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Subject: [KYPENDLE] Falmouth Outlook Volume 13 Number 46 James E. Blades Obit
Date: Sat, 7 Jun 2003 10:04:35 EDT


Falmouth Outlook Volume 13 Number 46 23 Apr 1920
Pg. 1 Col. 2

Deaths

Blades, James E. 78
b. 22 Oct 1841 Near Willow in Bracken Co.
d. Saturday home on West Shelby St. Falmouth
bur. Riverside Cem.
son Jehu Blades
his mother died when he was two weeks old.
raised by uncle William Regan
m1. Cynthia Jane Cummins she d. 30 Nov 1904
m2. Lena McKenney Dec 1905
two children by m2. Ida May Blades
James Franklin Blades

James E. Blades

James E. Blades, one of the city's venerable and highly respected
citizens, died last Saturday morning at his home on West Shelby Street, after an
extended illness.
Mr. Blades was born October 22, 1841, hence was 78 years old. The place
of his birth was near Willow, in Bracken county. He was the son of Mr. &
Mrs. Jehu Blades, and his mother died when he was but two weeks old. Mr. Blades'
father later removed to Iowa, and the son was adopted and reared to young
manhood by his uncle and aunt, Mr. & Mrs. William Regan. When 16 years old, Mr.
Blades left the home of his foster parents, and went to Leon, Iowa, making his
home for several years with his brother-in-law Mr. & Mrs. John Brown, father
of Carlos Brown, of this city. After two years stay in Iowa, Mr. Blades
returned to Kentucky and located near Kelat where he taught school for a number of
years.
Mr. Blades was married to Miss Cynthia Jane Cummins of Harrison Co. They
then located on a farm near Neave, Bracken County, where Mr. Blades engaged in
extensively in tobacco growing and stock raising. About the year 1876 he bought
a farm near Antioch Mills where he remained for two years, and in 1878 he
moved to this city and engaged in the grocery business, in partnership with J. U.
Ruggles in the building now occupied by Sol Goldberg's shoe store. The
grocery business was very successful and in a few years Mr. Blades entered the
local tobacco trade, and for thirty years was an extensive handler of leaf
tobacco. So keen was his business judgment that he is probably the only tobacco
dealer that ever went through the trying days without financial reverses.
Mr. Blades wife died November 30, 1904. He united in marriage to Miss Lena
McKenney, of this city, in December 1905 and to this union two children were
born, Ida May and James Franklin who with his wife survive. Mr. Blades was the
youngest of four children. The other children were Jefferson, John W. and
Sarah Blades all of whom have long since passed away. Carlos Brown of this city
is Mr. Blades closest relative outside the immediate family. Mr. Brown is the
son of Mr. Blades only sister, Sarah E. Blades-Brown.
During Mr. Blades forty-five years residence in Falmouth, he has been one of
the leading business spirits of the city. He served as director and President
of the Pendleton Bank for many years. He was a life-long member of the
Baptist Church and a member of the Orion Lodge No. 222, F & A. M. and also took an
active interest in the affairs of h church and lodge.
By good business judgment and frugal habits, Mr. Blades accumulated a big
fortune, and at the time of his death was probably the wealthiest man in
Pendleton Co. His remarkable success demonstrates the fact that it doesn't matter so
much what a man makes but what he saves. When a young man he worked on a farm
in Kansas for 20 cents a day and made it a rule to save a certain portion of
his wages. This habit he continued through his life.
The funeral services were held from the Baptist Church Monday afternoon,
conducted by Rev. R. H. Toll assisted by Rev. O. J. Steger and Rev. C. P. Pilow.
He was buried in Riverside Cemetery with Masonic honors.


Doug Harper, Biloxi, MS

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