Ritchie County, WV: Bios - A.C. Blair
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Submitted by Valerie Crook

The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., 
Chicago and New York, Volume III, 

pg. 10
Ritchie County
A. C. BLAIR, M. D. Member of one of the old and prom-
inent families of Ritchie County, son of a distinguished
lawyer, A. C. Blair early in his career chose the medical
profession as his calling and for thirty years has practiced
with notable success in the county, his home being at Harris-
ville.

Doctor Blair was born July 27, 1863, son of R. S. and
Rachel (Core) Blair. His father was born near Parkersburg,
West Virginia, in Wood County, February 21, 1835, son of
David and Elizabeth (Beeson) Blair. David Blair was
born in Blair County, Pennsylvania, in 1794, and was an
early settler in Wood County, West Virginia. In 1817 he
married Elizabeth Beeson, of a prominent family of Union-
town, Pennsylvania. David Blair was cashier of the First
State Bank of Parkersburg. He died at Portsmouth, Ohio,
of cholera, in April, 1835. The late Robert S. Blair was left
an orphan when about four weeks old, was reared by his
aunt, Ann Gardener, acquired a common school education,
was apprenticed to learn the saddler's trade and subsequently
received an appointment to the Virginia Military Institute,
from which he graduated. On returning to Harrisville he
studied law in the office of Cyrus Hall, and for a long period
of years he was known as one of the ablest lawyers of the
Ritchie County bar, in which he is succeeded by his son,
R. S. Blair, Jr. The father served as prosecuting attorney
of Ritchie County, being elected on the democratic ticket.
He was an active member of the Methodist Church. His
wife, Rachel Core, was born in Tyler County, West Virginia,
August 29, 1842. They had four children: Dr. A. C. Blair;
Robert S., Jr.; Miss Elizabeth C.; and Harry C., who saw
service in the World's war and is now practicing medicine
at Reeder, Wetzel County.

Dr. A. C. Blair grew up at Harrisville and attended school
there and the Bethel Military Academy in Virginia. After
returning home he took up the study of medicine, and in
1891 graduated M. D. from the College of Physicians and
Surgeons at Baltimore. Doctor Blair has devoted thirty
years to the work of his profession and has every reason to
be satisfied with his reputation as a professional man and as
quiet and influential citizen of Harrisville.

December 21, 1903, Doctor Blair married Miss Verne
E. Curtis. They have four children: Corena R., born
October 30, 1904, a student in high school; Robert J., born
November 4, 1906; Lulu M., born April 9, 1908; and Nannie
A., born August 28, 1910. The family are members of the
Methodist Church and Doctor Blair is a democrat. He
owns a fine home on Main Street in Harrisville and also has
a farm of ninety-four acres.

Mrs. Blair was born in Randolph County, West Virginia,
April 29, 1880, daughter of Milton J. Curtis, who was born
in Randolph County October 22, 1838. Her mother was
Mary Williams, who was born in Highland County, Virginia,
September 30, 1843, daughter of Mary (Rowe) Williams.
Thomas Curtis, father of Milton J., was born in Baltimore,
Maryland, and was an early settler in Randolph County,
West Virginia, where he became a merchant.
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