The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-06-03

Albert c. blanchard.
The following sketch Of the life
and character Of one of the Oldest and
most esteemed former citizens OF I
Richmond is takcHrfrou ~ resent
issue of the Springfield ( Mass.,) heS
publican.
Died in Brookfeld, Mass, May II,
1874, ALBERT c. BIZ ANCHARD.
He was man of. rare natural en-
don ne dts and OF rnostF marked traits
III character. His life was one-ofcease
less activity, and in every sense, to
high degree. a successful. one. Born
N Brook6eld iii Io0S, he early began
his business lie as a clerk in the
ueiehborink city Of Springfield EAtter
serving an apprenticeship OF a few
years, he was DESTROYS OF engaging, IN
business for himself. and removed to
what was then the far off West, and,
after few changes. settled in Rich
moRd-r lndiaDa. where the greater
fdrt4of his Efe.was spent. 1
Entering business here as a young
merchant with most limited capital,
lie soon began to develop that rare
combination of traits which afterward
marked him so strongly as an eminent
ly successful business man. His n
nancial ability being soon recognized,
in 1895 he was chosen president OF the
Ri hmond branch of the State bank OF
indiana. This position he held Tor
twenty years, when the banks charter
expired.
= Asa meuiber of the State hoard Of
direction he became prominent and
his influence in financial matters teit
throughout the state. To his clear
Judgment and far sighted business
sagacity was the remarkable Success
OF this honorable institution in no
small measure due. With the expira-
ton ofthe charter 6f~the State bank
the Bank Of the State of Indiana
was chartered to take its place. With
this Mr.. Blanchard was even more
Intimately connected lie was not
only president of the Richmond branch
but largely instrumeu tal in shaping
; b policy of the bank from the first,
aud always afterward influential in
its general management This instii
tuition, like its predecessor. was a
great credit to the State. 1t refused to
yield to the terrible pressure Oh the
| panic of 1857, which caused so general
| suspension of the banks of the country
| 1t continued successful and prosper
Gus until the state system gave way to
| the national.
Mr. Blanchard was also one of the
pioneers in private banking in the
| West. In 1853 he, in connection with
Robert MORRISON and Charles +.
Coffin, established private banking
house styled the 'Citizehs Bank" one
| q the first Institutions of its kind in
the State. From comparatively small
proportions, it grew to be one of the
largest and most successful business
houses in eastern Indiana. Its stand.
ing was second to none in sthe, Wests
and it continued for twenty years, I'M
til its close, an honor and profit TO all
connected with it.
| Retiring from business, in the full
tide of his prosperity and success, on
account Of the health of his family, he
spent the latter years I'll his life in re-
1 tiremept,at. the. home Of his llovhood
using his energies and the fruits o.
his life labor in m;nistering to .hs
comfort and happiness of others.
10 make a just analysis OF Iii:
character is . difficult task, and vii
not be undertaken. ItWas charactel
OF rare strength, yet symmetrical,
developed and !ovabie. His mind wa
remarkable for its comprchensivenes
of grasp and power OF concentration
. 1t was capable OF taking broad ant
general view and yet keeping the in
Idividual facts and relations clear an
distinct. His views On questions Q
national finance, in which he eve
took great interest, events proved t
be of singular clearness and correc.
ness. He was gifted to remarkabl
degree with the power, on the on
hand, of close observation of facts
land on the other of maturing froi
them the most broad and just genel
alizations. His judgments were onl
made after the most careful, painstak
ing examination and weighing Of a
the fats of the case, but when ono
formed he had the courage to abide |
them and act upon them. Meth,
obstacles nor opposition could tur
him from the course his mature juds
ment marked out forshim. His cal
self reliance. his infexibility of pul
poss and his power Of intense applic
' ton always insured success in eye1
Undertaking. And yet he was one
the most unassumins and retiring
= men, modest even to fault. Publ
lite offered him no attractions, but. Q
1 khn nfrov Oh tot pI
him, and he never sought to enter
The approval of his own conscienc
consciousness, of success in his undo
takings, the esteem and confidence
his, friends and the affections of h
family were among the things
chiefly prizeI.
Kind, courteous, eonsiderate of Il
feelings and rights Of others to, Il
extreme; Of quick sympathies al
. generous impulses, he was by natn
T. "a true gentleman. Possessed of
strong sense of justice, the sharpe
and clearest moral perceptions, al
= inherent love Of truth and rigl
~ which self interest could not bias
blunt, he was most scrupulously u
right in all his dealings. He was re
ognized among all his wide acguail
: ance as man of the purest motiv,
the staunchest integrity f.
}, But to these virtues, native a
cultivated. he united also the grat
of strong, well-developed Christi
character. Though of irreproachal
T. moral character, representative o
high type Of manhood, he yet I
d Christian manhood to be the nobl
and truest. Accordingly in the +
strength of his mature years, after I
same careful consoiontivus consider
We ton which. characterized all his bu
Z ness transactions he consecrated hi
- self INTO the service of God. FIR
that conservation he never drew ba
q but eyercentinued a most hunt
- dououf Hollowar of h;S. Master.