Lucius S. Blake

Lucius Sawyer Blake (March 14, 1816 – November 4, 1894) was an American carpenter, businessman, and Wisconsin pioneer. He was an early settler at Racine, Wisconsin, and contributed significantly to the economic development of the city. He also represented Racine in the Wisconsin State Assembly during the 1871 session.

Early life Lucius S. Blake was born March 14, 1816, in Burlington, Vermont. He had little education in his childhood, and worked as an assistant in his father's shops, following him from Vermont to Erie County, New York, and then apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner. About 1834, the family started moving west by wagon, settling briefly in Michigan and Chicago, before making a claim on 600 acres of land in the area that is now Caledonia, Wisconsin.

Pioneer businessman After working several years helping his father establish their homestead, he set off on his own in 1838. After working for a short time employed by Samuel Hale and John Bullen for construction of buildings in Kenosha, he came to Racine and opened his own carpentry shop in 1839. He was chosen as a delegate to the 1872 Republican National Convention, and served as a presidential elector for James A. Garfield, in 1880.

He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in 1870, running on the Republican Party ticket. He represented Racine County's first Assembly district, which then comprised just the city of Racine.

He ran again for mayor of Racine in 1878 and 1879, but was defeated on both attempts. At the time, he was described as the largest individual taxpayer in the city.

He died of a sudden heart failure at his home in Racine, on November 4, 1894. He was described as a millionaire at the time of his death.

Personal life and legacy Lucius S. Blake was the third of ten children born to Captain Levi Blake and his wife Mary Ann ( Sanford). His father served as an officer in the New York militia during the War of 1812 and served as county treasurer of Racine County in 1844; he later moved further west and was one of the founders of Sparta, Wisconsin.

Lucius married Caroline Elliott on December 26, 1843, at Racine.

Electoral history Racine Mayor (1862)