THOMAS J. BLANCHARD, who has been a leading furniture dealer and undertaker in Sand Lake, Nelson township, Kent county, Mich., since I886, is a native of New Hampshire and was born February 2r, 1863, a son of George S. and Lucy J. (Miller) Blanchard, parents of five children, viz: Frances, a resident of Maine; T. J., the subject of this sketch; Stephen D., a dairyman, near Sanford, Me.; Andrew, a farmer in New Hampshire, and Frank, also a dairyman, near Sanford, Me. Thomas J. Blanchard early began business on his own account by purchasing a farm, at the age of fifteen, in his native state, and he was later for some time in the hotel business. In 1882 he came to Michigan, and in I886 began the furniture trade at Sand Lake with but a small capital, adding undertaking, and by close attention to the wants of his patrons and the exercise of the strictest integrity, has reached a leading position among the business men of the community. In I888, he formed a partnership with James H. Brayman in the handling of hardware, furniture, etc., and in I891 he purchased Mr. Brayman's interest and is now the only dealer in his line in Sand Lake. Besides furniture, etc., he carries a full line of buggies, phaetons, wagons, agricultural implements, and standard paints and oils, and the volume of his transactions reaches to about $8,ooo per annum, his patronage extending to and including Spencer, Oakfield, Nelson and Solon townships, Kent county, and the county of Montcalm. December 4, 1883, Mr. Blanchard was united in marriage with Miss Mary Martin, a native of Howell, Mich., born in April, I86o, a daughter of James and Mary (Jubb) Martin, of English extraction. The father of Mrs. Blanchard has passed away, but the mother still survives and makes her home with Mr. Blanchard and wife. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard has been blessed with ten children, named as follows: Edith M., Etta B., G. Arthur, Glenn W., Roy, Sylvia, Eva and Ernest, still living; Eva and Walter died in infancy. The eldest five of these are attending school, and all will eventually be granted the best possible educational advantages. Mr. Blanchard is in politics a democrat, cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland, has served in the town council, and in 1893 was its president. He is an ardent friend of the public schools, and has served on the Sand Lake board of education. Fraternally he is a member of Sand Lake tent, No. 442, K. O. T. M., which has a membership of sixty-five, and he is chaplain of the tent. He carries a goodly share of insurance, and thus protects his farm and business property. He has had his share of misfortune, as in 1895 his stores were burned to the ground, but he was not at all discouraged and immediately rebuilt, becoming more prosperous than ever. He owns a well cultivated farm of I20 acres in Kent and Montcalm counties, and when it is taken into consideration that in I886 he began business with but a small capital, he may well be classed among the self-made men of Nelson township, as he certainly is, beside, one of the most highly respected of the residents of Sand Lake.

 

Created: 11 Jul 2009