Kit Carson County, Colorado
Histories



George M. Blair , 7S 42W
 


Richard Applegate 181901880 is buried in Marion County, Ohio # 38378798.

George M. Blair and Mary Applegate had John H. Blair in Brown County, Ohio September 15, 1873.
In 1880 Brown County, George is farming, 43, Mary 40 , Ida M. 14, Netta A. 12, Charles E. 8, and John Henry 6.

George cash-claimed a quarter in 5, 7S 42W in 1891.

He might be the George M. Blair in 1900 Laramie, Wyoming, born August 1836 in Kentucky, married 37 years to Mary May 1840 Ohio. He's a gardener, and they have Nettie A. Jan 1867, Charles Edgar July 1871, a salesman, and John Henry Sept 1873 - a delivery driver, all three born in Ohio.
George 1836-1908 is buried in Laramie # 76162490.
"George M. Blair, the father of Charles E. Blair of the White House, John H. Blair of Denver and Mrs. Nettie Livingston of Virginia, died at 3 o'clock this afternoon, at his home, 363 north Fifth street, of a complication of diseases, but the arrangements for the funeral have not been received, pending word from the Denver son.

Mr. Blair was born in Mason county, Ky., August 15, 1836, and would have celebrated the seventy-second anniversary of his birth on Saturday. He leaves a wife and the three children, Charles E. Blair having a family here. Mr. Blair came to this city about eight years ago and has since resided here with his son. He and Mrs. Blair visited for several months with their daughter in Virginia, returning to the city a few weeks ago. His health was not greatly improved by the stay in the Old Dominion state, and did not improve very much after returning to this city.

Mrs. Blair and the son and daughter here will have the sympathy of their many friends. Mr. Blair had been reared a Baptist, but belonged to no secret society and had held no offices in this state. He was a good, Christian gentleman, beloved by a large circle of friends, all of whom will hear with sadness of his demise.

© Laramie Republican no. 3 August 13, 1908, page 1"

Mary Blair is also buried in Laramie
"After an illness lasting seven weeks, Mrs. G.M. Blair, mother of Charles E. Blair, died at the residence of her son, corner of Fifth and Fremont, at 7 o'clock last evening. The immediate cause of death was chronic gastritis, superinduced by a gradual break down several years ago of the nervous system.

Mrs. Blair had been a resident of this city for the last 16 years and during that time she so endeared herself to all residents with whom she became acquainted that her passing away will be felt by almost the entire community.

The deceased was born in Ohio May 25, 1840, and had she lived until that day of this month she would have been enabled to celebrate her 75th birthday anniversary. Early in the 90's Mr. and Mrs. Blair left their Ohio home for Colorado, where Mr. Blair engaged in business for a time. A few years after their son decided to make this city his home and had entered business here, he persuaded his parents to come to Laramie and make their home with him. Nearly seven years ago Mr. Blair Sr. was taken sick and died after an illness of short duration. His wife never ceased to grieve over her loss and to this affliction more than all else was due to a gradual breakdown that finally culminated in the trouble that was the direct cause of her death.

Mrs. Blair was a communicant of the Presbyterian church of this city and her loss will be a severe blow to all the members of that organization, who loved her for those womanly attributes that are only to be found in the highest type of American motherhood.

Aside from her son, Charles, Mrs. Blair left behind her another son, John H. Blair, who resides in Denver.

Laramie has drawn its quota of citizens from every state in the Union and among those that Ohio has furnished is Charles E. Blair, proprietor of the White House Clothing Company and one of the progressive and enterprising merchants of the city.


He was born in Brown county, Ohio, July 20, 1871, a son of George M. and Mary (Applegate) Blair, both of whom were natives of Kentucky but became residents of Ohio during their childhood days. The father was engaged in agricultural pursuits in the Buckeye state for many years but eventually removed westward, taking up his abode in Laramie, where he passed away in 1909. His widow survived him for several years, her death occurring in Laramie in 1914. In their family were four children: Mrs. Ida Smith, who is now deceased; Mrs. Nettie Livingston, who has also passed away; Charles E.; and J. H., now living in Denver, Colorado.

