Bessie (McDonald) Blaker (1894 - 1964)

Born 29 Jan 1894 in Ashdown, Little River, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Daughter of William Graham McDonald and Sarah Ida Armour

Wife of Jacob Archibald Blaker — married 22 Dec 1915 in El Campo, Wharton, Texas, United States

Descendants

Died 27 Sep 1964 at age 70 in Houston, Harris, Texas, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Amanda Blaker [send private message]

Biography

Bessie was born January 29, 1894 in Ashdown, Little River, Arkansas. She was the daughter of William McDonald and Sarah Armour^[1]Bessie was eight years old when her mother was admitted as a patient at Southwestern Insane Asylum, and she was raised by her father. She married Jacob Archibald "Jake" Blaker on December 22, 1915, in El Campo, Texas. ^[2]She often participated in recitals and poetry readings with her sisters. ^[3][4][5]She was a florist and owner of Blaker's Plant and Floral Company, in Almeda, Texas. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and was rarely seen without the fur coat she inherited after her sister's passing. Bessie also frequently reported fishing and water conditions from their bay house to the Palacios Beacon newspaper. ^[6]She passed away September 27, 1964 in Houston, Harris County, Tx. ^[7][8]

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2QS-W5B : accessed 4 February 2023), Bessie Mcdonald in household of William G Mcdonald, Justice Precinct 5, Wharton, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 168, sheet 1B, family 14, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1600; FHL microfilm 1,375,613.
2. ↑ "Texas, County Marriage Records, 1837-1965," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K61V-KWF : 23 February 2021), J Archibald Blaher and Bessie Mcdonald, 22 Dec 1915; citing Marriage, citing Wharton, Texas, United States, Texas State Library, Archives Division, and various Texas county clerks; FHL microfilm 4,396,458.
3. ↑ Smith, Carey. The Matagorda County Tribune (Bay City, Tex.), Vol. 81, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, September 10, 1926, newspaper, September 10, 1926; Bay City, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1304344/: accessed March 1, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Matagorda County Museum & Bay City Public Library.
4. ↑ Ballew, W. L. The El Campo Citizen (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 16, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, February 18, 1916, newspaper, February 18, 1916; El Campo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth893254/: accessed March 1, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Wharton County Library.
5. ↑ Ballew, W. L. The El Campo Citizen (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 16, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, February 11, 1916, newspaper, February 11, 1916; El Campo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth893258/: accessed March 1, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Wharton County Library.
6. ↑ Palacios Beacon (Palacios, Tex.), Vol. 50, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 16, 1957, newspaper, May 16, 1957; Palacios, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth428351/: accessed March 1, 2023), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Palacios Library.
7. ↑ "Texas Deaths, 1890-1976," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K3XL-3BJ : 20 February 2021), Bessie Blaker, 27 Sep 1964; citing certificate number 64438, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2,117,649.
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44839149/bessie-blaker: accessed 26 February 2023), memorial page for Bessie McDonald Blaker (29 Jan 1894–1964), Find a Grave Memorial ID 44839149, citing Garden of Memories, El Campo, Wharton County, Texas, USA; Maintained by Kathleen McQueen Dochtermann Boyd (contributor 47131333).

DNA Statements

Paternal and maternal relationship is confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between McDonald Blaker grand uncle of Blaker-184 and his 1st Cousin 1x removed, gfults22; descendant of Myrtle McDonald. Their most-recent common ancestors are William Graham McDonald and Sarah Ida Armour, Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 1st-2nd Cousins, based on sharing 584 cM across 22 segments.