BIOGRAPHY: Blair SHORT, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 194-5
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BLAIR SHORT, the proprietor of the Washington hotel at Lilly, this county, is a 
son of John and Mary (Murphy) Short, and was born on the old homestead near 
Lilly, January 14, 1861. The Short family is of German origin, the paternal 
great-great-grandfather having been born in Germany. The great-grandfather, 
Peter Short, was born in Maryland, and was a soldier under Washington in the 
Revolutionary War.
     Samuel Short, grandfather, a native of Maryland, was a carpenter by trade, 
and followed that avocation all his life. He died in 1873, at the age of 
seventy-six years. John W. Short, father of the gentleman whose name heads this 
memoir, was born in Cambria county, Pennsylvania, near his present home at 
Lilly, in 1828. He was educated in the district schools, and early in life 
learned the trade of a carpenter. However, for a number of years he worked on 
the old Portage road, and afterward, from 1864 to 1877, became identified with 
railroading; during a part of that period he was an engineer on the Pennsylvania 
railroad. From the latter year until 1894 he followed his trade as a carpenter, 
when, on account of failing health, he was compelled to retire from active 
duties, and has since lived in comparative quiet at his home in Lilly.
      During the War of the Rebellion he served his country as second lieutenant 
in company G, Tenth regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer infantry.
     In politics he is a loyal democrat, and takes a very active interest in all 
local affairs, and in religious belief he is a devout member of the Roman 
Catholic church.
     His marriage with Miss Mary Murphy has resulted in the birth of eleven 
children, of whom all are living but two.
     Blair Short was born January 14, 1861, near the old homestead of Lilly, and 
received his education in the public schools of his district. Beginning life on 
his own account, he worked on the Pennsylvania railroad for a year, and then 
accepted a position as clerk in a general store at Lilly, where he remained for 
four years. During the next three years he was employed in the mines of W. H. 
Piper & Company. In 1890 he opened his present hotel at Lilly -- the Washington 
House, which is the oldest licensed house in the town.
     He takes an active part in political affairs, and is prominently identified 
with the Democrat party. Served as a delegate to the State convention in 1894 
and 1895; was one of the auditors who settled the differences between the 
borough of Lilly and Washington township, when the borough was first 
incorporated; has served as borough assessor, and also as school director of 
Lilly. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church.
     In 1886 he celebrated his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Robine, a daughter 
of Christopher Robine, of Lilly. Their union has been blessed in the birth of 
five children: Pearl, Millard, Gertrude, Myra (who died when a year old), and 
Ira.