Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


Major William Gillespie Blain
                               

Dallas Morning News - July 1, 1899

Mortuary

  BLAIN - Mexia, Tex., June 30 - Major W. C. [should be W. G.] Blain died at his 
home near Dew, this morning after an illness of two weeks.  He was a pioneer 
citizen of Freestone county, an officer in the confederate army and an old Indian 
fighter.

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Fairfield Recorder - July 7, 1899
  
Death of Major W. G. Blain
An Old and Prominent Citizen Has Passed Away

  Died at his residence, near Dew, Texas in Freestone county, Thursday, June 29, 
1899, Major William Gillespie Blain, aged about 68, after an illness of about 
three weeks.
  The deceased was one of the oldest and best known citizens of this county, his 
father, Col. Blain, having been one of its pioneer citizens, who came to Freestone 
with a number of prominent families from Morgan county, in north Alabama in the 
year 1851. 
  The deceased was a most genial, sociable, and popular gentleman, and had many 
friends amongst all classes of people. He was noted for his hospitality, and he 
always kept an "open house" for his friends, who at all times, he was glad to 
meet and welcome. His fine sociable disposition, and generous nature and fondness 
for company, made his home a familiar resort for many years.
  The death of Major Blain removes from the Confederate Veteran ranks of this 
county one who will be much missed at many subsequent annual reunions. He always 
took a leading part in such annual meetings, and for several years was commander 
of the country encampment. The deceased went into the civil war from this county, 
as a member of Capt. J. C. Means Company. They went out first as infantry, and 
then returned home and mounted themselves and went back into the service as 
cavalry, the company becoming Co. H of the 28th Texas Volunteers, commanded first 
by Col. Randall, who afterwards became Brigadier General, the regiment and brigade 
being part of General J. G. Walker's division. A short time before the close of 
the war, Major Blain was assigned to the staff of General King, and and was 
serving with him when the war ended.
  Major Blain bore his illness bravely. He had the best medical attention that 
could be had at several towns, but all was of no avail. Finally, when the change 
in his condition took place, and it was seen that he could not recover, he was 
apprised of his condition, but the news had no terrors for him. He said that he 
was willing to go, and he faced death bravely, as he had done often before. 
Surrounded by his only two children, a son and daughter, and three grand children, 
and other relatives and numerous friends, his spirit, a little past 12 o'clock 
on the night of June 29th wended its flight to the other world. His remains were 
brought here Saturday evening, and funeral services held in the Cumberland 
Presbyterian church, Rev. J. W. Holt officiating. The interment took place in 
the Fairfield cemetery, where sleep his father, his wife and a sister. Though 
the weather was bad, with frequent showers of rain many persons from Dew 
accompanied the remains to this place.
  Peace to the ashes of our old citizen and friend.