Chatham County GaArchives Biographies.....Blun, Henry 1833 - 1912
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 15, 2004, 10:51 am

Author: William Harden
p.695-697

   CAPT. HENRY BLUN. America has been likened to a great melting-pot into which
all the nations of the earth are cast in a constant tide of immigration, the
result being the American citizen, virile, honest, progressive, with fine ideas
of freedom and independence. It is generally acknowledged that one of the most
desirable elements which enter into the great crucible is the German, the nation
having everything to gain and nothing to lose from the assimilation of this
brainy, honest and generally admirable stock, which has given to the world some
of its greatest geniuses. To the Fatherland was Savannah indebted for one of her
representative citizens, Capt. Henry Blun, president of Germania Bank and a
Confederate veteran of the war between the states.

   Captain Blun was born in the historic city of Worms, Germany, May 20, 1833.
At the age of twenty, in 1853, he came to America, locating first in New York
City, where he became a bookkeeper in a mercantile office. In December, 1854, he
came to Savannah, which has ever since been his home, its charms and advantages
appealing to him from the first. For some time before the war he was associated
with Thomas Walsh in the auction and commission business and in 1857 he formed a
partnership with M. H. Meyer in the same line of business, in which he continued
until about the time of the inception of the supreme struggle between the North
and South.

   Captain Blun volunteered for service in the Confederate army, early in 1861,
and became a member of the German Volunteers, which organization was in service
at Fort Pulaski at the mouth of the Savannah river and he was also with the
forces on Tybee and Wilmington islands. Subsequently he became a member of the
Savannah Artillery under Capt. George L. Cope, stationed at what was then known
as Fort Jackson. In 1864, on account of ill-health, contracted from service on
the coast, he was granted six months' furlough and on April 1, 1864, he left
Savannah on the sloop "Maggie Blun," which he had bought and fitted up for
blockade running, with a cargo of cotton, bound for Nassau, under agreement with
the state of Georgia to dispose of the cargo to the best advantage. He
successfully ran the blockade, disposed of the cargo at Nassau and turned over
the proceeds to the agents of the state of Georgia at that place. He also
delivered at Nassau, for mailing in the English mails, important dispatches and
documents which had been entrusted to him by the Confederate government and
addressed to Messrs. Mason and Slidell, the Confederate representatives in
London, and which subsequently reached their destination safely. From Nassau,
Captain Blun went on to Europe, visiting his home people in Germany, who were
then living in the city of Mainz.   He then proceeded to London and Liverpool,
meeting in the latter city parties engaged in blockade running for the
Confederacy and from Liverpool he embarked on the blockade running steamship
"Banshee" for Wilmington, North Carolina. This steamship made a successful
landing on the Carolina coast. Captain Blun had many interesting and dangerous
adventures as a blockade runner, and the recountal of the same is a thrilling
and picturesque tale. He was never lacking in bravery and was chosen for several
perilous enterprises. His experiences as a blockade runner lasted six months,
when, his furlough expiring, he returned to Savannah and took charge of a
company of home guard, Company C of Colonel Pritchard's battalion. In command of
his company he was on guard duty in Savannah until the occupation of the city by
Sherman's army. He was then granted a parole which continued until the
termination of the war.

   After the war Captain Blun resumed business in association with Mr. Meyer and
remained with him until 1870, when he became associated with George W. Wylly and
R. M. Demere in the private banking business under the firm name of G. W. Wylly
& Company. This firm was dissolved in 1873 and was succeeded by the banking firm
of Blun & Demere, which continued in business until 1878. Captain Blun then
withdrew and established a private banking business, which was succeeded in 1890
by the present Germania Bank, of which he was the president from its founding in
that year. Captain Blun was the organizer and founder of the bank, an
institution of which he was justly proud. Starting in with a capital stock of
$50,000, it is now increased to $300,000. It is .a highly prosperous financial
institution and to be numbered among the monetary institutions which emphasize
and exert marked influence in conserving the financial stability and commercial
prestige of Georgia. Captain Blun was known as one of the ablest and most
discriminating financiers of Savannah. The Germania building, the home of this
bank, is a handsome eight-story structure, the first of Savannah's tall office
buildings. From the day of the organization of the bank it has been given the
careful and strict conduct of Captain Blun. He was interested in all public
matters, was essentially public-spirited, and for many years was a member of the
Savannah board of public education. He was a member of several local clubs and
was an adherent of the Catholic faith, as is also his family.

   Captain Blun was happily married in Savannah on April 1, 1861, his chosen
lady being Miss Catherine Savage, daughter of Michael and Catherine (Stafford)
Savage. Their union has been blessed by the birth of several children, five of
whom survive and are admirable members of society and expressive of the fine
stock from which they spring. They are as follows: Augusta, wife of Dr. Matthew
F. Dunn, of Savannah; Mary, wife of H. Clay Miner, of New York; Capt. Henry
Blun, Jr.; Katherine E. Blun, wife of E. Clinton Jansen, of Denver, Colorado;
and Walter Savage Blun. Capt. Henry Blun, Jr., is ex-postmaster of Savannah and
a partner in the Neal-Blun Company, dealers in hardware and building supplies.
He is also president of the Germania Bank. He is a graduate of Lehigh University
and is prominent in social and business affairs of Savannah. Capt. Henry Blun
died February 2, 1912.



Additional Comments:
A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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