Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Blair, Judge James O. December 31, 1884 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 17, 2008, 2:41 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

	JUDGE JAMES O. BLAIR.  One of the most prominent members of the bar of 
Clark county is James O. Blair, who has had a splendid record as a practicing 
attorney and is now rendering able service as justice of the peace and judge 
of the police court of the city of Vancouver. He was born on the 31st day of 
December, 1884, in Woodburn district, north of Camas, Clark county, 
Washington, and is a son of C. S. and Ann E. (Gillihan) Blair, both of whom 
were born in Missouri. Judge Blair’s paternal grandfather, Pinkney Blair, came 
to Washington about 1872 and stopped at Martin Gillihan’s place, on Sauvies 
island, where he remained a short time, and then came to Clark county, where 
he has lived continuously to the present time, being now a resident of Camas. 
He is the father of two children, Asa, who lives at Camas, and C. S.  The 
mother of these children died when her youngest son was twelve years old.  In 
1889 C. S. Blair moved his family to Mill Plain, where he still lives. His 
wife died in 1918. Judge Blair’s maternal grandfather, Gideon B. Gillihan, 
came to the Pacific coast country about a year prior to the arrival of the 
Blairs and settled first on Sauvie island, but soon afterwards removed with 
his family to Chelotchie Prairie where he took up a homestead. In those early 
days Indians were numerous in this locality and the early settlers found it 
necessary to bar their doors heavily at night time for protection.
	James O. Blair attended the grade schools at Mill Plain and the high 
school at Vancouver, and then entered Washington State College, from which he 
was graduated in 1908, having majored in economic science, and history. He 
then engaged in teaching school at Mill Plain, teaching two terms in Union 
High district, and during this period devoted himself closely to the study of 
law. In May, 1911, he was admitted to the bar and in October of that year 
engaged in the practice of his profession in Vancouver. In 1914 he was elected 
prosecuting attorney for a four-year term, and on leaving that office resumed 
private practice, to which he devoted himself closely until January 1, 1923, 
when he was appointed police judge and justice of the peace, which positions 
he has filled to the present time. A man of well-balanced mind and mature 
judgment, he has so performed his judicial duties as to receive general 
commendation and has gained a reputation for fairness and justice among all 
who have appeared before him.
	In July, 1912, Judge Blair was united in marriage to Miss Dorothea 
Gombert of Clarkston, Asotin county, Washington. She is a native of Seattle 
and is a daughter of Frank and Dora C. Gombert, the latter now making her home 
with Mrs. Blair, the father being deceased.  Mrs. Gombert was born in Germany 
and when sixteen years old came to the United States. The family lived first 
in New York state, and later moved to Nevada, where Mrs. Gombert married Mr. 
Gombert, and in the early ‘80s they located in Seattle. To Judge and Mrs. 
Blair have been born four children Eulalie M., Dorothy A., James F. and Donald 
C.  The Judge is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the 
Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World, and the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has been particularly active, 
being at this time deputy grand master of the grand lodge of Washington. He 
belongs to the Prunarians, of which he is a past president; the Clark County 
Country Club, of which he is a director; the Chamber of Commerce and the Clark 
County Bar Association, which is affiliated with the State Bar Association. He 
has taken an active interest in matters affecting the welfare of his city and 
a leading part in securing the Interstate bridge, serving as advisor to the 
board of county commissioners during its construction. Recently he has been 
interested in
the movement to abolish tolls on this bridge and tolls will not be collected 
after January,  1929.  He is a representative of America’s best type of 
manhood and his colleagues speak of him as a learned and able lawyer, who has 
well merited the prominence which he now enjoys in the community.


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 438-439

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