soon after he put up a rude school-house, and in 1811, with other settlers, built a fort for protection against the savages. Before the admission of Indiana into the Union, he was one of the first to circulate a petition that it be admitted as a free State, which was carried by a majority of one. He improved a farm and resided in Dearborn County. His son, grandfather of our subject, was born in New Hampshire in 1797, and was but eight years old when the family settled in Indiana, where he grew to manhood, married, reared a family of children, and closed the years of an honorable and well-spent life.

             Henry W. Blasdel, the father of our subject, was born in Dearborn County, in July, 1817, and grew to a strong and vigorous manhood in the home of his birth, receiving the educational and other advantages accorded to the youth of that day and generation. In December, 1838, he married Catherine Chase, a native of the same county, born in 1820. Her father, Leonard Chase, and her grandfather, Anthony Chase, were natives of Massachusetts, and of English ancestry, being descendants of one of three brothers, Thomas, William and Aquilla, who emigrated from England. Her grandfather was a seafaring man, and died at Yarmouth, Mass. Her father commenced life as a sailor with his father, who was commander of a vessel, and followed the sea until twenty-one years of age. At this time, during the War of 1812, he was taken prisoner by the British and released after six weeks' confinement. He then started West, stopping first at Cincinnati, which was then a small place, and procured work from John Ferris, a farmer. While there he made the acquaintance of Mary Lee, and subsequently they united their fortunes, and removing to Dearborn County, Ind., entered Government land in what is now Lawrenceburg Township, five miles from the present town of that name. Mr. Chase built a log cabin in which they commenced housekeeping. After a few years this was replaced by a larger dwelling, which was built of logs and covered with clapboards rived by hand. In that house their daughter Catherine, now Mrs. Blasdel, was born.

             After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Blasdel settled in Dearborn County, where, near the home of their childhood, they have experienced the joys and sorrows of half a century of wedded life. To them have been born eleven children, four of whom died young. The names of those who grew to maturity are as follows: Huron, Zerilda, Major, Bettie, Ella, William H. and Leonard C. Huron M. enlisted during the late war with Company H, 83d Indiana Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Vicksburg, May 19, 1863, from the effects of which he died soon after; Zerilda, wife of T. J. Nevett, resides in Sumner County, Kan.; Bettie is the wife of Robert Coin, of Sumner County, Kan; Ella is the wife of John Bogeur, of Reno County, Kan.; William lives in Kiowa County, Kan.; Leonard resides on the homestead with his aged parents. All the children are married and successful in life.

             Our subject was reared on the home farm, and received his literary education in the common schools of his native town. At the commencement of the late Civil War he was too young to take part in it, but his patriotic spirit was aroused, and he eagerly watched its course, until January, 1865, when, though only seventeen years of age, he enlisted, and was mustered into service as a member of Company A. 148th Indiana Infantry, and served until October of the same year, when the regiment was disbanded by general order. After the war he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, assisting his father in carrying on the farm until he was twenty-three years of age. Subsequently for some years he was very successfully engaged in the same calling in Piatt County, Ill. There he established a comfortable home and accumulated considerable property.

             On the 4th of March, 1872, Major Blasdel was married to Eleanor J. Cox, an amiable and accomplished young lady. She was born in Dearborn County, Ind., May 12,1852. Her paternal grandparents were natives of Maryland and Kentucky respectively. Her parents, Lafayette and Melissa (Blasdel) Cox, were natives of Dearborn County, Ind. To them were born thirteen children, ten of whom attained the age of maturity, as follows: Nancy, Thomas W., Mary, Eleanor J., John J., Betty, Henry, Melinda M., Louisa A. and Adelia. Nancy married William Shanklin, of California; Thomas resides in Champaign County, Ill.; Mary married J. R. Robinson, and died leaving four children; John resides in Piatt County; Betty is the wife of Asa Smith, of McLean County, Ill.; Henry lives in Piatt County, Ill.; Melinda is the wife of Ralph Smith, of Spink County, Dak.; Louise is at home; Adelia married Ezra Shanks, of McLean County, Ill.

             In 1885 the subject of our sketch, with his family, left their home in Illinois and came to Kansas, and purchased the farm where they now reside. Mr. Blasdel owns 160 acres of land, which is very finely situated in one of the most fertile farming regions of this State, and is highly improved and well stocked. He has a good dwelling and ample farm buildings; one barn which he lost by fire was replaced by a larger and better one.

             To Mr. and Mrs. Blasdel have been born seven children, namely: Ira, Ora, Leo, Luella, Roy, Eda and Clyde. Mr. Blasdel is a man of much force of character and native ability, and in all his transactions, either in matters of business or society, uniformly commands respect and esteem. In politics Mr. Blasdel, like all bearing that patronymic, is a firm supporter of the Republican party. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R.

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