BIO: John BLAIN, Jr., Huntingdon County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley: 
Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry, 
Pennsylvania, Containing Sketches of Prominent and Representative 
Citizens and Many of the Early Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. 
Runk & Co., 1897, pages 61-62. 
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  CAPTAIN JOHN BLAIN, JR., military instructor and chief of Bureau of 
Identification, Pennsylvania Industrial Reformatory, Huntingdon, Pa., was 
born in North Sydney, Australia, February 23, 1845.  He is a son of John and 
Isabella (Young) Blain, the former a native of Belfast, Ireland, the latter 
of Ayrshire, Scotland.  Mrs. Blain died in Philadelphia, in 1859.  Her 
husband, John Blain, Sr., resides in Norfolk, Va.  While their son, John 
Blain, Jr., was still a child, they removed from Australia to Belfast, 
Ireland, and about 1852 emigrated to America.  They took up their residence 
in Philadelphia, Pa., where the Captain was educated; he is a graduate of 
the Philadelphia High School.  His first business engagement was salesman in 
a grocery store, where for seven years he acquired practical knowledge of 
both branches of the business, wholesale and retail.  On May 30, 1861, he 
enlisted in Company F, First Regiment, P.R.V.C., as a private; he was 
afterwards promoted to first sergeant.  He served in this regiment until 
1864; re-enlisted the same year and was transferred to the One Hundred and 
Ninetieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Veterans as first sergeant of Company H.  
He served in this regiment until August, 1864, when he was taken prisoner, 
and sent to Salisbury, N.C.; he was confined there until March 2, 1865, the 
date of his release.  He returned to his regiment, and served until the 
close of the war; was mustered out and finally discharged at Harrisburg, in 
May, 1865, after four years of faithful service.  During this time, Captain 
Blain took part with his regiment in almost all of the most important 
engagements of the Rebellion; he was three times wounded.
  Broken in health by the fatigues and sufferings of war, but most by the 
hardships of captivity, Captain Blain went to Europe to recruit his 
exhausted system.  After a residence of two years abroad, he returned to 
America, and in 1873 was appointed teacher in the Reform School at 
Washington, D.C.  He filled that position efficiently for about two years 
and a half and was then appointed  teacher and family officer at the Reform 
School, Jamesburg, N.J., where he remained over four years.  Then, his 
health failing, Captain Blain resigned his position, and was for a year 
engaged in farming in northern New York.  In 1878 he was appointed officer 
and teacher at the Morganza Reform School, Morganza, Pa.  He was there until 
May 1, 1889, and two weeks later, May 15, entered upon his present duties.
  Captain Blain is a Republican.  He is a member of George Simpson Post, No. 
44, G.A.R., of Huntingdon; of the A.O.U.W.; and of Chartier's Lodge, No. 
297, F. and A.M., of Canonsburg, Pa.; he is also an active member and past 
master of Standing Stone Chapter, No. 201, R.A.M.
  Capt. John Blain, Jr., was married in Washington, D.C., May 25, 1875, to 
Ella A. Field, who was a teacher in the public schools of Washington, D.C., 
and after her marriage taught in the Reform School of Jamesburg, N.J., and 
the Morganza Reform School, of Morganza, Pa.  She is a daughter of F. F. and 
K. K. Field, of Camden, N.J.  Captain and Mrs. Blain have had eight 
children, of whom three died young:  Howard C.; Elizabeth, and Isabella.  
Those surviving are:  John F.; Ira Bruce; West Elliot; Ella F.; and 
Elizabeth.  The family attend the Presbyterian church.