Edward Blasier 1830 - 1907

BLASIER, CLARK, HUGUNINE, HOWES

Posted By: Joe Conroy (email)
Date: 6/30/2012 at 09:53:23

Williamsburg Journal Tribune
Williamsburg, Iowa
2 Jan 1908
Page 5

Death of Captain Edward Blasier.

A Brave Old Soldier Answers the Last Call -- Was a Prominent Citizen.

Captain Edward Blasier died at his home in Williamsburg on Sunday evening, Dec. 29, 1907, aged 77 years. The funeral service was held on Tuesday at the family residence and was conducted by Rev. W. H. Dillon of the M. E. Church. The members of the Masonic Lodge attended in a body. The interment was in the family lot in the Daniels Cemetery, York township. The deceased is mourned by his wife, one son, H. E. Blasier, and eight grand-children.

Biographical.

Edward Blasier was born in Oneida County, New York, on Dec. 30th, 1830; he was the fifth in a family of nine children born to Henry and Le-Fanna Clark Blasier. In his veins were German, Irish and English blood, his great-grandfather Blasier being a German while the Clarks were Irish, and the Hills, ancestors on the maternal side, were of English extraction and were early settlers in Connecticut, the family having been identified with the country's history long before the Revolutionary War.

The subject of this sketch was born on a farm and amid rural scenes grew to maturity. He was an apt student and picked up a very fair education as a boy and later on he attended the Whitesboro Seminary in New York. Shortly after leaving school he was united in marriage on Jan. 2nd, 1854, to Miss Esther Hugunine,a talented and cultured young lady of Herkimer County, New York. The following year the young couple became filled with a desire to see the West and early in 1855 they reached Iowa City, the western terminus of the railway. From Iowa City they drove due west and located in what is now York Township. Here was founded the prairie home, one of the first in this locality, and here was displayed that spirit of fortitude and bravery which marked each pioneer. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Blasier, two died in infancy, the daughter, Mrs. R. Howes, died seven years ago, thus leaving one son, Herbert E. Blasier, as the sole companion of his widowed mother.

In 1874 Mr. Blasier was appointed to the railway mail service and for the following twelve years the family home was in Marengo and Iowa City. A few years ago he moved to Williamsburg, which place continued to be his home.

His War Record.

Edward Blasier came of fighting stock. His grandfather, Lawrence Blasier, was a soldier in the Revolution and his mother's father did heroic service in the War of 1812. In 1861 when the country again demanded soldiers Edward Blasier was among the first to respond. He spent some time raising and drilling a company of militia at Williamsburg and in August '61 his name was on the rolls of Company H Fourth Iowa Cavalry. A braver soldier never wore his country's blue. He shared the fortunes of war with his company in long cavalry dashes which covered southern Missouri and Arkansas. Price and Marmaduke knew well the valor of Company H and with Grant at Vicksburg it more than once withstood the shock of battle. In December 1863 Mr. Blasier's regiment re-enlisted. Captain Blasier of Company H was the first man to re-enlist thus making him the first veteran of Iowa's re-enlisted men. Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee continued to be the fields of his military career and it is a fact worthy of note that he had command of the guard that escorted Jefferson Davis and his party from Augusta, Ga. He was mustered out at Davenport in August 1865, having served his country four years.

The Citizen and Neighbor.

As a citizen Mr. Blasier was all that one could expect from such a character. He brought to his civic duties the very highest sense of honor. His respect for law and order was earnest, natural, and for all forms of deception and trickery he held an inherent hate.

As a neighbor he was punctual in his dealings and was ever moved by a sense of honor and fairness. His word was as his bond and he was exacting in an adherence to an agreement. His will was adamantine and once he espoused a cause or a policy he gave it an unqualified support. Always respecting the honest opinions of others he never played the coward to his own convictions. We knew him for many years and always admired his rugged character, always knew when we found him that the inner man was revealed in all its intense earnestness. He couldn't be a hypocrite if he tried ever so hard, and now that he has passed away his honest worth will be remembered long.