Asheville daily citizen., 1894-12-22
THE NEWS IN ASUENILLE.

\ General Expression of Regret
Review of MIR. Blunton's Life.
The startling news of the dtath OF ex.
Mayor Blantou in THE CITIZEN yester-
day caused general expressions OF sorrow
at his untimcly taking off, The intelli-
geuce spread rapidly, aud groups oi citi-
z-ns stopped on the streets to talk over
the sudden demise OF the hiau who had
taken So prominent n part IN Ashevilc' IS
latter day history, For, when all that
may b, said is sad, it vet remains that
Mr.. Blantun was for several years an
important figure in the development OF
the city. Asheyillc had held out to him
Inducements such as he had found no.
where Else, and hither he had come and
here h, had made his investments. lie
believed in AshcviIle, lie knew the city
had great future, and be was proud of
his adopted home.
Many of the working men OF Ashevile
have sail aud yet affirm that Asheville
lcaped into new life with the inception
OF Mr. Bianton's administration. How
ever this may be, Ashcvllle people will
remembcr that it was curing the "Blau-
ton regime" as some are pleased to say
yet, that AshevilIe got the brick paving,
the sewerage system, the increased
water supply, the street cars and electric
lights and the City Hall ant market
house.
Charles d. Blanton was born in Ceve-
laud county. this Stat>, near Shelby.
August 80, 1860. His parents, William
NJ. and Josephine Blanton. were natives
OF this State, but of English and German
descent respectively. The family re-
moved to lrcdell county and remained
there until the wars close, when they
went to Mcdowell county. Young
Charles received an academic education,
and at the age OF | 8 was connected with
bis tatker in the mercantile business. In
1884 he went to Morristown, Tcun.,
where he conducted merchandise bust
ness for himself. From the Tennessee
town his eye turned to Asheville, aud he
came here in 1856, entering the
dry goods business with John D.
Brevard, the firm name being Brevard
& Blanton, He also became a partner
of John b. Bostc in the real estate bust.
ness In 1889 he was nominated to
head the Democratic municipal ticket
and was elected by the largest majority
ever given tor Mnyoraltv candidate ~
to that time, the figures being 800
lie won the title OF the youngest mayor
in the Sou,h." Again two years later h,
was chosen by the Democratic party ant
second time was elected Mayor ofAshe
vile, his majority being 512. During
that campaign he had been near death''
door from an attack of inflammation,
, rheumatism. The news Of his election
he received in his room at the Batter,
Park hotel. When the tim, for inaugu
ration came he was still unable to be Ou
: and the oath of Office was administers,
to him and members of the Board in hi
room by Justice A. T. Summey. Durin,
= his second term he conducted a clothinI
business.
Last spring Mr.. Blanton was nomina
ted for a third term by the "Straightout
Democrats, but upon advice of bis phys
clan declined the nomination. Sine
mt time he had been In poor health
hut his friends did not apprehtnd sue
a sudden or an early death as that whic
: 10 recorded today. Mr.. Blanton was al
i pointed a few weeks ago by Collecto
: Carter to position In the revenue se,