John Insley Blair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Insley Blair
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| Born | August 22, 1802 |
| Died | December 2, 1899 (aged 97) |
| Spouse(s) |
Nancy Ann Locke
(m. 1826; |
| Children | Emma Elizabeth Blair Marcus Laurence Blair DeWitt Clinton Blair Aurelia Ann Blair |
| Parent(s) | John Blair Rachel Insley |
| Relatives | Charles Scribner (son-in-law) C. Ledyard Blair (grandson) |
John Insley Blair (born August 22, 1802 – died December 2, 1899) was an amazing American businessman. He became super wealthy, especially from railroads, and was known for his generous giving. He was one of the richest people in the 1800s!
Early Life and Big Dreams
John Insley Blair was born in a place called Foul Rift, near Belvidere. He was the fourth of ten children in his family. When he was just two years old, his family moved to a farm in Hope Township, New Jersey.
How John Started Earning Money
Even as a young boy, John was very interested in making money. When he was only ten, he told his mom, "I have seven brothers and three sisters. That's enough people in our family to get an education. I am going to get rich!" He started by catching wild rabbits and muskrats. He would sell their skins for about sixteen for a dollar.
Opening His First Store
The very next year, John started working at a general store. It was owned by his cousin, also named John. By the time he was seventeen, John Insley Blair opened his very own store. His cousin was an equal partner in this new business. Their store was in a town then called Butt's Bridge, New Jersey.
Building a Business Empire
On August 25, 1825, the town where John's store was changed its name to Gravel Hill. John Blair was made the postmaster there. He kept this important job until July 1851. John bought out his cousin's share of their store. He then made his business much bigger. By 1830, he owned five different stores! Each one was run by one of his brothers.
Blairstown Gets Its Name
On January 23, 1839, the town of Gravel Hill was officially renamed Blairstown, New Jersey. This was done to honor John Insley Blair! Today, Blairstown is still a town in New Jersey.
Becoming a Railroad King
John Blair became a huge player in the railroad business. He owned parts of, or helped run, many big companies. These included the Lackawanna Coal and Iron Company (starting in 1846) and the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (from 1852). He also got involved with the Union Pacific Railroad in 1860. In total, he was a president, director, or partner in more than 20 different companies!
Founding a New Town
John Blair even helped create a new town called Blair, Nebraska. He bought a large piece of land there in 1869. This happened after the Sioux City and Pacific Rail Road decided to build a bridge across the Missouri River at that spot.
Managing a Huge Fortune
John Blair managed his many businesses from his home in rural Blairstown, New Jersey. He also spent a lot of time on his private train car. It was common for him to travel about 40,000 miles (64,000 km) every year! As the president of 16 different railroad companies, he built a fortune estimated at $70 million. That was an incredible amount of money back then! John Blair owned more railroad tracks than anyone else in the world.
Giving Back to Communities
Because of his Presbyterian faith and his love for helping others, John Blair founded over 100 churches. He made sure these churches were built close to his railroad lines. In 1873, he also invested in the Green Bay and Minnesota Railroad. A town in Wisconsin, Blair, Wisconsin, was named after him too.
Family Life
On September 20, 1826, John Blair married Nancy Ann Locke. They were married for many years until Nancy passed away in 1888. They had four children together:
- Emma Elizabeth Blair (1827–1869), who married a famous publisher named Charles Scribner I.
- Marcus Laurence Blair (1830–1874), who never married.
- DeWitt Clinton Blair (1833–1915), who continued his father's businesses and also gave a lot to charity. His son was C. Ledyard Blair.
- Aurelia Ann Blair (1838–1865), who married Clarence Green Mitchell.
John Insley Blair passed away in Blairstown, New Jersey on December 2, 1899.
Helping Others Through Giving
John Insley Blair was a very generous person. His great-grandson, a bishop named John Insley Blair Larned, was named after him.
Supporting Education
John Blair founded Blair Academy in 1848. This is a school that still exists today! He also helped to start other colleges, like Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, and Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.
Contributions to Princeton University
At Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, John Blair gave money to create a special teaching position. This was for a geology professor. This special teaching spot, called an endowed chair, was the second oldest at the school. He also served as a trustee (someone who helps manage the university) from 1866 until he died.
When he became a trustee, John Blair joked that he hadn't had much formal schooling. He said he had spent most of his life as a businessman learning "addition." But now, he said, "I have come to Princeton to learn subtraction." This meant he was ready to give back to the school. John Blair also provided the money to build Blair Hall at Princeton, which was finished in 1897.
