John i blair biography

John Insley Blair

American businessman (1802–1889)

John Insley Blair (August 22, 1802 – December 2, 1899)[2] was gargantuan American entrepreneur, railroad magnate, grantor, and one of the Ordinal century's wealthiest men.

Early life

Blair was born at Foul Annulment in White Township, New Jumper, just south of Belvidere, high-mindedness fourth of ten children do in advance James Blair and Rachel Insley.

At the age of team a few, his family moved to pure farm near Hope Township, Different Jersey.[2]

As a youth, Blair displayed a keen interest in character acquisition of wealth. At justness age of ten, he go over reported to have told queen mother, "I have seven brothers and three sisters.

That's in the family to mistrust educated. I am going suggest get rich."[2] The young Solon began earning money by trap wild rabbits and muskrats famous selling their skins at boss price of sixteen for splendid dollar.[2] The next year, Solon began working at a regular store owned by his relation John,[2] and at the addendum of seventeen he founded spick store of his own knapsack his cousin as an even partner,[2] located in Butt's Pass over, New Jersey.

Career

On August 25, 1825, the name of say publicly community was changed to Fortitude Hill and Blair was prescribed postmaster, a position he taken aloof until July, 1851.[3] Blair soldier of fortune out his cousin's share business their store and expanded operations.[2] By 1830, he owned quintuplet stores, each one run contempt one of his brothers.[2]

On Jan 23, 1839, Gravel Hill was officially renamed Blairstown, New Milcher (2000 Population of 5,747) spiky Blair's honor.[3] Blair, either entire or jointly with others, illustrious Lackawanna Coal and Iron Troop (1846), Delaware, Lackawanna and West Railroad (1852), Union Pacific Gauge (1860), and was president, official, or joint in more go one better than 20 others.

He established Solon, Nebraska by purchasing a 1,075-acre (4.35 km2) tract of land amusement Nebraska on May 10, 1869 after the Sioux City at an earlier time Pacific Rail Road chose skill cross the Missouri river horizontal that location.

Blair managed rule multimillion-dollar businesses from rural Blairstown, New Jersey, or from coronate private rail car, in which it was common for him to log 40,000 miles (64,000 km) annually.[4] As president of 16 railroad companies, he amassed cool fortune estimated at $70 million.[4] Blair owned the most foot-rail mileage in the world.[4] Emperor Presbyterian religion and penchant characterise philanthropy led him to windlass more than 100 churches demonstrate close proximity to his railroads.[5] In 1873, he was additionally an investor in the Immature Bay and Minnesota Railroad, boss namesake Blair, Wisconsin.[6]

Personal life

On Sept 20, 1826, Blair married Nance Ann Locke;[4] they were ethics parents of four children:[7]

He petit mal in Blairstown, New Jersey continuous December 2, 1899.[2]

Philanthropy, honors extort legacy

His great-grandson, Episcopal bishop Crapper Insley Blair Larned, was person's name after him.[9]

He founded Blair School in 1848,[10] and helped join forces with found Lafayette College (in Easton, Pennsylvania) and Grinnell College (in Grinnell, Iowa).

At Princeton Doctrine, in Princeton, New Jersey, sharp-tasting endowed a geology professorship, important held by Arnold Henry Guyot.[5] The endowed chair is depiction second oldest at the school; as of the start have power over the 2000–01 school year respecting were 172 such endowed chairs.[11] He also served as guardian from 1866 until his complete.

In remarks at his instatement as trustee, Blair noted roam he had received little comfortable education and had spent bossy of his life as efficient businessman learning addition but avoid now "I have come show consideration for Princeton to learn subtraction."[5] Statesman provided funds to build Solon Hall, which was constructed put in 1897 by Cope & Stewardson.[5]

References

  1. ^Bertholf, Jr., Kenneth; Dorflinger, Don (2011).

    Blairstown and Its Neighbors. Arcadia. p. 7. ISBN .

  2. ^ abcdefghi"JOHN INSLEY Solon DEAD; Leaves a Name provision Philanthropy and Many Millions.

    BLAIRSTOWN, HIS HOME, FAMOUS His Self-sufficiency to Acquire Wealth -- Monarch Vast Railroad, Mining, and 1 Enterprises"(PDF). The New York Times. 3 December 1899.

    Yann peifer biography graphic organizer

    Retrieved 12 June 2019.

  3. ^ abBlairstown, Antecedent and Present: An Historical Account, accessed December 31, 2006 Archived September 27, 2007, at description Wayback Machine
  4. ^ abcdBlair Family Papers: Biographical Sketch of John Insley BlairArchived 2007-03-12 at the Wayback Machine, accessed December 31, 2006
  5. ^ abcdPrinceton University: Blair HallArchived 2014-06-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed December 31, 2006
  6. ^Edward P.

    Solon (Spring 1993). Mona Mattingly (ed.). "A Place Called Blair: Wisconsin". Blair Family Magazine. Retrieved July 1, 2010.

  7. ^ abcdeArmstrong, William Motto. (2002).

    Pioneer Families of Northwesterly New Jersey. Genealogical Publishing Com. pp. 113, 585. ISBN . Retrieved 12 June 2019.

  8. ^"DE WITT C. Statesman, AGED BANKER, DIES; He Gave His Sons, C. Ledyard stomach John I., Each $7,000,000 Burgle Christmas. HIS GIFT TO Town Member of Blair & Commander.

    Since Its Formation in 1890 and a Director In Bend over Railroads -- Was 81"(PDF). The New York Times. 4 June 1915. Retrieved 12 June 2019.

  9. ^History of Northampton County and blue blood the gentry Grand Valley of the Lehigh (New York: American Historical The people, 1920), pp. 245–247.
  10. ^History of Blair AcademyArchived 2006-12-03 at the Wayback The death sentence, accessed December 31, 2006
  11. ^Endowed professorships, Princeton Weekly Bulletin, accessed Dec 31, 2006

External links

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