Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-19
DEATH OFMR. BLAIR
The Ex-President Of the School
Board.
DIED YESTERDAY MORNING


81 IT'S NaEccrs
The Hon. James Blair died II his
residence. No. loo Trowbrldxe street, at
8 O'Clock yesterday morning. The im-
mediate cause Ma nsArt failure. BY a
strange coincidence yesterday was the
thirty sixth anniversary Of Mr.. Blair's
marriage.
Nj. Blair's illness began nearly two
years ago. tie bessa 70 be- troubled
with hear. failure and felt that his life
might ecme 10 al end as any day. Con-
seqaentiy he began to arrange the de-
tails of his business in ORDER 10 leave
his family "a well provided for A. pos-
Nble. lie vas very retieeas concerning
his physical eoeditsoa and never men-
toned bis symptoms CT illness 10 any
OF ais friends. About two weeks ago be
ordered a telephone placed IN his
house. because" he said. al may be
sick some day and not feel
ike going 10 the Office. IL l have a
teiepnoae l eau let them know" Two
weeks ago today MIR. BLAIR Was seized
with a falnting spell IN the Office OF
sweets hotel. Frederick Rice called
Carriage and took Inn To MS home.
Mr. Blair protested that he WAS not Sc
rlousiy III. and no physician WAS sum
mnned. Ia spite OF his dec. arat:ois
that lt MAS nothing serious DO conriu-
ued TO grow worse. HE suffered terri
bic pains, ans. death finaliy caL1e as
relief 10 MS sufterings At O'Clock yes
terday morning. tie retained consci-
business 20 the last and babe the meal
bers Of his family final good bye.
Mr.. Blair Was married 10 Eliza Tur-
ner OF Ptsiuneld December IS. 1886.
Three children were the fruit of the
marrlage-Charles b ntoi Blair, James
Blair, Jr, and Hugh Blair-ali OF
whom are residents of this city. Mr.
Blair left his family in comfortable
circumstances, but was not wealthy at
the time OF ms death.
The funeral will tie held from the
family residence, No. l56 Trowhridge
street. tomorrow afternoon at O'Clock.
THIS afternoon st 3 O'clock the Kent
county bar viii meet IN the circuit
court rooms 20 take action on his
death.
sketch of His Life.
James BLAIR was born IN Putnam.
Washington county. y. Y, January =,
1928 lie was the son of Jonathan and
Elizabeth BLAIR, and was one OF . fam
lily OF eight, seven OF whom were boys.
The daughter IS Mrs I. Haw.ey Lyon,
mother OF Mrs. w. A. Greeson. Until
he Was ii years old Mr.. Blair's life Was
spent upon the farm OF his father,
which bordcred on the shores OF beau
tiful Lake George. About 1889 the
family moved to Michigan and settled
near Lansing. The locality was IN
unhealthful one. and the family suf-
feret severely from malarial attacks,
particularly young James.
Mrs. Lyon, IN relating their early
experience IN Michigan, said last night
that they had often been so sick that
there WAS not q we'll member OF the
family to assist the others. Shortly
afterwards the family moved to Kent
county and settled IL Walker, nearly
opposite Grandville.
came To Grand Rapids.
About three years later young
Blair left home and came to Grand
Rapids to earn . living for himself. He
finally became clerk for Pike q Rob-
seven years, and showed himself to be
one of the shrewdest young business
men IN the Grand River valley. In the
fall Of 1855 ne severed bis connection
with 2Plke u Roterts. At this time
Henry Spring was member of the
firm of Porter, Matthewson q Co.,
dealers IN clothing. Mr.. Spring had an
opportunity TO 90 into the dry goods
business. and Mr.. Blair took his place
in tue firm. The business was carried
on IN store at the foot of Monroe
street, near the present location of
Spring Il Co.'S. dry goods store, under
the firm name Of Porter, Masthewson,
Blair 4 Co Mr.. BLAIR remained
member of the firm until 1850. After
severing this connection he entered the
employ of Henry spring as book
keeper. At the breaking ont Of the
war, he enlisted in the Third Michigan
infantry.
At the close of the var he returned
10 Grand Rapids and entered the law
Office OF Colonel George Gray. lie
VAS a remarkably proficient law stu
dent. and after beng admitted 20 the
bar he formed . partnership with Col.
Gray. Mr.. Blair. although he was
nearly So years old. was too dlfiident to
make plea IN court. and so devoted
his attention to office work. Col.
Gray once declared that Mr.. Blair was
unanestlonsbiy the best Office lawyer
in Michigan.
Squeezed ny the Banks
NJ. BLAIR engaged in the lumoer
business June 1873 to 1875. Ills first
speculstIons we're fortunate, but IN 1875
lumber dropped to very low figure
Mr.. Blair had several million feet IN
stock, but the low prices made u diff
cult for him TO meet his obligations.
The banks we're carrying . large
amount OF his paper, and becoming
fearful. they compelled him 20 wind up