Russell in Lake County, Ohio
William (Simon) Russell Married Polly Bailey had thirteen children:
Sarah Elizabeth Russell born 27 December 1827 in Painesville, Lake county, Ohio
Benjamin, Joseph, James, William, Clement, Warren, Caroline, Mary, Rebecca, Abigail, and Laura, and two infants died in infancy.
Sarah married Jason Blakeslee 8 August 1847. Until 1854 they lived on a farm near Painesville, Ohio, three daughters were born here: Mary Olivia Blakeslee b 12 Sept 1849
Clara Elvira Blakeslee b 19 December 1850 and Livera Rebecca Blakeslee b 13 August 1852. In 1854 the family moved to Spring Garden, Illinois.
Four children were born here in Spring Garden, Illinois, Sarah Elizabeth Blakeslee b 8 April 1856, Franklin Cooper Blakeslee b 1 October 1858, Ida Mae Blakeslee b 9 Sept 1860, and Cora Belle Blakeslee b 3 December 1863.
In 1866, they decided to move because the climate in Spring Garden, Illinois was not suitable for some of their family.
I know why because I visited there a few years ago, it's always raining and flooding, and mosquitos everywhere, but it was quite fertile growing ground.
It was Westward Ho, for the Wet Mountain Valley in Colorado.
In May, 1870, a caravan of five covered wagons drawn by mules and horses set out from Spring Garden, Illinois.
Mary Olivia Blakeslee m Samuel W. Bernard, Clara Blakeslee m Lorenzo Dow Vaughn, had one son named Pinky,Livera Rebecca Blakeslee m James Wesley Bowers, Sarah Blakeslee was 14 yr., Frank-11 yr, Ida-9yrs, Cora-6yrs old.
All the citizens of Spring Garden, Illinois were present to bid them God-speed.Mrs. Utley's father, "Old Black Hawk" as he was called, rode out with them to Muddy River Crosssing where the caravan stopped for their first noon meal. After many farewells, Old Black Hawk mounted his horse, waved his hat to them and said, "This is the last you will ever see of Old Black Hawk."
After several seasons on South Hardscrabble, Colorado, Jason Blakeslee staked a homestead of 130 acres on Hardscrabble Park.
Mary Olivia Blakeslee m Samuel W. Bernard stayed in Spring Garden for awhile until Samuel could get well. Samuel was originally from Tennessee, where he practiced medicine as a doctor, then he became a pharmacist. In 1871, these two joined the Blakeslee family in Colorado. This family had 6 children
Lorenzo dow Vaughn and Clara Blakeslee had five children.
James Wesley Bowers had 6 children.
Sarah Blakeslee m to Granville Sylvester Warner had 6 children.
Frank Blakeslee m Margaret Callin, had 6 children. Ida Mae Blakeslee m Benjamin Gilbert Woodford, Gilbert was born in Warrensburg, MO. They had 4 children.
Cora Blakslee m to Lester Harvey Bancroft had 4 children. Lester was born in Granville Corners, Massachusetts. Lester was the first teacher in Wetmore, Colorado.
Jason Blakeslee and his wife Sarah Russell passed away. Jason-1908 and Sarah-1909.
The family history continues telling about Jason Blakeslee and Sarah Russell' children and their lives and children. Any one interested in learning about them?