LEWIS J. BLAIR, a respected young fruit grower and farmer of Walker township, Kent county, Mich., was born September 23, I867, and of this gentleman further mention will soon be made. Jonathan Blair (deceased), father of Lewis J. Blair, was born March 2, I821, in Washington county, N. Y., on Blair's bay, lake George, where he lived till twenty-one years old, when he came, via the canal and lakes, to Detroit, and by railroad to Jackson, Mich., and settled three miles from Lansing, where he lived two years. His father, Jonathan, and, uncle, David Blair, erected the first mill in Lansing; David, a millwright, died at Lansing quite young. The father came in 1842 to Grand Rapids and located on Grand river, two miles below the city. They had to ford the river and had to live there until 1844, and then his father, Jonathan, bought the present I farm in 1846. There was but a half-acre cleared, and it had upon it an old log house. It had been squatted upon long before it came into market, and so held until it was taken up by William Bemis. This was the home farm of Jonathan, Sr., until he died in December, 1852, aged fifty-five years. His wife, Betsey, died in June, 1857, aged fifty-two years. She was the stepmother of Jonathan, Jr. His own mother, Elizabeth Ballard, died when she was forty-nine years old, and left seven sons, viz: John, near Martin, Allegan county, Mich.; Jonathan; Nathan, retired farmer; Henry, who died in California, past fifty years of age; Milo, late of Sedalia, Mo., was prominent in Missouri politics and a well-known editor; James Blair, late of Grand Rapids, had served as postmaster; David Blair was last heard of while at Louisville, Ky.; Jonathan remained at home and took care of the old folks, and after his father died, operated the farm, and later bought eighty acres more. Jonathan Blair married, February 2, 1855, Betsey Beede, of Wyoming, N. Y., who died January 25, 1878. Jonathan was a republican and was highway commissioner eighteen years; was a justice of the peace for many years,' and held other offices, and was quite active in all local matters. He was one of the three organizers of the school and was a member of the school board nearly all his life. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, an organizer of the home class, and a deacon for many years. His family of six children were named Kate, who died in infancy; Frank Eldon, who died in Colorado, aged twenty-three years; Mary Eliza, wife of James A. Dwinell, a farmer near by; Charlotte Jennie, unmarried, and living with her sister; Lewis J., the subject of this sketch, and Ethelyn, a teacher in Jefferson street school, Grand Rapids; she has taught ten years, but makes her home on the farm. Jonathan Blair, the father of this family, died April 6, 1899, sincerely mourned by the entire community. Lewis J. Blair, the subject proper of this sketch, attended the district school until fourteen years of age, took charge of the farm work, later purchased part of the farm, and now has forty acres set with 2,000 fruit trees, 'including apples, I00 pear trees, and 300 plum trees, and has besides a fine vineyard. In politics Mr. Blair is a republican, and has served as township treasurer two years. Has also served as chairman of the township republican committee for years, and has been delegate for Walker township to several county and district conventions, acting as chairman of the local delegations, and has made himself quite influential and active in local politics. Mr. Blair was married September 30, 1898, to Miss Susan Peck, daughter of Philo Peck, of Walker township, and born in Berlin, Ottawa county, but reared on the farm next to her husband's. They have one child, Harold Jonathan, born October 17, 1899. She is a very intelligent lady, and was a teacher for five years in the county schools. He is connected with the Good Templars, is also a member of the Harmony grange, and is one of the prominent young men of his township.

 

Created: 11 Jul 2009