Hull, Lindley M., compiler and editor.  "A History of Central Washington,
Including the Famous Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan and the Columbia Valleys."
Spokane: Press of Shaw & Borden Co., 1929.  p. 37.
 
GEORGE W. BLAIR

     deceased, is a native of Ohio. With his parents he lived a short time in
Illinois, and thence went to Nebraska, when he was nine years of age, and at a
time when that country had more Indians than whites. Mr. Blair had vivid
recollections of the Indian war of 1864, when Cheyenes and Sioux made common
cause against the new settlements. The warwhoop of the Indians was all too
common for many months. Usually the white men and boys when captured, were
killed, sometimes by torture, while the women and girls would be carried off.
The Blair family, however, passed through these troubles unscathed.
     In 1872 Mr. Blair was married to Mrs. Margaret Davis, a native of Missouri,
whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Thompson, were pioneers of that state.  In the
early eighties the Blairs removed to Montana, where they lived nearly two years.
The fall of 1883 found them on the way to the Wenatchee country.  The family
consisted of five children: Charles Davis, a son by Mrs. Blair's first marriage,
Mary, Grace, Pearl and Alice. The journey was made by wagon. On reaching
Ellensburg the family remained at this place several days while Mr. Blair
visited the future home of the "Big Red Apple." The inspection proving
satisfactory, the family was moved over. A night was passed on the Ellensburg
mountains in the midst of a snow storm which had a depressing effect, but on
reaching the John Galler place a day or two later, where they found a most warm
and agreeable temperature, orchard and vineyard loaded with luscious fruits, and
heard the music of cackling hens, the members of this home seeking family
concluded the country was all right.
     The homestead of the Blairs was a choice selection of 160 acres. They were
about the third family to locate in the Wenatchee Flats. The Tripps and Rickmans
had proceeded them several months. In drawing a picture of the future they
realized that their surroundings would be far from sumptuous; but there were no
regrets; and besides they had a capital investment of good health, and a
determination to make the best of circumstances, without which no people can
truly succeed. In 1884 Mr. Blair was one of the company to build the Settlers
Ditch from the Squilchuck, and the following year after the creation of a school
district, he was made one of the directors to complete organization and start a
school. The log building erected for this purpose came largely of contribution
and hard work, freely given. It was the first temple of learning in what is now
Chelan county, and for a number of years stood near the Dr. Gilchrist property
at the comer of what is now Miller and Washington streets. Charley Davis was the
first teacher. Notwithstanding these activities, Mr. Blair found time to improve
his homestead, which soon made a brave and pleasing appearance of an orchard of
apricots, peaches and other fruits, which to people who had lived long on the
prairie, looked good and tasted better. In 1887 in company with C. C. Rickman,
Mr. Blair took a contract to carry the mail from Ellensburg to Waterville, a
round trip of 150 miles. It was a hard road to travel at any time, and
desperately so during the deep snows and windstorms of the mountains.  In
addition to battling against snow drifted roads, the contractors had to look
after the comfort and safety of the passengers so far as it was humanly possible
to do so. Sometimes this would be during enforced delays around a campfire. On
such occasions Mr. Blair had few equals as a story teller. He was apt in
repartee, especially so if any unwary passenger ventured to joke at the expense
of the country or its people.  His dissimulation and affected idioms of speech
would have intrigued a Mark Twain or Bill Nye. Some years ago when irrigation
water was scarce, and before water rights had been permanently adjudicated,
liberties would be taken with ditches through which streams would be musically
pursuing their way towards some man's thirsty field. At one time an arrest
was made for such liberty of action and the parties haled into court. The case
attracted some attention and was animatedly discussed on the streets. Mr. Blair
who had been a quiet listener suddenly spoke up and said: "Pshaw! That's nothing
to get excited about.  In the good old times we all stole water. I'd take all I
could get and send it towards my ranch which needed it mighty bad, but before I
could get there, somebody had stolen it from me. We were just trying to get our
bearings, that's all."
     Mrs. Blair passed away November 21, 1923, and Mr. Blair February 17, 1928,
at 78 years of age. Though Mr. and Mrs. Blair as pioneers passed  through
many hardships, yet they were still young when the tide of fortune turned full
and strong in their favor, and in the evening of life the hand of time was
especially kind to them. Their family relations truly patriarchal in character,
were pleasantly bestowed throughout. They came to Wenatchee with five children,
while in their time the added generations of grandchildren and great
grandchildren had increased the branches of the family tree many fold.

     
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Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in December 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.