Blakeslee, James

18 July 1802–18 Dec. 1866. Born in Milton, Chittenden Co., Vermont. Married Louisiana Edmunds, ca. 1824. Resident of Ellisburg, Jefferson Co., New York, by 1830. Baptized into Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by David W. Patten, 19 July 1833, in Ellisburg. Ordained a priest by David W. Patten, 20 July 1833. Ordained an elder by Thomas Dutcher, spring 1834. Served missions in New York and Upper Canada, mid-1830s. Moved to Perth, Upper Canada, 1835. Presided over branch of church in Ontario, Upper Canada, 1837. Ordained a seventy by Brigham Young, fall 1840. Resident of Sangerfield, Oneida Co., New York, 1840. Left to serve mission to Great Britain, 7 Oct. 1840. Departed Liverpool for New York, 4 Mar. 1841. Moved to Nauvoo, Hancock Co., Illinois, summer 1843. Excommunicated, 18 May 1844. Joined Sidney Ridgon’s Church of Christ after JS’s death. Moved to Pittsburgh, fall 1844. Moved to Voree, Walworth Co., Wisconsin Territory, 4 July 1847, where he joined James J. Strang’s Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Assisted James J. Strang in exploring Beaver Island, Charlevoix Co., Michigan, May 1849. Moved to Batavia, Kane Co., Illinois, by 1857, where he joined Baneemyism movement. Joined Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Appointed a president of Quorum of the Seventy in church, 6 Apr. 1860; appointed apostle, Oct. 1860. Died at Batavia.