Austin “The War Governor” Blair
Born: February 8, 1818
Birthplace: Caroline, New York
Father: George Blair 1786 – 1869
(Buried: Blair Family Burial Ground, Caroline, New York)
Mother: Rhoda Mann Blackman 1790 – 1874
(Buried: Blair Family Burial Ground, Caroline, New York)
1st Wife: Persis Lyman Unknown – 1844
(Buried: Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan)
2nd Wife: Elisabeth Pratt 1820 – 1847
(Buried: Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan)
3rd Wife: Sarah Louesa Ford 1824 – 1897
(Buried: Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan)
Children:
Gertrude Blair 1842 – 1842
(Buried: Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan)
James Hunter Blair 1847 – 1847
(Buried: Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan)
George H. Blair 1850 – 1904
(Buried: Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan)
Charles A. Blair 1854 – 1912
(Buried: Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan)
Political Party: Whig Party, Free Soil Party, Republican Party
Education:
Attended Cazenovia Seminary
Attended Hamilton College
1837: Graduated from Union College
Occupation before War:
1841 – 1842: Attorney in Tioga County, New York
1842 – 1844: Attorney in Eaton Rapids, Michigan
Eaton County, Michigan County Clerk
1844 – 1852: Attorney in Jackson, Michigan
1846 – 1849: Michigan State Representative
1846: Successful in effort to abolish Capital Punishment in Michigan
Advocate and Introduced legislation for black citizens rights to vote.
1848: Michigan Delegate to Free Soil Party National Convention
1853 – 1854: Prosecuting Attorney for Jackson County, Michigan
1854: Participated in organization of the Republican Party.
Chairman of Committee for drafting Republican Party Platform.
1855 – 1856: Michigan State Senator
1860: Michigan Delegate to Republican Party National Convention
Civil War Career:
1861 – 1865: Governor of Michigan
Recommended offering President Lincoln all Michigan Military resources.
1861: Called for ten companies of Volunteers for Union Cause.
Helped to raise $10,000.00 to organize and equip union soldiers.
Occupation after War:
1867 – 1873: United States Congressman from Michigan
1867 – 1871: Member of House Foreign Affairs Committee
1867 – 1869: Member of House Militia Committee
1868: Voted to impeach President Andrew Johnson
1869 – 1873: House Chairman of Private Land Claims
1869 – 1871: Member of House Revisal of the laws Committee
1869 – 1871: Ranking Member of House Ways and Means
1872: Choose not to be a candidate for reelection to U.S. Congress.
1872: Unsuccessful Liberal Republican Candidate for Governor
1873 – 1894: Attorney in Jackson, Michigan
1881 – 1889: Member of Board of Regents University of Michigan.
1885 – 1886: Prosecuting Attorney in Jackson County, Michigan
Died: August 6, 1894
Place of Death: Jackson, Michigan
Age at time of Death: 76 years old
Burial Place: Mount Evergreen Cemetery, Jackson, Michigan
Last edited by a moderator: