BLAIR, Will A.

BLAIR, BELL, OSBORN, BLAKESLEE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/18/2014 at 20:38:04

Biography ~ Will A. Blair

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 586-87:

WILL A. BLAIR, of the firm of BLAIR & BELL, dealers in general merchandise, at Lamoni, is one of the most active young business men of Decatur County. He was born at Little Sioux, Harrison County, Iowa, November 1, 1862, a son of W. W. and ELIZABETH BLAIR, of Lamoni. When he was about two years old his parents removed to Sandwich, Illinois, and there he lived till nineteen years of age, being educated principally in the schools of that city. He entered the office of the Saint’s Herald, at Plano, Illinois, where he mastered the art of printing, and later he was a compositor on the Sandwich Argus. He graduated from the Valparaiso, Commercial College, in 1881. July 5, 1881, he entered the employ of D. M. OSBORN & CO., manufacturers of agricultural machinery, as general agent, leaving his home at Sandwich, Illinois, for Salt Lake City. He traveled for this company for thirty months through Utah, Colorado and Nevada, his splendid business qualifications, together with his energy and devotion to his employer’s interests, producing good results. Wishing to settle down to a more quiet life led him to relinquish that lucrative position when he engaged in his general mercantile business at Lamoni, and the establishment of BLAIR & BELL now ranks among the best in the city of Lamoni. Mr. BLAIR was united in marriage at Galien, Michigan, June 11, 1885, to Miss VIOLA BLAKESLEE, a daughter of G. A. BLAKESLEE, of Galien, Mrs. BLAIR having been born at that place.

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014