A. Scott Blair Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1053-1054 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				A. SCOTT BLAIR.  

	A representative farmer of Mellette township is A. Scott Blair, 
who owns and cultvates one hundred and sixty acres of the rich land of 
Spink county. South Dakota numbers him among her native sons, for he 
was born on the old homestead claim on which he now resides, his natal 
day being February 4, 1887. He is a son of William F. and Eliza A. 
(Scott) Blair. The father came to Spink county in June, 1881, when the 
work of development and improvement had scarcely been begun in this 
section of the state. He filed on the homestead which is now the farm 
of his son and with characteristic energy began and continued its 
development until his life's labors were ended in death. He was a very 
industrious and energetic man and also a popular citizen, for he was 
friendly, cordial and genial in manner and possessed many sterling 
traits of character. He died on the 20th of October. 1905, at the age 
of fifty-eight years, and his death was deeply regretted by many who 
knew him. His widow made her home with her son, A. Scott, until 1914 
when she removed to Mellette. She had two sons, and the other James 
Blair, is a resident of McCleary, Washington. The family is of Scotch 
descent in the paternal line and is of Irish lineage on the mother's 
side.  

	A. Scott Blair acquired a country school education and afterward 
continued his studies in Mellette to the age of sixteen years. He later 
concentrated his efforts upon the farm work, greatly assisting his 
father, who was ill for a considerable time. He has practically managed 
the farm since his nineteenth year and has led a busy, active and 
useful life. The result of his labors is seen in the excellent 
appearance of his place, which is always well kept, the fields being in 
a high state of cultivation, the buildings in good repair, while farm 
machinery and other equipments show wise care. In addition to growing 
the cereals best adapted to soil and climatic conditions he also raises 
cattle, horses and hogs. He has erected most of the buildings upon the 
place and has improved the farm in a general way, so that today it is 
lacking in none of the accessories of the model farm of the twentieth 
century.  

	On December 16, 1914, Mr. Blair married Martha B. Hanson, a 
daughter of John and Anna (Bergeson) Hanson, of St. Paul, Minnesota. In 
politics Mr. Blair is an earnest democrat, believing firmly in the 
party platform, yet never seeking office. He holds membership with the 
Odd Fellows and with the Maccabees, but the guiding principles of his 
life are found in the teachings of the Presbyterian church, of which he 
is a devoted member and an elder.