Blair, William Wallace

BLAIR, HAMILTON, DOTY

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 6/28/2019 at 08:48:32

WILLIAM WALLACE BLAIR

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa
Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1887.

In preparing a record of prominent citizens of Decatur County, we feel that it would be incomplete did it not contain a sketch of W. W. BLAIR, who, although not a pioneer, is now one of her most influential and respected citizens. He is the fifth son of JAMES and FANNIE (HAMILTON) BLAIR, and was born in the town of Holley, Orleans County, New York, October 11, 1828, his parents moving to that place from Blanford, near Worcester, Massachusetts. His parents were both of Scotch-Irish extraction. Both his grandfathers were soldiers in the war of the Revolution, and his father served in the war of 1812 –’14. In 1838 his father, with his family, removed from Jamestown, New York, to Illinois, and settled near what is now the city of Amboy, being among the pioneer settles of that region. Chicago 100 miles away, continued for some years after to be their nearest grain and stock market. Schools were few in number and poor in quality, and churches were still fewer and very feeble. Society, although rude, was friendly and orderly. In that pioneer home W. W. BLAIR grew to manhood, assisting in his youth to improve a farm and make a home. In 1854 he left the farm and engaged in commercial pursuits at East Paw Paw, Lee County, Illinois. He passed through the financial crisis incident to the unexpectedly-sudden close of the Crimean way, and then again settled on his farm near Amboy. In April 1859, he entered the active ministry of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and for twenty-six years labored with success in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Colorado.

In April, 1885, he left the ministry and located in Lamoni, Iowa, and has since been identified with the editorial department of the Herald publishing house. His chief object in life is to aid as best he can in building up the interest of his chosen church, and he thinks he can reach more people though the press than the pulpit. He is a graceful writer, expressing his thought with his pen forcibly and effectively. As a speaker he is fluent and easily commands and holds the attention of his hearers. He is devoted, attached and loyal to his religion, and is one of its ablest defenders and most eminent advocates. Although he is conservative, holding that we ought now to have the Christian church the same as it was anciently in doctrine, organization, ceremonies, promises and spiritual gifts and graces, yet he is broad, liberal and progressive, believing that all will be measured by their works rather than by their profession. He is by nature one of the most kindly and courteous of gentleman, a pleasant conversationalist, and one who easily makes friends and has few, if an, enemies. Mr. BLAIR was married December 25, 1849, to Miss ELIZABETH J. DOTY. To them have been born seven children, five sons and two daughters. All are living except one daughter, FANNIE C., who died at Amboy, Illinois, in 1860.

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)

William Wallace Blair 1915 biography
William Wallace Blair obituary

WILLIAM WALLACE BLAIR

History of Decatur County, Iowa and Its People
Prof. J.M. Howell & Heman C. Smith. S.J. Clarke Publ. Co. Chicago. 1915

William Wallace Blair was an early settler of Decatur county and became well known here, especially in the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, as he was a minister of that denomination and editor of the church paper published at Lamoni. He was the fifth son of James and Fannie (Hamilton) Blair and was born in the own of Holley, Orleans county, New York, on the 11th of October, 1828. His parents were of Scotch-Irish descent and both of his grandparents served in the Revolutionary war, while his father fought in the War of 1812. The latter removed with his wife to Orleans county, New York, from Blandford, near Worcester, Massachusetts, and in 1838 the family home was established in Illinois, in the vicinity of what is now the city of Amboy. At that time there were few settlers in that part of the Prairie state and Chicago, one hundred miles distant, was for a number of years their nearest grain and stock market. As it was first of all necessary to break the virgin sod, to erect log cabins in which to live and to care for the crops, upon which depended the food for the family during the winter, it was several years before schools and churches were erected and the conditions of life were in all respects those of a pioneer region in the middle west.

William W. Blair grew to manhood in Illinois and as his strength increased assisted more and more in the improvement of the farm. In 1854 he left home and engaged in commercial pursuit at East Paw Paw, Lee county, Illinois. After passing through the financial crisis incident to the unexpectedly early close of the Crimean war he settled on a farm which he owned near Amboy but in April, 1859, he entered the active ministry of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints and for twenty-six years labored in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Montana and Colorado. He met with success in his work and did much to further the growth of his church. In April 1885, he left the ministry and located at Lamoni, Iowa, where he was for many years identified with the editorial office of the Herald publishing house, the official church publishing house. He exerted a great influence through his connection with that concern, which publishes not only the Herald but also religious books, and gained a reputation as a clear and forceful writer. He believed that the power of the press was greater than that of the pulpit and it was for this reason that he abandoned the ministry and entered the publishing field. He was devotedly attached to his church and was at all times ready to defend it against unjust aspersions, the one object of his life being to promote its advancement. However, his complete loyalty to his church and the vigor with which he stood for his convictions did not mean that he felt any bitterness toward those who thought differently than he. On the contrary those who were associated with him found him a broad-minded and liberal man of progressive ideas who was at all times kindly, courteous and considerate of others.

On Christmas Day, 1849, Mr. Blair was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth J. Doty and they became the parents of seven children, five sons and two daughters. Fannie C. died at Amboy in 1860 but the other children survive, namely: Charles E., who is manager of the Supply Store at Lamoni; Minnie B., the widow of D. F. Nicholson, who was one of the most active and most successful business men of Lamoni; George W., who is mayor of Lamoni and is also engaged in the real-estate business here; William A., who is the manager of a department store at Galien, Michigan; David H., who is connected with a large wholesale millinery house of Kansas City; and Fred B., who is manager of the electric light plant at Lamoni. The wife and mother died in June, 1912, and those who had been closely associated with her felt that her church and her community had lost one whom they could ill spare. She was a devout Christian and her unselfish love for others prompted her to assist those who needed aid and many remember her kindness with gratitude. He was an active worker in the church and was president of the Mite Society, an efficient organization of women whose purpose is to care for the poor and to supply funds for the prosecution of the work of the various departments of the church.

Mr. Blair gave his support at the polls to the democratic party but never aspired to pubic office. He was a man of much ability and energy and his influence was widely felt in his church and his demise, which occurred in 1886, was sincerely mourned.

Transcribed for IAGenWeb Decatur County by a volunteer

William Wallace Blair obituary