An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 302-303 JOHN B. BLALOCK, one of the leading citizens of Spokane, was born in Sevier county, Tennessee, in 1856, a son of James and Massie (Kear) Blalock, natives also of Tennessee. The father, a farmer by occupation, still resides in that State, and the mother died twenty years ago. The grandparents on both sides were early settlers of Tennessee. John B., the fifth child and eldest son in a family of seven children, was reared on a farm, and educated in the country schools. In 1878 he removed to Oregon; later settled in Walla Walla, Washington, and afterward in Spokane Falls, which was then a small village of forty people and a few cabins. He had learned the trade of shoemaker, and immediately, with small means, opened a shop with a bankrupt stock of goods brought from Colfax. He rapidly extended his business, and in 1888 had a trade amounting to $40,000. In that year he sold his stock to M.D. Doland, from Walla Walla. In 1880 he purchased the present site of the First National Bank, on the corner of Riverside and Harvard avenues, for $330, and in 1886 erected a three-story building, which he rented to the bank for $300 per month. Soon after the fire he sold this property for $40,000, and subsequently bought a lot, 101 x 155 feet, corner of Sprague and Stevens streets, for $68,000, and immediately began the erection of the Blalock block, 101 x 82 feet, six stories and a cellar. This is one of the finest blocks in the city, contains all the modern improvements, steam heat, electric light, elevator, etc., is handsomely furnished, and is valued at over $200,000. Mr. Blalock also owns other choice city property. He was married in 1885, to Miss Mattie Hyde, a native of Wisconsin, and a sister of S.C. Hyde. To this union has been born one son, Shirl, aged seven years. Mr. Blalock is a thirty-second degree Mason, and was made the second member of that order of Spokane Lodge, No. 34, in 1880. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.