Bios: DR. JOHN A. BLAIR: Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

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  Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lawrence Co transcribers.
  Coordinated by Ed McClelland

  Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
  
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  Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens
  Lawrence County Pennsylvania
  Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo, N.Y., 1897
  
  An html version with search engine may be found at 
  
  http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/lawrence/1897/
  
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    DR. JOHN A. BLAIR,
    
    [p. 447] secretary of the Lawrence County Medical Society, and a leading,
  member of the medical circles of New Castle, was born in Washington township,
  this county, Oct. 7, 1855, and is a son of John and Ellen (Guildoo) Blair of
  Mercer Co., Pa.
    
    James Blair, the grandfather of Dr. Blair, was a native of Pennsylvania,
  and followed the honorable calling of an agriculturist all the years of his
  life that he was engaged in laboring. To him and his wife were born the
  following children: Robert; James; Irvin; Alex.; William; Margaret; and
  Polly. In their religious belief they were Methodists.
    
    John Blair, Jr., was also a farmer by occupation, as was his father before
  him, and followed it the latter part of his life; his younger years being
  spent at the trade of a cabinet-maker; his death occurred March 9, 1891, when
  he was aged sixty-seven years. He was a Methodist in his religious
  attachments. There were given to him and his wife the following children:
  Martha; Lovina; John A., our subject; Emma; Lorendo; Mary; and Joseph. Martha
  married Robert Ryhal and has one child, Maud. Lovina married John Phillip of
  New Castle, Pa. Emma married John Dann. Mary became the wife of John Ward.
    
    John A. Blair received his early mental training in the schools of
  Pennsylvania and Missouri, in which States his parents had been residents at
  various times in his boyhood. When he became a young man, he returned to
  Pennsylvania and entered the State Normal School at Edinboro, Pa., and, after
  receiving a thorough training in that institution, he taught in the district
  schools for four years, and in 1881 read medicine with Dr. Mont Linville, the
  well-known physician of New Castle, for one year. He then became a student in
  the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pa., and graduated from that
  excellent medical school in 1890. He also took a special course in the
  treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat at the same college,
  remaining there one year for that purpose. In February, 1891, he located in
  New Castle, Pa., where he has met with commendable success in his practice,
  which he has taken great pains to extend. His office practice is large and
  lucrative and claims a considerable share of his time. After two years'
  practice he spent some time in the hospitals in London and Liverpool,
  England. He is a member of the Lawrence County Medical Society, and is at
  present its secretary. He is a firm Republican. Socially, he is a member of
  Shenango Lodge, No. 195, I. O. O. F.; Knights of Pythias, New Castle Lodge,
  No. 404; Protected Home Circle, New Castle Circle, No. 5; Knights of the
  Maccabees, New Castle Tent, No. 230; Sons of Veterans, Oscar L. Jackson Camp,
  No. 249; and is also a member of the tribe of Ben Hur.
    
    In 1891, Dr. Blair united his fortunes with those of Luella Muntz, daughter
  of Jacob Muntz of Centerville, Butler Co., Pa., and to them have been given to
  rear two children: C. Hugh and Victor J. Dr. and Mrs. Blair are members of the
  M. E. Church, and are held in high esteem in that organization as efficient
  workers.
    
    In 1897, Dr. Blair spent two months traveling, through the Western States,
  to the coast in California up to Washington. He came home by the way of
  Nebraska, where he purchased a ranch and herd of cattle, which he left in the
  charge of his brother Lorendo, who is living there.