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WILLIAM H. BLAKE, M. D.
Page 397

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Samuel L. Blake, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, emigrated to Ohio from Middletown, Connecticut, in the year 1816, and settled in Alexander township, Athens county.  He was born in 1777, and died in 1859.  His son, Samuel B., born in Alexander township in 1817, and married in 1845, Polly Camp, who was born in the same township January 15, 1825.  Polly Camp was the daughter of John Camp, and Lois French who were early settlers in the township before mentioned, removing also from Connecticut.

The parents of the subject of this biography are still living in their native township, and have a family of six children, as follows:  William H., born February 23, 1846; Henry C., born October 23, 1847, a practicing physician in Lockbourne, Franklin County, Ohio, and married January 1, 1879, Miss Fannie P. Vause; Hattie, who married Clark A. Potter, of Athens, and now living in Texas, born October 6, 1850; Mary E., who married in 1877, Charles F. Tedrow, was born August 20, 1855, and now living in Athens county; John C., born September 30, 1862, and Charles F., born December 13, 1865, living at home.

Dr. Blake read medicine with Drs. Earhart and McClure, of Albany, Athens county, Ohio, and was graduated at Starling Medical college, Columbus, Ohio, in the spring of 1870.  Between his two terms at college, he practiced in Doddridge county, Virginia, and after receiving his diploma, he established himself at the little village of Shadeville, Franklin county, Ohio, which he found a favorable location for a physician, possessing the requisite energy and qualifications for success.  Dr. Blake soon built up a fine business, and now has a large and lucrative practice, his field comprising this township and adjacent territory within the county and the northern part of Pickaway county.  Having a larger practice than he could attend to, he induced his brother, Dr. H. C. Blake, to locate in Lockbourne in the spring of 1876, to whom he resigned his practice in that vicinity.    Dr. Blake was married November 28, 1873, to Ellen, daughter of David and Charlotte (Dulen) Williams, of Lockbourne, born October 28, 1855.  Two children are the result of this union--Ola, born August 31, 1874, and Samuel D., born September 16, 1877.

Dr. Blake has two honorable discharges from the late war [Civil War], having served six months as a member of the Fourth Independent battalion, Ohio volunteer cavalry, and afterwards in the One Hundred and Eighty-first regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry, from the date of its organization until the close of the war.

Dr. Blake, ever since he entered his profession, has given to the practice and study of medicine his whole attention and energy, refusing to accept positions of official trust, but seeking to attain the highest rank as a skilful physician and surgeon, following in the footsteps of his illustrious great grand father (Jesse Camp) who settled in Athens County, Ohio in 1814, from New Haven county, Connecticut, and was a noted surgeon in his day.