Major John Winslow Blake, a Civil War veteran, lived in Marshall and is buried in the Marshall Cemetery. He is one of several Civil War veterans who lived in Lyon County.

Blake, a civil engineer for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, was instrumental in getting the railroad built in Marshall in 1872. Major Blake bought land upon which the city of Marshall now stands and in company of others platted and founded the town.

Blake was born in Dover, Maine on Aug. 29, 1839. He moved to Wisconsin in 1840. He attended school at the University of Wisconsin, studying engineering. In 1860, he established and published the Jefferson County Republican in Jefferson, Wisconsin and was conducting the journal when the war began.

He enlisted for three months’ service as a private soldier and afterwards re-enlisted for three years in Company E, 4th Wisconsin Infantry. In October 1862, he was made first lieutenant of H Company, 29th Wisconsin Infantry, and was regimental adjutant from December 1862 to June 1864. He was then commissioned captain of H Company and detailed on the staff of General Cameron.

In October 1864, he became major of the 42nd Wisconsin Infantry. The next month he was made provost marshal on the staff of General John Cook, in which position he served at the close of the war.

During the course of the war, Blake was active in many captures and battles. For instance, he was in the battle of Baton Rouge, capture of Arkansas Post, Vicksburg campaign under General Grant, battle of Fort Gibson, capture of Jackson under General Sherman, and capture of Fort Esperanza to name a few.

After the war ended, he returned to Jefferson, Wisconsin and worked in the lumber business. In 1872, he started working for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company as a civil engineer and assisted in the location and construction of the Winona & St. Peter Railroad from New Ulm to Kampeska.

He lived in Marshall until January 1891 when he moved to Dalton, Georgia. Blake died there on May 15, 1903, and he is buried in the Marshall cemetery.

The photograph featured this week shows members of the D.F. Markham Grand Army of Republic Post in Marshall walking on Main Street carrying the American Flag, circa 1902. The event is likely for Memorial Day observance. Major Blake was one of the founders and first commander of the G.A.R. post in Marshall when it was established in 1881. The G.A.R. meeting hall was located on the 2nd floor of the Addison building.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.