CHARLES WELLS BLAKESLEE, JR.

Seldom do we find a more conspicuous case of the inheritance of virtues and abilities from one generation to another than that of the well known Blakeslee family of New Haven, Connecticut, the record of which for two generations, both in business and the general life of the community, is such as to place the name high among those which are honored for services done to the city. One of the most conspicuous for talent and merit among the members of this most able family was the late Charles Wells Blakeslee, Jr., whose career deserves long to be remembered by his fellow citizens for the example that he set for business probity and the maintenance of the highest standards of life. His death, which occurred April 28, 1915, was considered untimely despite the fact that he was approaching the completion of his seventieth year, for his faculties and power for usefulness were entirely unimpaired, and was mourned as a public loss by a large proportion of the community.

Charles Wells Blakeslee, Jr., was born June 9, 1844, in New Haven, Connecticut, the city that was to remain his home and the scene of his notable activities throughout his life, the oldest son of Charles and Eliza (Clark) Blakeslee, both of whom are deceased. On both sides of the house he was descended from splendid old Connecticut stock, although his father was born in Massachusetts. His mother was a native of Milford, Connecticut.

Charles W. Blakeslee, Jr., gained his education in his native city, attending the excellent public schools there and proving himself an apt and intelligent scholar. His father, a man of unusual business ability, had engaged in the contracting business in New Haven at about the time of the birth of our subject and had succeeded admirably in build-ing up a large establishment. Charles W. Blakeslee, Jr. was not a member of the firm but was associated with the firm and had charge of the quarries. From the time of its foundation by the elder Blakeslee the firm had earned an enviable reputation for the completeness and ability with which it carried out its contracts, abiding by the spirit an well as the letter of them, a reputation that, combined with the masterly policy of thr father and sons, was the foundation of the immense business that developed. Tim character of this business was as satisfactory as its size and included the construction of many of the largest and most important edifices in and about New Haven and man; other parts of the state. Much of their work was through public contract and often involved the expenditure of millions of dollars. As an example of the magnitude and importance of their work it should be mentioned that they were among the contractors to whom the city of New York awarded the building of the huge Ashokan aqueduct which conveys the great new water supply of the city from its origin among the Catskill mountains. A section of this monumental work, four miles in length, was awarded to C. W. Blakeslee & Sons on the east side of the Hudson river which, according to the contract, they were to complete in four years' time. So energetic were they, however, in carrying out the work that they were able to finish it some ten months before the agreed period, while the character of the material and workmanship were such as to win for them the unreserved commendation of the city government and the admiration of even their rival contractors.

Mr. Blakeslee was active in many other departments of the city's life besides the business referred to above, and in every movement in which he took part earned the approbation of his fellows. As a young man he had enlisted on the 1st of April, 1862, in Company G, 1st Regiment of Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery, at the outbreak of the Civil war, but, through no lack of willingness on his part, his participation in that momentous struggle was very brief. He was mustered in in the early part of the year 1862, saw active service at once, but a few months later was seized with typhoid fever, which incapacitated him for further service, and he was honorably discharged on the 15th of August following. He became later a private in the Second Company, Governor's Horse Guard, and served in that celebrated body twelve years, rising in that time to the rank of major. A stanch republican, he took an active part in local politics and served a number of terms both as councilman and alderman in New Haven, doing efficient service for the community in both capacities. He was also extremely prominent in social and club circles in the city and belonged to many important organizations, in all of which he was active. Among these should be mentioned the New Haven Chamber of Commerce, the New Haven Colony Historical Society, the Grand Army of the Republic, the Citizens Corps, the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Founders and Patriots Society. He was an Episcopalian in religious belief and was a conspicuous member of Christ church, New Haven, and a vestryman for a number of years, or until his death.

On October 14, 1868, Mr. Blakeslee was united in marriage with Grace Caroline Fowler, also a native of New Haven, born October 18, 1845, a daughter of Timothy and Mary Eliza (Stevens) Fowler, old and highly esteemed residents of that city. Mrs. Blakeslee survives her husband one of their four children also survives, Edith May, now Mrs. George Clarence Razee, of New Haven, Connecticut.
 

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