BLAIR, Edmund J.

BLAIR, BAKER, KEMP, LOUGH

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/20/2014 at 06:40:12

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.
Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors
The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. pp. 400-02. Chicago. 1915.

EDMUND J. BLAIR

EDMUND H. BLAIR, who is operating an excellent farm situated three-quarters of a mile from Van Wert, w^as born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of July, 1853, a son of James and Mary Louisa (Baker) Blair, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father, who was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal cliurch and who also gave some time to agricultural pursuits, came to Decatur county, Iowa, in 1854 and entered eighty acres of land in Long Creek township. Two years later he removed to his homestead, which he improved and operated until 1904. He then retired from active life and took up his residence in Van Wert, where he lived until his demise on the 16th of September, 1905. He reached the advanced age of eighty years. He was active in the ministry until he was seventy-five years old, preaching at Van Wert and at other places in the county. His wife preceded him in death about three weeks, dying on the 22d of August, 1905.

Edmund J. Blair was but three years of age when his parents took up their residence in Long Creek township and he grew to manhood in this county. He remained under the parental roof until he became of age and then began teaching school, which profession he followed for twenty-seven terms. He taught the Van Wert school and also taught in Clarke county for a time. While teaching he devoted the summers to farm work, renting land mitil 1879, when he pui'chased eighty acres on section 18, Franklin township. Subsequently he bought forty acres on section 23, Long Creek township, and still later became the owner of an additional eiditv acres in Franklin township. From 1881 until 1907 he cultivated and improved his land and made his farm one of the best developed in the county. In the last named year, however, he sold his holdings to his sons and purchased the old family homestead of eighty acres on section 24, Long Creek township. Subsequently he added a forty acre tract adjoining the homestead and is now concentrating his energies upon the operation of his place, which is situated three-quarters of a mile from Van Wert. It is unusually well improved and returns him a good annual income. In addition to growing the usual crops he raises high grade Duroc-Jersey hogs, feeding about one hundred and forty head per year.

Mr. Blair was married in April, 1881, to Miss Magdaline Kemp, a daughter of John M. and Mary (Lough) Kemp, natives of Germany. Both emigrated to America in 1831, the father being at that time a j^oung man of twenty years and the mother a girl of sixteen. They met and were married in Pennsylvania, where the father followed the tailor's trade until he removed to Ohio, whence he made his way to Indiana. In 1856 he came to Iowa and rented land in Eden township, Decatur county, which he operated for five years, at the end of which time he purchased fifty acres of land. He devoted his energies to the cultivation and improvement of that place until the demise of his wife, which occurred on the 26th of July, 1879. In 1862 he enlisted in the Missouri state militia and served therein for nine months. About 1882 he went to the Soldiers' Home maintained at Leavenworth, Kansas, and there resided during the remainder of his life, passing away on the 17th of March, 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Blair have become the parents of five children: Harry J., who is farming in Franklin township; Wilbur P., also an agriculturist of that township; Arthur, who is cashier of the Iowa State Bank at Osceola; Josephine, at home; and Edmund W., attending school at Osceola.

Mr. Blair is a republican and for several years served as justice of the peace of Franklin township, while he has also been assessor and trustee of that township and has likewise held the office of trustee of Long Creek township. In all of his official capacities he has discharged his duties ably and conscientiously, thus winning the commendation of his fellow citizens. Fraternally he belongs to Lodge No. 212, I. O. O. F., of Van Wert, and his religious allegiance is given to the Methodist Episcopal church. Practically his entire life has been passed in this county and the fact that those who have been intimately acquainted with him from boyhood are his loyal and sincere friends is proof of the sterling worth of his character.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014