[1] While he was a young child his family moved to Wisconsin, where they settled near Ironton in Sauk County.
At the age of 23, he married Mary Ballard and six months later, in September 1861, volunteered to serve in the Union Army during the American Civil War.
In April 1865, he received a promotion to Captain of Company H, and was mustered out with his men in July.
Returning to Sauk County, Blakeslee sold the family farm and moved into Ironton, where he engaged in the mercantile trade.
Blakeslee died on February 22, 1911, and is buried at Resting Green Cemetery in Ironton.