DECATUR O. BLAKE
Sheriff from 1867-1868
Not much is known about Decatur Blake. He was born in Michigan about 1828 and came to Montcalm County sometime in the 1850's. He settled in Fairplains Township and worked as a farm laborer. He served as Justice for Fairplains for the years 1857 and 1858. On August 15, 1861 he enlisted as a Sergeant from Michigan in Company H 8th Infantry Regiment. He was wounded on June 16, 1862 at James Island, South Carolina and discharged on October 24, 1862 in Pleasant Valley, Maryland. He returned to Michigan and was elected sheriff four years later. After his term (1867-1868) as sheriff he served as undersheriff according to the 1870 census. He and his wife, Martha E., had two children, Lester and Emma. By 1880 they resided in North Shade Township, Gratiot County and the 1890 Veteran's census listed his home as Day County, South Dakota.
(Sources: History of Ionia and Montcalm Counties by John S. Schenck; Montcalm & Gratiot County census; Americana Civil War Soldiers Record, Ancestry)
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