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| Birth Date: 1870 |  | Birth Date:1860 |
| Death Date: 1949 | | Death Date: 1947 |
Martin Luther Blakley was born in Sacramento, California, the sixth child of John A. Blakley (b. Nov. 1822 in TN; d. Jan.1909 in Bangs, Brown Co.,TX) and Elizabeth N. Knox McPeak Blakley (b.Nov.2, 1827, MO; d.Jun 10, 1870 in Santa Rosa, CA and buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Sebastopol, CA)
Maggie Walker was born in MO. Her Father Thomas was in the Civil War and her Mother Rebecca was an orphan.
Martin moved to Texas with his family in 1876 and settled in Brown County, Texas. Maggie moved to Texas in 1879 to Callahan County. Martin and Maggie were married in August 21 1893 in Merkel, TX. They lived at Bangs until 1901, and then moved to Las Vegas, NM. They moved from New Mexico in 1902, to Dickens County. They bought a farm four miles south of Afton and lived there until their deaths.
We lived in a half dugout 20 by 20 feet until 1908, and then built a two room house. Later in 1911 we added more to the house. In 1941 we tore this old house down and rebuilt and moved it to the location where it is now.
During the first six years, every one had to go to Quanah about 90 miles away for supplies. It took ten days to two weeks to make the round trip, depending on the weather. In 1909 the railroad came to Dickens county.
We farmed and raised cattle and horses and mules. We had a big orchard of peaches, plums, grapes, apples, and berries. Always we had hogs and chickens. We had lots of dairy cattle and during the depression we milked 15 to 20 cows and sold milk and cream to help pay our expenses.
All the Blakleys were church workers. The First Methodist Church was built in 1905. The lumber was hauled in from Quanah. Luther was one of the men that helped build that church. He also helped to build the New Hope school. Both were devoted followers of their faith. The Christian attitude is still maintained by the family that is left. Ollie, a son, and Eula Mae Arthur still reside in the old home. The other children are Ellen, Luther, Inez and Iris. The last three were born in Dickens County.
Source: History of Dickens County; Ranches and Rolling Plains, Fred Arrington, ©1971
Martin Luther Blakey, 87, resident of Dickens County 45 years, died at his home in Afton at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
He was a retired farmer.
Funeral services were conducted at the Afton Methodist Church Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock followed by burial in the Afton Cemetery.
Survivors include the widow, Mrs. Maggie Blakey, three sons, W.L. Blakey and Luther Blakey, both of whom live in California, and L.O. Blakey of Afton; four daughters, Mrs. Ula Mae Arthur, Afton, Mrs. Ellen Dinington of Clyde, Mrs. Inez Harding, Causey, New Mexico and Mrs. Iris Mc Spadden of Meridan.
©The Texas Spur, November 27, 1947
Transcribed by DCHC Members, February 20, 2005
Funeral rites for Mrs. Maggie Blakley, 78, pioneer Dickens County resident, were conducted at the Afton Methodist Church, Tuesday, June 21 at 3 p.m. with Rev. Vaughn, pastor of the Matador church, officiating.
Mrs. Blakley succumbed Monday at 2:30 a.m. at the Lubbock Memorial Hospital.
Bryan McDonald and Son Funeral Home, Matador, were in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include four daughters, Mrs. W.N. Arthur, Glenn; Mrs. Ross Dennington, Cisco; Mrs. B.L. Harding, Rogers, N.M.; and Mrs. L.J. McSpadden of Hamilton; two sons, L.O. Blakley of Afton and Luther Blakley of Julian, Calif., 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
©The Texas Spur, June 23, 1949
Transcribed June 5, 2005 by members of the DCHC
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022
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