Blair, George W.

BLAIR

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/16/2019 at 14:19:52

GEORGE WALCOTT BLAIR

History of Decatur County, Iowa and Its People
Prof. J.M. Howell and Heman C. Smith. Vol. II. p. 81. S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Chicago. 1915.

"George W. Blair, an extensive real-estate dealer in Lamoni, is also mayor of the town and is a prominent and highly esteemed resident thereof. He was born in Lee county, Illinois, on the 22d of September, 1856, a son of the late W. W. Blair, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

"George W. Blair remained in Illinois until February, 1880, when he was married to Miss Jeannette Haymond, of Sandwich, Illinois, but following that event he removed to Lamoni, Iowa, arriving here in March. He resided upon a farm in Decatur county for about eight years and then took up his residence in Lamoni, where he was engaged in the mercantile business with his father, his brother William, and Thomas Bell, the name of the firm being Blair & Bell. Under Cleveland’s administration Mr. Blair of this review was appointed postmaster and served in that office until February, 1900. Upon the close of his tenure of office he went to Kellerton, Iowa, and for eight years was cashier of the Ringgold Savings Bank, proving an able and progressive financier. He then returned to Lamoni and took charge of the real-estate department of the State Savings Bank and still holds that position. He understands local conditions thoroughly and keeps in touch with the property upon the market and he has negotiated many important realty transfers. Since the organization of the State Savings Bank he has served as a director and stockholder of the institution and has also been a member of the auditing committee for a number of years. In the spring of 1912 he was elected mayor of Lamoni and in 1914 was reelected to that position, his services having proved very satisfactory to his fellow townsmen. He has been identified with all forward movements in Lamoni since taking up his residence in the city and as mayor has been able to accomplish much for the public welfare.

"To Mr. And Mrs. Blair have been born a son and two daughters, namely: Wallace H., who married Lulu Gillen and who is editor of the Lamoni Chronicle; Mrs. E. G. Younker, of Washington, D. C.; and Mrs. B. W. Hart, of Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Hart is engaged in the insurance business, in which he is meeting with a gratifying measure of prosperity. To him and his wife has been born a son. Mr. Younker is president of the Sanitary Grocery Company, which operates forty-two grocery stores in the city of Washington and he is one of the leaders in the business circles of that city.

"Mr. Blair has voted the democratic ticket since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and has taken an active part in local politics, having held a number of other offices in addition to the office of mayor. In 1892 he was the democratic candidate for sheriff and was defeated by but sixteen votes, although the normal republican majority at that time was almost six hundred. Although his home township was republican by a large majority his personal popularity was such that he polled all but twenty-three votes in that township. Fraternally he is associated with the Independence Order of Odd Fellows and both he and his wife are members of the Rebekahs. His son is a Knight of Pythias. He is energetic and progressive and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes, whether it be some plan for the extension of his business interests or some project for the betterment of his community."

Transcribed by Sharon R. Becker, 2009

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GEORGE WALCOTT BLAIR

Lamoni's Passing Parade
Joseph H. Anthony. p. 41. Blair Printing Co. ca. 1948.

I had been a resident of Lamoni but a short time when one day one of my young friends and I were walking along one of the streets of downtown Lamoni, when suddenly we saw people running excitedly about and then we heard the cry, “Mad dog!” A few minutes later we saw a disheveled canine with white froth dripping from its mouth emerge from an alley and pursue a course down Main street toward the very center of town.

While it seems that in those days the sight of a dog with rabies was more common than it is today, even then it was considered too serious a matter to be trifled with and my friend and I, along with many other persons upon the street took time for just a fleeting glance at that skulking, frothing canine and we immediately sought refuge within one of the business houses.

There from behind closed doors we could look through the window and see what was going on upon the street. A few men and boys displayed more courage than we, and they drove the animal along the street, where it tried to find concealment under the wagons and among the horses tied to the hitch racks that in those days lined the downtown streets. At this moment a young man emerged from a door on the opposite side of the street and we could see that he carried a revolver in his hand. He walked out to the edge of the board sidewalk just as the dog came past. He experienced considerable difficulty in spotting the animal among the horses and vehicles that lined the street, but finally when it did come into the open a shot rang out and the luckless canine was out of its misery.

