History of Caroline, (Tompkins County) New York United States of America

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Austin Blair, governor of Michigan, was born at Caroline, Tompkins county, N.Y., Feb. 8, 1818; son of George Blair, who was among the first settlers of Tompkins county. He was prepared for college at Cazenovia academy and matriculated at Hamilton, but in his junior year transferred himself to Union college, where he was graduated in 1839, and was admitted to the bar in 1841. He then went to Eaton Rapids, Mich., and was elected county clerk. In 1844 he removed to Jackson, and two years later was elected to the state legislature. He was a member of the judiciary committee, helped to revise the statutes, was active in securing the abolition of capital punishment, and opposed the color distinction in the exercise of the elective franchise, which lost him his seat in the succeeding legislature. The same year he joined the "free soil" movement, and was a member of the Buffalo convention in 1848, which nominated Martin Van Buren for the presidency. In 1854 he was active in the formation of the Republican party at Jackson, being upon the platform committee. This was two years before it became a national organization at the Philadelphia convention of June, 1856. In 1852 he was elected prosecuting attorney of Jackson county, and in 1854 a member of the state senate. He was a member of the convention in 1860 that nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presidency, and in the same year was elected governor of Michigan. He was re-elected in 1862, and served nearly the entire period of the civil war. He was the first to receive the popular sobriquet of "War Governor." Michigan, from a population of 750,000, sent 90,000 men to the front, and Governor Blair's herculean efforts in his difficult and continuous task of equipping, forwarding and sustaining the troops broke down his health. In 1866 he was elected to represent his district in the 40th Congress. He was re-elected to the 41st and 42d congresses, serving in the 42d as chairman of the committee on claims. On this committee he opposed the Republican administration, and in 1872 supported Horace Greeley for the presidency. In 1883 he was elected a regent of the state university, and held the position until 1890. He died Aug. 6, 1894.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Caroline, (Tompkins County) New York

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