Charles E. Blair was a pupil in the public schools of Ohio until he had mastered the branches of learning therein taught and subsequently he became a student in a business college, from which in due course of time he was graduated. He was thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties and he made his initial step in the commercial world in connection with the dry goods business, spending five years in Cincinnati. In about 1891 he came to Denver and was an employe in the store of the McNamara Dry Goods Company for about five years. He afterward came to Laramie, where he arrived in 1897, and here he has made his home through the intervening period of twenty-one years. He made his initial step in commercial circles in this city as an employe of A. E. Miller, with whom he remained for five years, after which he spent two years in the service of W. H. Frazee. He was ambitious, however, to engage in business on his own account and during these periods he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to embark in business for himself in 1904. He started out in a modest way as a dealer in dry goods and men's clothing, but as his trade grew he sought larger quarters and finally purchased a building on the northwest corner of Second and Grand avenue, in which he now conducts one of the largest dry goods and men's furnishing goods establishments in the state, carrying on business under the name of the White House Clothing Company. He has a very extensive and carefully selected stock and the fine line of goods which he carries, combined with his earnest efforts to please his patrons and his reasonable prices, has secured to him a very liberal and gratifying patronage, so that the volume of business transacted over his counters reaches a large figure annually.

In April, 1903, Mr. Blair was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Holmes, of Laramie, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Holmes. The father died during the early girlhood of Mrs. Blair. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Blair have been born two children: Charles E., who was born in Laramie in 1905, and is a student in the University of Wyoming training school; and Margaret, who was born in 1907 and is a public school pupil.

In his political views Mr. Blair has always been a democrat, giving stanch support to the party because of his firm belief in its principles. He filled the office of county commissioner for four years, yet cannot be said to be a politician in the sense of office seeking. On the contrary, he prefers that his public duties shall be done as a private citizen in order that his undivided time and attention may be given to other interests. Fraternally he is a Mason and has attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite. He is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. As a citizen he ranks high, his sterling worth being widely recognized, and as a business man he occupies an enviable position, while his life record should serve as a source of encouragement and inspiration to others, for it indicates what may be accomplished through individual effort and perseverance. He belongs to that class of progressive men who are the real upbuilders of the west and who are developing the state along the most advanced lines, so that Laramie and Wyoming are fast outstripping many of the older cities and states of the country in the opportunities offered and in the standards of municipal and civic development.


Excerpts from © Laramie Daily Boomerang no. 113 May 13, 1915, page 4"


A law firm now occupies the Charles E. Blair House, a large, beautiful Victorian home located on the corner of 5th and Fremont Streets. The Blair House was built in 1912 and is recorded on the Wyoming Historic Preservation list.


In 1900 Brown County, Ohio, Rufus Livingston is farming, born January 1817 in Pennsylvania, with son Rufus K. Nov 18o62 Ohio, Nettie Al January 1868 Ohio has been married nine years. Mary June 1891 and George W. August 1895 both born in Ohio.
In 1900 Chesterfield, Virginia, Rufus in 48, Nettie 42, May 18, George 14, Alan 8, and Vernon 3.
Rufus 1862-1947 is buried in Richmond # 14654646, with Nettie B. 1868-1915 an Ida May Applegate 1863-1947.


John H. Blair married Margaret K. Devlen October 29, 1899, recorded in Denver.
They're in Denver in 1900 (so John was counted twice - once in Laramie and once in Denver.)
In 1910 Denver John 36 and Margaret R. 28 have George M. 8 and Barbara K. - one month.

In 1920 Denver John is 46, a warehouseman, with Margaret R. 38 New Jersey. George M. is 28 a rubber vulcanizer, and Barbara 9.

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