Judge Amos S. Blair died 1919

BLAIR, DEBELL, BLOOMER, ECHLIN, DUNHAM

Posted By: cheryl Locher moonen (email)
Date: 2/13/2020 at 10:33:48

Manchester Democrat, Wednesday, Oct 29, 1919, Manchester, IA, Page: 8

JUDGE A. S. BLAIR
ENTERS INTO REST
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SUMMON COMES TO PIONEER
LAWYER AND JUDGE AT CLOSE
OF USEFUL LIFE
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PRATICED
LAW OVER ? YEARS
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Duty, Association of Delaware, Buchanan and Blackhawk Counties
Pay Tribute to Veteran

Judge A. S. Blair was born in the village of Perry in the state of New York, August 24th, 1831. His parents David and Margaret Blair, moved to Ohio some four or five years later, residing in Loraine and afterwards Huron County, and in 1855 they removed with their family to Delaware County, Iowa, and resided upon a farm in the northern part of the county which still is in the family name, and is now the property of Miles E. Blair, the only remaining member of the family resident in this county. Here the father, David Blair, died in 1861, and his mother, Margaret Blair, surviving him, passing away in Manchester, Iowa, October 10, 1906, being at the time in the 78th year of her age. Judge Blair was the second child in the family of nine children of whom four still survive him.

Judge Blair spent his youthful days upon the farm amid the scenes and activities of the average farm boy’s life. His earlier education was in common school of Huron County, Ohio, going later to Oberlin College and thence to Baldwin University at Berea, Ohio, where he finished a more than ordinarily thorough course in Literature and the Sciences.

He began his study of the law as a student in the office of John R. Osborn of Norwalk, Ohio, in 1853, and was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1854 at a session of the Supreme Court of Ohio held at Berrysburg, Wood County. During his attendance upon his college courses and his study of the law he taught school from time to time tom pay his expenses, and after his admittance to the bar, he continued teaching for a year, being then superintendent of public schools at Lexington, Ohio; but in the year 1855 he began his practice of the law at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. May 5, 1857, he was married to Laura Bloomer, a young lady who had been a student in the school at Lexington, Ohio, while he was superintendent. They moved to Manchester, Iowa in October 1858, where theirs was an ideal home life until the death of Mrs. Blair on January 19, 1918, the Judge following his beloved wife to the great beyond but four years later, his death occurring last Friday, October 28th, in the 89 years of his life.

There are surviving him two sisters, Mrs. Carrie DeBell and Mrs. Emeretta Echlin, both now residing in California, and two brothers, John L. Blair of Los Angeles, Calif, and Miles E. Blair of Manchester, Ia.; also his daughter, Effie M. Dunham, wife of Judge Geo. W. Dunham, of this city, and two sons, Charles L. Blair of New York City, and Fred B. Blair of this city.

His acquaintances will always remember him as a man thoroughly interested and active in the life about him. He was a lover of children and of flowers. His was a large and sympathetic heart, quick to respond to the call of the poor and the need of humanity from whatever quarter it came. He was possessed of a field of general information as to nature and the status and history of world affairs which to those favored with his close acquaintances and companionship was a continue surprise and pleasure, and he was unto the last and earnest student, his mind eagerly seeking knowledge.