My Genealogy Hound

John G. Blair is a liveryman and hotel keeper of Lamar, Ark., but was born in Tennessee, on June 8, 1844, to Thomas B. and Sarah (Holmes) Blair, who were born in Alabama and Tennessee, respectively, their marriage taking place in Gibson County of the latter State, and resulting in the birth of eight children—four sons and four daughters—two of whom are living: John G. and Belle (wife of Ben Martin). The father was one of the honest “sons of soil,” of Tennessee, but removed from that State to Mississippi, and from there to Arkansas, in 1858, settling in Johnson County, where he purchased 120 acres of land, afterward purchasing a much larger tract. He died in Sevier County, Ark., in 1864, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was followed to the grave by his widow in 1867, she being a member also of that church, John G. Blair was married in this county in 1879 to Miss Louisa Paine, who was born in this State on March 14, 1847, a daughter of T. B. and Ruth (Huston) Paine, and by her became the father of seven children—four sons and three daughters— of which family six members are still living: William A., Walter H., Sarah R., John H., Minnie M. and Thomas. Lou A. is deceased. Mr. Blair enlisted as a private soldier in Company L., under Hall McConnell, and was in the Confederate Army until 1864, when he was captured in one of the battles of Kansas, and was taken to Rock Island, Ill., thence to Richmond, Va., where he was exchanged in 1865, and returned to his home in Arkansas, once more taking up the occupation of farming. He resided on the farm until 1889, when he moved to Lamar and bought the hotel and livery stable of which he is now proprietor. His farm consists of 135 acres of good land with 90 under cultivation, and on this he has an excellent frame residence and barn with three acres of good young orchard, consisting of apples, peaches, plums, cherries and quinces. He also raises grapes, raspberries and strawberries in abundance. He and Mrs. Blair are members of the Presbyterian Church.