John Franklin Blair

 


biography

 

 

John Franklin Blair, was born November 6th, 1835 in Crawford County, Pennsylvania.  He was the youngest child of Samuel and Mercy (Chidester) Blair.  He made the five week overland wagon trip to Ogle County, Illinois with his parents and siblings when just eighteen months old.  When they arrived the family constructed a crude one room log cabin which sheltered the entire family until a larger frame house could be constructed.  He was educated in a one room log school house that his father and brothers helped to build.  John was one of the first pupils to attend this school.

John's older brothers and sisters all left the homestead as they grew up, but John remained on the farm his entire life.  He cared for his parents until their death in 1861, at which time the farm transferred into his hands. 

On September 16, 1862 he married Miss Amelia A. Robins.   Amelia was born in New York City on October 25, 1844 to John and Elizabeth Robins.   Her family had come to Mt. Morris, Illinois by way of Detroit, Michigan when she was just a child.  John and Amelia were parents to seven children: Clarence, Arthur, Harry, Elmer, Lewis, Nellie and Harriet.  In 1885, Arthur, age 19, died of tuberculosis and five years later his mother succumbed to the disease on August 22, 1890 at the age of 45.  Amelia was a woman of extraordinary character.  In an article written in 1907 she was described this way: "The finest of the wheat, a cheerful worker in all good works, an untiring church worker, a leader in Sunday school, temperance and missionary work, a loving mother, sincere, benevolent and sympathetic. The remembrance of her and her good deeds places her on a plane way beyond ordinary people."

John Blair gave his whole life to farming, his family and to his community.  His farm consisted of 700 acres of rich farm land and he worked it to great success.  Over the course of his lifetime four homes were built on the farm, the last being a very roomy, comfortable building with modern conveniences and a rather artistic appearance.  He built several buildings, known as "Blair's Block," in the town of Adeline. These buildings included a large warehouse above which was a large hall (Blair's Hall) that was used for community activities and entertainment.   A butcher shop and large ice house resided on the same block. He enjoyed music and played for a number of years with the Adeline band, which appeared in many cities in northern Illinois.  He held the office of School Director for twelve years and as Road Commissioner for twelve years.

John was described as a man of jolly countenance and a hearty handshake.  A cheerful how-do-you-do is the manner in which he greeted all comers whether friend or foe.  Never a surly snarl or a cross word was heard uttered from him." After the death of his wife, he cared for his invalid mother-in-law for many years.  He spared neither money nor time in her behalf.  He believed in the Christian religion, but never united in any particular denomination.  It was his purpose to live and practice the Golden Rule as the best he understood it.

John retired from farming in 1893 but continued to live on the farm with his daughter Harriet and her husband, George Rummel.  The farm was worked by his son Lewis until his retirement and move to Mt. Morris and then by his grandson, Frank, who farmed it until his retirement in 1968.  The farm was sold soon after 1968 and only a small portion still remains in the hands of Blair descendants.

John's health started to seriously decline two years prior to his death.  He was confined to his bed for the last nine months, but his mind stayed keen and active.  Two nurses remained at his bedside constantly during the last eight months of his life.  He had suffered from pancreatic cancer for 14 years and in addition, for the last two, he suffered from nephritis, a kidney disease, which ultimately took his life on November 26, 1927 at the age of 92.


from The Tales of a BLAIR FAMILY