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THE
LIFE AND TIMES OF ANDREW BLILA
|
|
April 7, 2011
DATE |
EVENT [Notes in red brackets need review and verification.] |
AGE |
|---|---|---|
| 1830, March 15 | Born: Krozingen, Baden, Germany to Andreas and Catherine Bleile, farmers | 0 |
| 1834, Sept. | Comes to America with parents, aunt and siblings: Eleanor, Charles, Mary, Barbara and Andrew on the S.S. Charlemagne. | 4 |
| 1835 | Andreas Bleile, Andrew's father, dies in February [CB: How was this date determined. Charles's memoirs says he died "four ??? later." Four months is not unreasonable or even four weeks, but do you have some evidence to support this date?] |
5 |
| 1841 | Andrew leaves family farm in Harbor Creek Twp. And begins working on ships in the Great Lakes. | 11 |
| 1841, Aug. 11 | Andrew begins working on a ship in the Great Lakes. Survivor: Steamship Erie sinking in Lake Erie, 8 miles from Silver Creek, NY. Over 240 dead. |
11 |
| 1843-1850 | Andrew works on a ship doing a three-year curse as a seaman to China after which he becomes a well-known pilot of the Great Lakes. [Estimated date] | 20 |
| 1851 | Andrew falls off the top deck breaking his arm, leg and ribs thus ending his sailing days. [Est. date] |
21 |
| 1851 | Andrew returns to Erie and after he recuperates, begins work as an architect/carpenter, building several homes in Erie. | |
| 1852, August 4 | Andrew is naturalized as a citizen of the United States of America. Joseph Spacht, brother of Gertrude Spacht, is his sponsor. | 22 |
| 1856, May 27 | Married: Gertrude Spacht (27), in St. Mary's Church, Erie, PA Andrew married Gertrude in a double cerimony on the same day and time at St. Mary's church in Erie, PA. | 26 |
| 1864 | Andrew's sister, Mary Bliley Rastatter (Mrs. John Michael Rastatter), gives birth to her sixth child, Frances Ida. Mary dies four weeks later. Gertrude and Andrew assume care of Frances. |
34 |
| 1865 | Established: "Bliley block, northeast corner State and Tenth streets, 1865". Also listed as: "Bliley [Blila], A. W., builder, grocer." [See Note 1] | |
| 1866 | 1st Child Adopted: Frances Ida Blila (F), Erie, PA at age of 2. | 36 |
| 1871 | Purchased property at 10th and State Streets, Erie, PA to serve as grocery store and carpentry shop (rear). Proprietor. Building expanded and upgraded by Andrew. Purchase Price: $570 | 40 |
| 1873 | Purchased and began expanding house at 329 West 9th Street in Erie, PA. Property in Gertrude's name. Purchase Price: $1,100 | 43 |
| 1883 | Frances Ida Rastatter Blila married Edward Wood [Estimated, no documents] | 53 |
| 1884, May 10 | First Grandchild Born -- Edward Joseph Wood-Blila | 54 |
| 1885 | Added carpenter operation to grocery store rear. | 55 |
| 1887 | Retires from grocery business. [CB: What of his carpentry/cabinet making enterprises?] | 57 |
| 1889 | Andrew completes his hand-carved sideboard and dates the back of the drawer. (Remains in family as of 2010.) | 59 |
| 1889–1890 | Nephew, Frank Anderson Bliley, boards with Andrew while he studies law. | 59 |
| 1890 | Hand carves a memento set of six small "books" made of wood scraps of historical ships or buildings, and loans them to the museum in Erie. [CB: ECHS museum accession files say 1902.] | 60 |
| 1891, Jan 1 | Catherine Eich Bliley, Andrew's mother, dies at 96. Buried in Trinity Cemetery, Erie, PA. | 61 |
| 1899, May 15 | Wife Gertrude (70) dies. Married 43 years to Andrew. | 69 |
| 1903, Jan. 5 | 2nd Child Adopted: Edward Joseph (Wood) Blila (19). Andrew's grandson. | 74 |
| 1903 | Cofounder of the Erie County Historical Society. | 74 |
| 1906, Nov. 15 | Charles Anderson Bliley (84), brother of Andrew, dies on November 15th. | 76 |
| 1907, June 5 | Marriage of adopted son, Edward (23) to Helen Rapp (21) | 77 |
| 1910, May 3 | Carl Andrew Blila, Andrew's great grandson is born. [CB: Is this Andrew's grandson or great grandson? After all, he adopted his grandson in 1903 as a son. Adoption documents do not imply post-adoption relationship.] | 80 |
| 1910, Dec. 9 | Edward and Helen M. Blila living with Andrews (1910 Census) Andrew deeds adjacent residence to son Edward. 327 West 9th Street in Erie, PA. It is reputed to be a gift from Andrew and Gertrude Blila. |
80 |
| 1915 | Andrew completes the end table to the bedroom set which has a hand-carved double bed and dresser with mirror and dates the drawer in the end table. | 85 |
| 1919, Feb. 2 | Andrew dies of heart failure at night in his home. (88Y, 1M) | 88 |
| 1920, April 14 | Edward formally adds his wife, Helen Blila, to the deed for their house at 329 West 9th Street that Andrew built. | |
FOOTNOTES
|
For a different view of Andrew's life, read his biography written by his great grand daughter in 2010.
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