Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Blair, Robert George 1859 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com April 29, 2006, 4:58 pm

Author: History of Grundy County IL 1914

Blair, Robert George - who since 1906 has been the mail carrier on Rural Free 
Delivery Route No. 3 from Morris, is the type of reliable, conscientious and 
painstaking men that the Government generally endeavors to choose for this 
responsible position. Of Scotch birth, he inherits the qualities of thrift, 
steadiness and honesty which have made that race known the world over, and the 
faithful and efficient manner in which he has performed the duties of his 
position has gained for him the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens 
in Grundy. Mr. Blair was born at Oakley, Fifeshire, Scotland, September 21, 
1859, and is the eldest son of George and Euphemia (Spowart) Blair.

Robert G. Blair was seven years of age when he accompanied his parents to the 
United States, the father securing employment in the coal mines of Grundy 
County, and here the lad secured his schooling. He remained at home with his 
parents until his marriage, April 2, 1885, to Miss Margaret T. W. Gray, who 
was born September 26, 1861, in Edinboro, Scotland, daughter of William and 
Agnes (Telfer) Gray. The grandfather of Mrs. Blair, James Telfer, came to the 
United States in 1883, and was the first man to operate a coal mine in Grundy 
County, and also conducted boats on the canal for many years. He took an 
overland trip to California in 1849. Mrs. Blair came to America with her 
mother, the late Mrs. William Gray, and grandmother, Margaret Telfer, when 
five years old. Previous to her marriage, Mrs. Blair, who had been graduated 
from the high school and attended the Normal school at Morris, engaged in 
teaching school for eight years.

After his marriage, Mr. Blair rented a farm in Saratoga Township, which he 
conducted until 1891, and at that time purchased a tract of forty-two acres of 
improved land, on which he has since made many more improvements which have 
greatly enhanced the property's value. He operated a coal mine of his own for 
three years, but in April, 1906, received the appointment as Rural Free 
Delivery carrier, a position which he has continued to efficiently fill to the 
present time. His fraternal connections include membership in the Masonic 
Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, while his wife is a valued member of the 
Eastern Star, filling the office of Worthy Matron in 1910. Mrs. Blair has gone 
through all of the chairs of the O. E. S. Chapter, and is also a member of the 
Bethany White Shrine of Jerusalem of Joliet. Mr. and Mrs. Blair, with their 
children belong to the Presbyterian Church. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Blair 
are as follows: Agnes T., who resided at home filling the office of chief 
operator of the Morris Telephone Company for ten years. She took up the work, 
beginning at the bottom, and was successfully promoted until she stood at the 
head of her department, and her former employers feel that no one has ever 
excelled her in this capacity. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church.  
Fraternally she belongs to the Eastern Star and the White Shrine of Jerusalem 
of Joliet. On October 7, 1914, she was married to Ronald Newton Martin of 
Ottawa, Ill., where they now reside. Mr. Martin was reared and educated at 
Ottawa, and is now in the employ of the Chicago, Ottawa & Peoria Railway 
Company, being regarded as a young man of sterling qualities. At present he is 
among the senior employees of this road. He is a member of the Ottawa Lodge, 
A. F. & A. M. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Blair is George Wilson, 
formerly assisting his father, married Maude Inez Diblee on February 25, 1914, 
and is engaged in farming, he being a prosperous and intelligent young man, 
while his wife is a graduate of the Morris high school and taught school for 
four years prior to her marriage, and cultivated her musical talent; and 
Euphemia MacKinzie Spowart, who is now Mrs. Frank Carr of White Willow, Ill., 
was graduated from the Morris high school with high honors and taught school 
for years. Mr. and Mrs. Blair and their family take a deep interest in all 
educational matters, and always are awake to the advancement and progression 
in matters pertaining to the "Golden Rule" of doing unto others as they would 
be done by.

pages 767-768

Additional Comments:
Source:  History of Grundy County, Illinois, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. 
Publishers; 1914

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