New-York tribune., 1899-12-03

Warren County This Samuel Blair John l..
Rlair's great-grandfather.
Mr. Blair's father moved TO Delaware y. j.. 10 look
after the shipping Of the iron from this furnace.
and II was there that John l. Blair was born. Later
the family removed 10 a farm Beaver Creek. a
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 The hrst manifestation he
gave Of his business instincts and his indomi-
table determination was when he announced TO his
mother that his brothers and sisters could go in
for an education but l intend TO get rich" This
incident. the starting point in his financial career
took place when he was only ten years old. The
same year he began 10 clerk in general store at
Hope and so closely did ne devote himself 10 his
work that at fourteen ne was looked upon On as "a a
good merchant. and at nineteen he embarked In
business for himself opening a country store in
The venture. despite the fact that the surround
Ing country was almost a wilderness. prospered;
himself able 10 extend his business by opening
branch stores in number Of places. each OF
which he placed In charge OF brother or brother
in-law, thus laying the foundations OF several large
fortunes. An important factor in his business
found ready market az % in NewYoTk "A As his ' fort e
grew he devoted his talents 10 the encourage
where operations had been going on ever since
William Penn settled in Pennsylvania. The neces-
sesboard led Mr. Blair and others to organize the
Iackawanna Coal and Iron Company, out OF which
Lackawanns and western In the early days OF
the settlement Of the great West Mr.. Blair found
judgment and untring energy, and his was
connected. either as builder or director with no
less than twenty-five different lines.
Mr.. Blair always identified with the Repub-
hcan party, and with two executions he attended
delegate. He was elected TO the Minneapolis Con-
yen,ion IN 1872 but on account Of slight ndisc
think Of going 10 the Convention that nominated
Hobart. IL he wa def fed nv
Iheod9Ie + Randolph IN the contest for the Coy
was never q candidate for public office
For some years Mr.. Blair had the distinction Of
being the Oldest bank president in the country.
His railroad building in the West attracted great
notice. His plan was to organize company to
and then induce people living along the route 10 is
The actual work was done by construction com
He laid out about eighty towns in the West. and
a. least one hundred churches have been helped by
NJ Blair was one Of the original directors Of the
IN the following companies: The Warren Railroad,
the Blairstown Railroad the Lackawanna and
Bloomsbury the Delaware. Lackawanna and West
ern the New-York, Susquehanna and Western. the
Oregon Pacific the Chicago and Northwestern, the
City and Yankton, the Sioux Falls and Dakota, the
Chicago AID Pacifc the Chicago. Iowa and Dako.
and Southern. the Cedar Rapids and Missouri
River. the Green Bay, Winona and ST. Paul. the
Pacific the Iowa Falls and Sioux city the Chi
cago Iowa and Nebraska, the Fremont Elkhorn
and Missouri Valley, the Maple River. Sussex and
Mount Hope, the Cayuga ana Susquehanna, and
the Bangor and Portland
Mr. Blair contributed an endowment fund Of
$50 90 10 the Presby terian Academy in Blairstown
which bears his name, and he likewise founded
professo in Princeton University and Lafay
cite College. besides giving generous aid TO num-
Der Of Western colleges. To the Presbyterian
Church a whole he has given not less than
$1,000
In 1875 Mr.. blair married Nancy Locke, daughter
Of John Locke Mrs Blair died in 1888 Their chill
dren are De Witt Clinton Blair. Marcus l.. (who
Is dead, Emma l.. widow OF Charles Serb
ner, the publisher, and Aurelia wife OF Clarence
G. Mitchell lawyer.