Note:
George
Blair was the son of: Robert Blair born 26 MAR 1756 in Worcester,
Massachusetts
and Betsey
Harrington
born 6 FEB 1755 in Holden, Massachusetts
George married on
7 MAY 1817 to Rhoda Blackman Mann
Their Children
were:
1.
Austin
Blair b: 8 FEB 1818 in Caroline, Tompkins, New York
2.
Sarah Blair b: 10 MAR 1821 in Caroline, Tompkins, New York
3.
Robert Blair b: 2 APR 1825 in Caroline, Tompkins, New
4.
William Henry Blair b: 22 JAN 1831 in Caroline, Tompkins, New York
NOTES:
Sabin Mann married
Rhoda Blackman. He was drafted 1812 and killed. George Blair
married
his widow.
Austin
Blair,
one of George Blair's sons, was the Civil War Time Governor of the
State
of Michigan. Austin was born in the house his father built, which is
still
well cared for - next to this cemetery.
AUSTIN BLAIR,
Governor of Michigan from Jan. 2, 1861 to Jan. 4, 1965, and known as
the War Governor, is an illustration of the beneficent influence of
republican institutions, having inherited neither fortune or fame. He
was born in a log cabin at Caroline, Tompkins Co. N.Y., Feb. 8, 1818.
His ancestors came from Scotland in the time of George I, and for many
generations followed the pursuit of agriculture. His father, George
Blair, settled in Tompkins County in 1809, and felled the trees and
erected the first cabin in the county. The last 60 of the fourscore and
four years of his life were spent on that spot. He married Rhoda
Blackman, who now sleeps with him in the soil of the old homestead. The
first 17 years of his life were spent there, rending his father what
aid he could upon the farm. He then spent a year and a half in
Cazenovia Seminary preparing for college; entered Hamilton College, in
Clinton, prosecuted his studies until the middle of the junior year,
when, attracted by the fame of Dr. Nott, he changed to Union College,
from which he graduated in the class of 1839. Upon leaving college Mr.
Blair read law two years in the office of Sweet & Davis,Oswego,
N.Y., and was admitted to the practice in 1841, and the same year moved
to Michigan, locating in Jackson. During a temporary residence in Eaton
Rapids, in 1842, he was elected Clerk of Eaton County. At the close of
the official term he returned to Jackson, and as a Whig, zealously
espoused the cause of Henry Clay in the campaign of 1844. He was chosen
Representative to the Legislature in 1845, at which session, as a
member of the Judiciary Committee, he rendered valuable service in the
revision of the general statutes; also made an able report in favor of
abolishing the color distinction in relation to the elective franchise,
and at the same session was active in securing the abolition of capital
punishment. In 1848 Mr. Blair refused longer to affiliate with the Whig
party, because of its refusial to endorse in convention any
anti-slavery sentiment. He joined the Free-soil movement, and was a
delegate to their convention which nominated Van Buren for President
that year. Upon the birth of the Republican party at Jackson, in 1854,
by the coalition of the Whig and Free-soil elements, Mr. Blair was in
full sympathy with the movement, and acted as a member of the Committee
on Platform. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Jackson County in
1852; was chosen State Senator two years later; taking his seat with
the incoming Republican administration of 1855, and holding the
position, of parliamentary leader in the Senate. He was a delegate to
the National Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and
reelected in 1862, faithfully and honorably discharging to arduous
duties of the office during that most momentous an stormy period of the
Nation’s life. Gov. Blair possessed a clear comprehension of the
perilous situation from the inception of the Rebellion, and his
inaugural address foreshadowed the prompt executive policy and the
administrative ability which characterized his gubernatorial career.
Never perhaps in the history of a
nation has a brighter example been laid down, or a greater sacrifice
been made, theron that which distinguished Michigan during the civil
war. All, from the "War Governor,: down to the poorest citizen of the
State, were animated with a patriotic ardor at once magnificently
sublime and wisely directed.
Very early in 1861 the coming
struggle cast its shadow over the Nation. Governor Blair, in his
message to the Legislature in January of that year, dwelt very forcibly
upon the sad prospects of civil war and as forcibly pledged the State
to support the principles of the Republic. After a review of the
conditions of the State he passed on to a consideration of the
relations between the free and slave States of the Republic, saying:
"While we are citizens of the State of Michigan, and as such deeply
devoted to her interests and honor; we have a still prouder title. We
are also citizens of the United States of America. By this title we are
known among the nations of the earth. In remote quarters of the globe,
were the names of the States are unknown, the flag of the great
Republic, the banner of the stars and stripes, honor and protect her
citizens. In whatever concerns the honor, the prosperity and the
perpetuity of this great Government, we are deeply interested. The
people of Michigan are loyal to that Government – faithful to its
constitution and its laws. Under it they have had peace and prosperity;
and under it them mean to abide to the end. Feeling a just pride in the
glorious history of the past, they will not renounce the equally
glorious hopes of the future. But they will rally around the standards
of the Nation and defend its integrity and its constitution, with
fidelity." The final paragraph being:
"I recommend you at an early day to
make manifest to the gentlemen who represent the State in the two
Houses of Congress, and to the country, that Michigan is loyal to the
Union, the Constitution, and the laws and will defend them to the
uttermost; and to proffer to the President of the United States, the
whole military power of the State for that purpose. Oh, for the firm,
steady hand of a Washington, or a Jackson, to guide the ship of State
in this perilous storm! Let us hope that we will find him on the 4th
of March. Meantime, let us abide in the faith of our fathers – ‘Liberty
and Union, one and inseparable, now and forever.’"
Now this stirring appeal was
responded to by the people of Michigan will be seen by the statement
that the State furnished 88,111 men during the war. Money, men,
clothing and food were freely and abundantly supplied by this State
during all these years of darkness and blood shed. No State won a
brighter record for her devotion to our country that the Peninsula
State, and to Gov. Blair, more than to any other individual is due the
credit for its untiring zeal and labors in the Nation’s behalf, and for
the heroism manifested in its defense.
Gov. Blair was elected
Representative to the Fortieth Congress, and twice re-elected, to the
Forty-first and Forty-second Congress, from the Third District of
Michigan. While a member of that body he was a strong supporter of
reconstruction measures, and sternly opposed every form of repudiation.
His speech upon the national finances, delivered on the floor of the
House March 21, 1868, was a clear and convincing argument. Since his
retirement from Congress, Mr. Blair has been busily occupied with his
extensive law practice. Mr. Blair married Sarah L. Ford of Seneca
County N.Y., in February 1849. Their family consists of 4 sons – George
H., a postal clerk in the railway mail service; Charles A., partner
with his father; Fred. J. and Austin T. at home. Governor Blair’s
religion is of the broad type, and centers in the "Golden Rule." In
1883, Gov. Blair was nominated for Justice of the Supreme Court of the
State by the Republican part, but was defeated.
