Kentucky:  A History of the State, Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 3rd ed., 
1886. Warren County.

JOHN D. BLAKEMAN was born October 24, 1852, in Green County, Ky., and is 
one of the most active and wide-awake business men in Warren County.  He 
is a son of William J. and Nancy J. (Lasley) Blakeman, who had born to 
them four sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to be grown.  
William J. Blakeman was born in August, 1822.  He was an extensive 
farmer and a large slave holder before the war, and was a devoted and 
active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  He was a son of Daniel 
Blakeman, who married Bell Workman, both of Green County.  Daniel 
Blakeman was a substantial farmer and large slave holder, and a member 
of the Baptist Church; his father was born in eastern Kentucky.  The 
Blakemans came originally from Oxford, England, about 1760, and first 
settled in New York, and about 1795 located in Kentucky.  Mrs. Nancy J. 
(Lasley) Blakeman was born in Lynchburgh, Va., in 1822; she was a 
daughter of John and Elizabeth (Terrell) Lasley, of Virginia, and died 
in 1862.  The Lasley family were among the first pioneers of Lynchburgh, 
Va.  They were leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, many 
of them becoming ministers, and were of English and Scotch extraction.  
John D. Blakeman was reared a farmer and was educated at New Athens 
College from which he graduated; at the age of sixteen he commenced 
teaching; at twenty commenced farming.  In 1875 he began selling 
agricultural implements and machinery for Nevill McAy & Co., Louisville; 
afterward for J. B. Romans, of Nashville.  In the fall of 1882 he 
procured a patent for an improved safety singletree, and commenced its 
manufacture on a capital of $300.  His trade was increased to such an 
extent that he now has a capital of $10,000 invested.  His trade has 
been extended to nearly every State and Territory in the Union.  He also 
has considerable trade in South America.  This is the only factory of 
this character in the United States.  Mr. Blakeman devotes his entire 
attention to the enterprise and has about twenty men traveling and 
employed in his shop.  He was married, June 25, 1873, to Bell Dishman, 
of Barren County, Ky., a daughter of Robert C. and Mary W. (Norman) 
Dishman.  Mr. and Mrs. Blakeman have had born to them four children; 
Claude N., Edith L., William, Robert and Anna B. (deceased).  Mr. and 
Mrs. Blakeman are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.  He 
is also a member of the K. of P. and cast his first presidential vote 
for Tilden. 

Blakeman Lasley Workman Terrell McAy Romans Dishman Norman
=
Green-KY Oxford-England NY VA Louisville-Jefferson-KY Nashville-Davidson-TN

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/warren/blakeman.jd.txt