From THE SIDNEY JOURNAL, Sidney, OH Friday, August 10, 1894
Article about Mrs. Ann (Blake) Conklin, the oldest resident.
History of the Blake Family
...In 1826 he (John Blake) took 50 head (horses) to South Carolina, a very considerable trip in those days, and disposed of them to advantage. On his way home when near Lexington, Kentucky, he was shot from an ambush in a corn field and robbed of his money. He did not die immediately, but even bad news traveled slowly then, and by the time his family heard of it and those who were able to go reached the scene of the tragedy he had been dead two or three days. Thus, far from home or early surroundings, perished one of the hardiest and best of the Shelby county pioneers. He rests there in the Southland... Complete Article

FUNERAL SERVICES OF O.B. BLAKE
The funeral services of O.B. Blake, who Died at this homeon Park street Tuesday afternoon, will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment at Graceland Cemetery.

Mr. Blake was 88 years of age at the time of his death all this life being spent as a resident of Sidney and Shelby county. Three sons and one daughter - John Blake, Craig Blake, Clifford Blake and Mrs. Grant Russell, survive hime. His wife Died several months ago. The deceased was a member of the First Presbyterian church and a citizen held in the highest esteem by all who knew him.

ARTICLE FAIRBURY JOURNAL 14 APRIL 1911
B.F. Blake from Sidney OH came in Friday to attend the funeral of his sister Mrs. Henry. He returned home Monday.

OBITUARY- Sidney Daily News July 11, 1931
B. F. BLAKE Died THIS AFTERNOON - Died AT HIS HOME IN EAST SIDNEY ABOUT 3 O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON - WAS NINETY YEARS OF AGE AND HAD RESIDED ALL HIS LIFE IN SIDNEY AND VICINITY.
B. F. Blake, the oldest continuous resident of Shelby County, Died at his home in East Sideny, Saturday afternoon about 3 o'clock. He had been enjoying very good health for----- his age, and had been able to go about the city until the last few days. He had not been feeling well the past couple days and Saturday morning, did not feel well enough to get up and remained in bed.

Mr. Blake was Born in this county on May 22, 1841 on a farm about a mile and a half east of Sidney, for years known as the Blake farm. His father came from England when twelve years of age.

A few years ago he told of being a boy when the Big Four railroad was built. Many of the men boarded at the Blake home. They would go to work at daylight and work until dark. He remembers carrying the men their breakfast at 7 o'clock and they would eat it on the job. They used oxen in the work and he said he remembered one driver, Chris Oxbarker, that drove nine yoke of oxen in a team. He used to help this driver use the whip on these oxen.

He also told of when the D and M. Railroad was built. One day he was sent to town with two baskets of eggs to sell. He had to walk to town carrying those two baskets of eggs. He could not sell them. Wm. Sneeberger, a general store suggested that he go over to where the D. and M. railroad was being built which he did and he sold the eggs for 5 cents a dozen after carrying them 2 1/2 miles. Butter sold at 10 cents per pount. Good whiskey sold at 15 cents per gallon.

He also told of the first cook store he ever saw, the first match and the first coal oil and how the women would go out in the field and work all day and in the evening after the cooking was done they would spin and pull flax and make their clothes. He also related about the first Maxwell mill being near the Christ Timues property, the Maxwell woolen mill along the river and managed by George Anderson. It was afterward made a grist mill. Guy Abbott and a Mr. Kramer had a still house along the river. John Carey purchased it and converted it into a flour mill and S.W. Maxwell finally got it and who at this time was doing most of the milling.

Mr. Blake was a farmer during his active life and lived just east of Sidney until he retired many years ago and moved to Sidney. He was Married to Margaret E. Hainer of Champaign and Logan County, December 30, 1880. She Died in 1919. He has two sons, Hamer Blake, who lives on the Blake farm and Will Blake who is connected with the Mentges Folder Company.

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