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The distinguished lawyer and honored official whose name appears at the head of this article holds worthy prestige among the leading men of his profession in Southern Illinois and for a number of years has not only figured prominently in the affairs of Jefferson county, but made his influence felt in various ways throughout the entire state. Judge William C. BLAIR was born May 24. 1861, at Nashville, Illinois, and is a son of William and Mary J BLAIR, both natives of Missouri and early settlers of Washington county, Illinois, the father locating south of Nashville about the year 1827 and subsequently taking up his residence in that town. He was a mason by trade and worked at stone and brick laying in Nashville. Francis BLAIR, the judge's grandfather, a Georgian by birth, and representative of an old Irish family that came to America in an early day, settled in Georgia, went to Missouri many years ago and later changed his residence to Washington County, Illinois, where in due time he became a prominent citizen. The judge's mother, whose maiden name was Mary J. CRAIN, and who as already indicated, was a native of Missouri, belonged to an old family that migrated to that state in an early period from Tennessee. She accompanied her parents to Illinois as long ago as 1827 and grew to maturity in Washington county, where she married William BLAIR, and in due time became the mother of eleven children, seven of whom are living, namely:
The deceased members of the family were, Thomas L. and George W., the others dying in infancy. Judge BLAIR spent his childhood at Nashville and when a mere lad removed with his parents to Jefferson County, where he grew to manhood and with the history of which his subsequent life has been very closely identified. He was reared to farm labor, enjoyed such educational advantages as the country school afforded and while still a youth decided to make the law his life work. Accordingly he took up the study after the labors of the day were over and spent the evenings pouring over his books, frequently devoting the greater part of the night digging into unravelling the mysteries of legal science. In this way he prosecuted his studies and researches until his admission to the bar in 1896, since which time he has devoted his attention very closely to his piofession in which his career has been eminently successful and in the highest degree creditable. In 1892 he was elected police magistrate of Mount Vernon, which position he held four years, when he was further honored by being elected State's Attorney, proving one of the ablest and most successful prosecutors the county of Jefferson ever produced. Politically the judge is pronounced in his allegiance to the principles of Democracy, stands high in the councils of his party and there has not been a campaign within recent years in which he was not subject to call for service and in which he was not found diligently assisting every nominee of the party's ticket. His active political work covers a period of twenty years, during which time his voice has been heard and his influence felt in every part of Jefferson county besides valuable services rendered the cause of Democracy in district affairs and masterly leadership on state and national campaigns. His ability as a forceful and eloquent speaker has long been recognized and appreciated, and as a member of the joint state committee. In the campaign of 1896 he was sent to meet and answer leading Republican orators in various parts of the state. His familiarity with the political history of the state and nation together with his shrewdness and tact as a leader, and commanding influence as a master of assemblages, renders him a skillful and powerful antagonist. the pride of his friends and the dread of his political foes in discussing the leading questions at issue. Judge BLAIR in the year 1883 entered the marriage relation with Miss Laura E. JOHNSON, daughter of Leander C. and Martha JOHNSON, natives of Indiana and Illinois. respectively. The union resulting in the birth of five children, namely
Judge and Mrs. BLAIR have a host of warm friends and admirers in the city of their residence and are highly esteemed in the social circle' of the community. They belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, in the good work of which they are both active and influential and all laudable means to alleviate suffering and distress enlist their hearty co-operation and support. Fraternally the judge is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, in both of which he has held important official positions from time to time and he is also identified with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Court of Honor and Modern Woodmen.
Source: Walls History Of Jefferson County, Il - 1909 JUDGE WILLIAM C. BLAIR, Police Judge of Mt. Vernon, and one of the able lawyers at the Bar of Jefferson County, claims Illinois as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Nashville, Washington County, on the 24th of May, 1861. His father, William Blair, was born near Cape Girardeau, Mo., December 21, 1820, and the grandfather, Francis Blair, was a native of Georgia. The latter went to Missouri in 1805 with his parents, being at that time only five years old. There were only fourteen families between Cape Girardeau and Jackson, so he was one of the earliest settlers. He helped to build the first church west of the Mississippi River and there spent his entire life, he married Jennie Massey, who was born in Lincoln County, N. C., and was a daughter of Drury and Jennie (Pack) Massey, of Virginia. Her death also occurred in Missouri. Their family numbered seven children, including John, who died at the age of fourteen; Franklin and James, who went to California during the gold excitement, and there died; Drury, who was a Lieutenant during the Civil War, and is now deceased, and Isaac N., who died just after the battle of Perryville, while serving in the Union army. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Grain. She was born in Tennessee and was a daughter of Ezekiel and Nancy (Haw) Grain, both natives of Sumner County, Tenn. She had six brothers, Louis, who served for four years and nine months in the late war, and died in Kansas; John, who died at the age of twenty-four; Isaac, who died at the age of thirty; Alfred, who died at the age of thirty-two; William, who served in the late war for three years and is now living in Oakdale, 111., and Jack, who makes his home in California. The parents of our subject were married February 1, 1844, in Missouri, and in 1845 came to Illinois, locating in Nashville, where the father was employed as a brick and stone mason. In 1872, he came to Mt. Vernon, where he carried on his trade until a short time since, when he retired to private life. In 1894, he and his estimable wife celebrated their golden wedding. Their five sons and four daughters, with one exception, were all present. Although the parents are now well advanced in years, they still enjoy good health, and each day Mr. Blair calls at the office of his son, where he reads with much interest the daily papers, thus keeping well informed on general topics. The children of the family are,
The Judge was only eleven years old when the family came to Mt. Vernon. He attended school until twelve years of age, when his father lost all of his property and his son had to aid in the support of the family, but his leisure hours he devoted to his books, thus becoming well informed. At the age of eighteen he began reading law, spent one year in the office of an attorney of Mt. Vernon, and then, passing a rigid examination, was admitted to the Bar. He has built up a very extensive practice, and has associated with him Colonel Jones, a noted criminal lawyer, and Capt. J. R. Moss in the real-estate business. In 1886, Judge Blair was united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Johnson, daughter of L. C. Johnson, a veteran of the late war. They now have five children, Ethel M., Mary J., Willie L., Katie L. and a babe unnamed. The parents are both members of the Methodist Church, have many warm friends throughout the community and rank high in social circles. The Judge has taken quite a prominent part in politics, and aided in establishing the Progressive Farmer of Mt. Vernou, the paper of the People's party. In May, 1892, he made the race for County Judge on the People's ticket, but was defeated. He is now serving as Police Magistrate, and was appointed by Governor Fifer as Public Administrator for Jefferson County. He is a prominent member and officer in the Knights of Pythias lodge, belongs to the Modern Woodman fraternity, and was one of the original members of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association in Jefferson County.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois" |
For corrections or additions, please contact me: Sandy Bauer