BLANCHARD, Louis B. 1868-c1941

BLANCHARD, STOLL, JAMES, HESNER, BUSH, RUGGLES, KOFFRON

Posted By: Monica
Date: 5/11/2012 at 14:45:24

I am not related and have no further information, this is taken from an old scrapbook that belonged to Mrs. Clara (Jones) McCartney

Community Mourns The Passing of Well Known Business Man
Sixty-nine years ago, in 1872, Oscar B. Blanchard and his younger brother, Dr. Lewis Blanchard laid out the village of Edgewood and during all the intervening years the family has been represented more or less actively in the business life of the town. The same year the elder brother started a store in the little town and in 1873 he erected the Blanchard home, then went to Beaver Dam, Wis., to bring his wife, Mary Stoll Blanchard and children to the newly completed home. One of these children was Louis B., who entered this life on April 28, 1868 in Wisconsin.

As the subject of this sketch grew he was always interested in his father's business and helped him in the store and was his assitant in the post office. When he completed the prescribed course of study in the local school he attended upper Iowa University in Fayette where he studied deeper into the principles of business. He was for a time telegraph operator in Monticello.

In the year 1888, on September 30, Louis Blanchard was united in marriage to Miss Nellie James. They quietly observed their fifty-second anniversary in their home last September.

The year 1888 also marked Mr. Blanchard's advent into the banking business in which he continued for a half of century. At that time his father and he purchased a private bank which had been operating in Edgewood for only six months and which was the town;s first bank. the partnership with his father continued until his father's death at which time the younger brother, Charles, assumed the duties of junior partner. Later Mr. Blanchard became the originator of the State Bank of Edgewood and supervised the construction of the building which now houses the Community Savings Bank. For several years Mr. Blanchard was vice-president of the Dyersville National Bank and courteously assisted a large number of Edgewood people with their banking worries during the critical period following 1931.

He further served his town as mayor and headed an economical as well as a progressive administration of the town's affairs.
For several months the one of whom we write had been in failing health. Every possible care was lovingly provided by his wife and other members of his family. Death came to relieve his sufferings about four o'clock on Thursday afternoon, June 12, making him 73 years, one month and 14 days old at the time of his passing.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Mrs. Clara Hesner. Surviving to mourn his death are his widow and one brother, Charles of Manchester. Three nieces and two nephews to whom the beloved uncle had always shown marked devotion are Mrs. Helene Bush of Waterloo, Mrs. Dorothy Ruggles of Moline, Ill. and Mrs. Virginia Koffron of Cedar Rapids, Herbert Hesner of Strawberry Point and Brooks Blanchard of Ottumwa.

Funeral services were held in the Blanchard home Sunday afternoon, June 15 at 1:30 o'clock, in charge of Rev. W. L. Feller. He was assisted by Rev. A. H. Meyer. Music for the service was furnished by D. E. Rhines and Mrs. W. J. Miller, Jr., who sang "Saved by Grace", unaccompanied. The flowers which came from business associates, friends, relatives and fraternal organizations were of unusual beauty.

Attending the casket were George F. Downey, R. C. Cocking, Willard Farmer, C. L. Jacobs, F. A. Robinson and L. H. Perrinjaquet. Burial was made in the Edgewood Cemetery.

Among those from away who called or who came to attend the funeral of L. B. Blanchard were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Blanchard. mrs. Eva Harris, C. E. See of Manchester, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Bush, daughter, Clara Louise of Waterloo, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Ruggles of Moline, Ill., John Koffron of Cedar Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Hesner, Mrs. Fred Jessen of Strawberry Point, Mr. and Mrs. Brooks Blanchard of Ottumwa, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Ferring and Mr. and Mrs. Guy Brunkan of Dyersville.