New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16

binary extent have been showered the farmers
boy who commenced life under such forbiddins
auspices nearly a century ago.
The Blair family. from which John |. Blair - de-
scended, came from Scotland in 1920 and settled in
Hunterdon County. the founder OF the American
branch being John Blair. Another ancestor was
Samuel Blair. Of the first professors in Prince
ton College. and at time the vice-pTesident o:
that Institution. While one branch OF the family
was devoting itself to the dissemination OF knowl-
edge. another moulding the commerce which
has since become the mainsay Of the State Of New
Jersey In the latter part OF the eighteenth century
another Samuel Blair sent by Philadelphia
firm to take charge Of the ironwcrks at oxford
Furnace In Warren County. This Samuel Blair
was John /. Blair's great-grandfather.
Mr.. Blar's father moved TO the Delaware to look
after the shipping Of the from this furnace. nd
1t there that John !. Blair was born. Later
the family removed to farm on Beaver Creek
short distance from Hope, where young Blair passed
the first few years OF his life. AS was usual with
farm boys in those days. he attended the country
schools In winter and helped his father during the
summer. The first manifestation he gave OF his
business Instincts and his indomitaDie deter
mination when he announced to his mother
that his brothers and sisters could go In for an
education. but intend TO get rich This incident.
the starting point in his financial career took place
when he was only years old. The Same year
he began to clerk In general store at Hope, ana
closely did he ds1ote himself to his work that az
fourteen he was Doked upon as a good merchant.
and at nineteen he embarked In business for him
SELF opening country store In what is now Blairs-
town. -
The venture, despite the fact that the surround
ing country almost wilderness prospered.
and in the OF a few years Mr.. BAR found
himself able TO extend his business. by opening
branch stores in a number Of places each OF which
he placed in charge OF brother or brotner-lh-aW'
thus laying the foundations OF several large for
tunes. An important factor in his business was
his trading In country produce for which ne founi
a ready market in NewYork. AS his fortune grew
q
iron Industry at oxford Furnace. where operations
had been going on ever since William Penn settled
in Pennsylvania The necessity for mears OF trans
porting the metal TO the seaboard lei Mr. Blai-
Iron Company. out OF which mas grown the great
system OF the Delaware. LackawannG ana western
In the early days OF the settlement or the great
West. Mr. Blair found ample opportunity Tor inc
and his name has been connected, either as
builder director. with no less than twenty -hVe
different lines. Besides these investments he Is
banker and has the distinction or beng the Oldest
bank president in the country.
While he has been amassing a fortune. which has
been estimated at between twenty and fifty million
dollars, Mr.. Blair has interested himself In ad-
vancing the causes Of education and religion. He
town with $4,000, and has literally contributed TO
other institutions OF learning. especially IN The
West. over hundred Presbyterian churches In
various parts OF the country their existence TO
his hberallty.
Mr. Blair has always been identified with the Re-
publican party and with one exception he has at
tended ali the National conventions in the capacity
Of n delegate He selected to the Minneapolis
disposition he unable to be present. In 1868 he
was defeated by Theodore +. Randolph in the con-
from this he has never been a candidate for public
Office.