My Genealogy Hound

JOHN D. BLAIR. Among the old settlers of Cumberland county the members of the Blair family take a leading place, whether as to age, numbers or respectability. The grandfather of John D. Blair, of Upper Allen township, was a prominent farmer who resided near Lewisberry.

Peter Blair, his son and the father of John D., was born in York county, where he followed the trade of butcher in early life, but later became a farmer in Cumberland county, operating the Martin Best and the John Musser farms. During the later years of his life he worked in Seidle’s Spoke Works in Mechanicsburg. In politics he was a Republican and he served at various times as inspector of elections. He was a most worthy member of the United Brethren Church. In 1844 Peter Blair married Sarah Millard, now deceased, a daughter of Isaac Millard, of York county. Mr. Blair’s death occurred Aug. 26, 1901, at the age of eighty-two years. Mr. Blair had the following sisters and brothers: John, living in Fairview, married Sarah Finney, who is deceased, and is survived by the following children: Ellen, Kate, Gertrude, Anna and Edward. Sarah is the widow of William Stevens, and resides in Harrisburg; her children are Kate, Anna, Carrie and Lillian. Mary married Simon Hinkel, of Kingston, and both are deceased, being survived by children: William, Anna and Carrie, Samuel being deceased. Rebecca became Mrs. Taylor, of Altoona. and has two daughters — Mary, widow of John Gross, living at Carlisle, had two children, Bessie and Myrtle, the latter deceased; Sarah, wife of George Hobble. lives in Mechanicsburg. and their children are Charles. Harry, Edward, Rose and Daisy. Elizabeth married William Heffner, of York, and they have two children, Fannie and Laura, unmarried, living in Mechanicsburg. George, who follows the butchering business in Harrisburg, married Ellen Bitzle, and has Charles, Irene and Mary. Joseph is a molder by trade and lives in York; he married Catherine Bumbarger, and has children — Joseph, Bertha, Annie and Sarah. William married Helen Van Nazel, is a butcher in Harrisburg, and has two children, Bertha and Frank.

John D. Blair, eldest in the family of Peter Blair, was born Aug. 28, 1845, at Camp Hill, where he attended school and commenced farming. When but eighteen years of age he enlisted, in 1863, in Harrisburg, in the 3d Pa. Heavy Artillery, Company C, Capt. Bickley commanding. Col. Roberts being regimental commander. His regiment was stationed at Fortress Monroe during the greater part of the war and he was mustered out in 1865. The balance of Mr. Blair’s life has been devoted mainly to farming, and in 1896 he became the owner of his present property. It consists of forty-three acres of highly cultivated land, formerly belonging to the Jonathan Fortney estate.

In 1867 Mr. Blair married Susan Sheely, who belongs to an old family of German descent, old settlers in Cumberland county. Her grandfather. John Sheely, lived to a good old age, and her father, Andrew Sheely, died Sept. 22, 1891, aged eighty-eight years. Her mother. Fannie (Eckelberger), died in June, 1884, aged seventy-seven years. They are buried in the cemetery of St. John’s Church at Shiremanstown. Their family consisted of: Susan (the wife of John D. Blair), Samuel, Kate, Elizabeth, Fannie (deceased), William (deceased), Mary, Levi and John.

Mr. and Mrs. Blair have one child, Minnie, who is the wife of Ember Givler, a blacksmith living at West Fairview, and they have one child, Hazel. Mr. Blair has held various township offices, serving as supervisor and as auditor for three years. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, and is a man much esteemed and thoroughly respected by all who know him.