GALIEN, MI. - BAKESLEE, GEORGE A., Farmer, Stock-raiser, Grain Dealer, Merchant, and Manufacturer, of, Galien, was born at Ellisburg, Jefferson County, New York, August 22, I826, and is of English descent.
His mother, Lousiana Edmunds, was a cousin of Judge Edcmunds, of Ohio. Her father was a Revolutionary soldier, and was taken prisoner by the British. His father, James Blakeslee, was a minister of the Gospel. He embraced the belief of the Latter-day Saints in 1833, and, soon after, commenced preaching for that denomination. When his son was ten years of age, he removed to Perth, Canada. After two years, he went to St. Lawrence County, and again, in one year, to Waterville, Oneida County, New York. Thence he went to Utica, where he resided until 1842. He then started for Southern Iowa, which he reached July 5, I843, and where he continued to preach five years. In I848 he removed to Batavia, Kane County, Illinois, where he remained until his death, which occurred December I8, I866. He discharged his duty as a minister of the Gospel thirty-three consecutive years, during one of which he was sent as a missionary to Europe. He was a man of marked ability, and never, as far as he knew, had an enemy.
George A. Blakeslee attended the common schools in the various places in which his parents resided. He also received the best instruction from his father and mother, who were both exceedingly well educated, and who highly valued learning. In 1848 he emigrated to Batavia, Kane County, Illinois, and spent one year in working on a farm. In the fall of I849, he engaged in the lumber business, which he continued until I856, and then moved to Michigan, to what is now Galien, Berrien County. Here he became interested in general mercantile business, in connection with his lumber trade. When the country became quite thickly populated, he commenced dealing in grain. He also purchased a large farm, and added farming and stock-raising to his business. He has erected a large saw-mill, and manufactures over one million five hundred thousand broom-handles annually. He is, probably, the largest manufacturer in Western Michigan. His farming and timber lands exceed one thousand acres.
February 13, 1848, he married Miss Lydia Alcott, an English lady, who had come to America but a few years before. Her father was a manufacturer of queensware in England. Upon coming to this country, he settled in McHenry County, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeslee have had nine children,-two sons and seven daughters,-all of whom are living. He has been a Republican since the organization of that party, in 1854. He has held several minor public offices; having been Postmaster of Galien since I856, and Justice of the Peace since I857, although he has several times tried to relinquish the office. Following the teachings of his father, he espoused the faith of the Latter-day Saints. He is a Royal Arch "Mason. He is now fifty-one years of age, and enjoys good health. He is a leader in every laudable public enterprise. He is an excellent business man, not over-anxious about his affairs, and successful in almost every thing he undertakes.

Thanks to Karen Ferency Baker (47351306) for the bio.

Suggested edit: The bio information is from the: "American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Michigan, Volume," published by Western Biographical Publishing Co., Cincinnati, O., 1878.
Contributor: Celeste (46927489)