The educator of today has to meet and overcome many obstacles with which
those of an older day knew nothing. The enlarging of the curriculum of the
public schools with the demand for the practice of pedagogy necessitates a
long and careful training and constant subsequent study and reading on the
part of those to whom is entrusted the training of the plastic mind of
youth. Popular demand has resulted in the production of a class of men who
have no equal in the history of the world as educators. Their knowledge of
their work and matters in general is extensive and profound, and at the same
time they possess sound judgment and a keen insight into human nature that
makes it possible for them to give to each pupil the individual attention
now regarded as so necessary for the proper rounding out of character. Among
those who have thus distinguished themselves along these lines in a broad
and comprehensive way is Professor Edward Louis Blake, principal of the
public school system of Grand Tower, Illinois, whose long and faithful
service here entitles him to a place among the eminent educators of Southern
Illinois. Professor Blake is a product of eastern Kentucky, and was born
October 27. 1866, a son of William Jasper and Octavia V. (Tanner) Blake.
William Jasper Blake was born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia (then
Virginia), and was a farmer and carpenter by vocation. As a young man he
moved to Kentucky, where he was married and during the latter part of the
Civil war he was mustered into the Confederate service, but on the same
night deserted to the Union lines and joined the Federal army. After serving
several months the war closed and he returned to his home, but shortly after
the birth of Edward L., the family came to Illinois. Mr. Blake later went
back to his native state and subsequently settled in Steubenville, Ohio,
where his death occurred in 1874, after which the family located in Gallatin
county, Illinois, where Mrs. Blake's death occurred ten years later.
Edward Louis Blake was the second in order of birth of a family of five
children, and his preliminary educational training was secured in the public
schools of Steubenville, Ohio, and Gallatin county. Illinois. For one year
he attended Hayward Collegiate Institute, at Fairfield, and spent a spring
and summer term in the schools at Normal, Illinois, although he had at that
time been engaged in teaching for three years in Gallatin county. In 1894 he
located in Carbondale, where he continued until 1900, in the meantime
teaching in Gallatin, Union- and Jackson counties, and after finishing his
course spent twelve weeks in the University of Illinois. On taking the state
examination he was granted a life certificate. Mr. Blake first taught school
in Grand Tower in 1897, and since that time, with the exception of a few
short terms, he has served as principal of the schools here. In 1902 he was
a candidate for the office of county superintendent, but owing to political
conditions at that time he met with defeat. His principles are those of the
Republican party, and he and his wife attend the Presbyterian church.
Professor Blake's reputation as an educator is high in the profession, and
personally he is very popular, many of his warmest friends in this community
being former pupils. He has found time to exert his influence in behalf of
progressive movements of benefit to the city, but has not entered the public
field to any extent.
In June, 1902, Professor Blake was married to
Miss Ida Schulze, of Grand Tower, and three children have been born to this
union, namely: Helen and Evelyn, twins, and Edward.
Extracted 11 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from 1912 A History of Southern Illinois, by George W. Smith, volume 3, page 1405.