This young man who shot the dog was G. W. Blair, and when a few moments later people swarmed to the spot to make sure the danger was over, he turned and faced them with a smile – the same calm, reassuring smile that so many Lamonians, over a period of many years, knew and loved. There was no display of egotism or arrogance; this was simply a job which for the good of the community needed to be done and he did it just as he did numberless other jobs for the co9mmunity, with no thought of his own, convenience or remuneration.

As I became more familiar with events in Lamoni I learned to look for the appearance at almost every community activity or where there was need to concerted action. Whether it was something concerning the college, the schools or other civic affairs, it seemed that he was always in the vanguard to say the proper thing or do the proper thing at the proper time, and although his appearance in these instances was not always so dramatically enacted as during the mad-dog scare, yet in each case it was similarly effective.

He possessed a wholesome sense of humor which proved a valuable asset, as he often relieved the tenseness connected with the serious side of discussions pertaining to sommunity business with comments couched with pertinent wisdom concealed behind a barrage of clever wit. With his friends and co-workers who knew him so well, theses barbed shafts of humor were readily anticipated and they in turn tried to counter with comments equality effective and wich ofttimes were equally clever. Though this verbal crossfire occasionally developed into conditions involving good-natured personalities, it was often in an atmosphere of this sort that many of the constructive projects for the development of Lamoni were born.

In my early days in Lamoni G. W. Blair was postmaster, and at that time his sweet-faced wife stood at his elbow behind the barred window of the office to help him care for the postal needs of the community. As his assistant, she proved herself especially capable, and doubly so in my own personal opinion when upon one occasion she came to my rescue to help me with a letter I was endeavoring to write, and smiled encouragingly as she endeavored to teach me how to spell the word “Philadelphia.” Upon another occasion she won my everlasting gratitude at a gathering of young people in their home when I was as awkward and bashful as a teen-age young could be. Some of the girls found it amusing to take advantage of my bashfulness, but in this instance she again came to my rescue with that same sweet smile and a significant question or two which relieved my embarrassment and supplied a substantial bracer for my sagging social knees. Aunt Jeanette, we called her, and a more charming and gracious lady I have never known. To think of her or her husband is to think of both, for upon most occasions, in public or in their home, they were always together.

A mayor of Lamoni over a period, G. W. Blair was a tireless worker upon projects of civic interest. He was also Sunday school superintendent and counselor to young people over a long period of years, and it was in this capacity my most intimate associations with him began. He encourage me to organize a Sunday school orchestra and he gave me every help and encouragement in the task; and to him in due a large portion of the credit for the work of that organization, which served over a period of many years. During the time we were thus associated I had opportunity to appreciate his friendship and his counsel and the worth-while things he did for me and the numberless other young people.

Tow gems of his logic stand out in memory among the many I remember in connection with these associations. One Saturday evening we experienced one of the heaviest rainfalls Lamoni ever had. The next morning at the Sunday School hour the assembled congregation which customarily numbered well into hundreds could have been easily totaled in two rather small figures. When the opening hour arrived he ascended the steps leading to the pulpit; and looked reflectively over the small group assembled – the faithful few who had left flooded basements at home and trudged through the debris to get to church. In his characteristically droll yet serious way he philosophized: “My, I hope it doesn’t rain the day before we plan to prepare for heaven.”

At another time in addressing a group of young people upon whom he was endeavoring to impress the importance of service, he explained that the rewards of that service, while often intangible were really the most treasured. He told of a friend who had suffered severe financial reverses but who had the courage to smile and say: “I will have what I have given away.”

What greater testimony could accompany this line of reasoning that the testimony demonstrated in the life of G. W. Blair? Always in the vanguard of any movement which stood for the good of his fellowmen, he demonstrated by deeds and practice the ideals he believed in. And the things he gave to this community have returned to his credit one hundred fold and have built for him a monument more lasting than bronze or stone. They have established his memory indelibly and permanently in the hearts and on the records of Lamoni’s passing parade.

Transcription by Jean Belzer