Special Collections, Kegley Library, Wytheville Community College
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Jerome Blair Collection, Mss. Collection 1990.1, Kegley Library, Wytheville Community College, Wytheville, VA
Donated by Gladys Blair, Ann Blair, and Eleanor Sue Murphy in 1990.
Destined to become a prominent Wythe County merchant, Jerome Blair was born on 12 April 1819 in the Walton Furnace area. Blair evidently intended on studying law and migrating to Texas or Oregon. In an 1845 letter (Kegley Library Vertical File, Families-Blair #34), he admits to William Blair that "if times get any better perhaps I may stay in this county." Blair supported himself by teaching.
On 13 December 1848, Jerome Blair married Emily H. Caldwell (1828-1897). They raised several children together including Isabella Margaret Blair (1852-1917), Hannah E. Blair (1862-1956), Susan Blair, Charles David Blair (1869-1928), and John Blair.
Blair operated general merchandise stores in Grayson and Wythe counties. His Wythe County stores included Brown Hill Furnace, Hutsons Creek, Peirce Forge (Cripple Creek Forge), and Walton Furnace while his Grayson County stores included Cherry Grove and Blair and Hall.
His Walton Furnace property also proved lucrative for Blair. In 1872 he leased it to Millon Howard and Dr. Richard Walton Sanders. The Lobdell Car Wheel Company rented the property in 1879. Blair received preference for hauling goods and providing supplies.
Jerome Blair served as justice of the peace for the eastern part of Wythe County as well as postmaster for Ivanhoe. He died on 2 March 1900.
The Jerome Blair Collection, Mss. Collection 1990.1, contains ledgers and account books from several general merchandise stores and businesses owned by Blair. Included are records for Peirce Forege (Cripple Creek Forge), Hutsons Creek Store, Brown Hill Furnace Store, and Walton Furnace Store in Wythe County and Cherry Grove Store and Blair and Hall Store in Grayson County. Also included are court proceedings held in the Walton Furnace area of Wythe County and presided over by Jerome Blair, a justice of the peace.
Items are arranged by county, then by store in no certain order.
The Jerome Blair Papers, Mss. Collection 1990.2, contains individual correspondence, financial, land, legal, and educational records.
Unpaged index in front.
Time records dated April 1840 - May 1842. Day account book dated 1 September 1843-1850, includes number of hogs slaughtered for 1847 in a list at the end of the second section.
The first section of this volume has been used as a scrapbook.
This volume includes some entries for blacks.
Jerome Blair's book, 1836, p. [1] - [40] shows sample book-keeping records. Account book dated 7 May 1842-26 October 1843, has p. [41] - [44]; [47] - 62.
Store thought to be in the eastern part of Wythe County, but the exact location remains unknown.
Fourteen pages between the cash book and account book and a number of pages follwoing the second work were used as a penmanship copy book.
Presumed to be a Hutsons Creek Store volume; unpaged index in front.
Presumed to be a Hutsons Creek Store volume. On cover: "Negro book;" lists names of slaves and their purchases.
For additional records dealing with the Brown Hill Furnace Store please see: Set IIb9, Blair and Hall Store, Spring Valley, Grayson County, Va., p. 40-41, which cover day account records for 30 November 1870 and 6 December 1870.
For additional records dealing with the Walton Furnace Store please see: Set IIa2, Cherry Grove Store, Grayson County, Va. p. 496-506, which cover account reocrds for 16 May 1892 - 15 May 1893. Also see Set IIa4, Cherry Grove Store, Grayson County, Va., p. 513-666 which cover day account records for 13 May 1892 - 28 September 1893.
Jerome Blair served as jutice of the peace in the eastern part of Wythe County. Court proceedings were held at Walton Furnace.
Account book, 1 January 1857 - 9 November 1861, 434 p., p. 435-480 are missing. Account records for Business College, 15 February 1873 - 1 September 1873, p. 481-495; 694-697. Account book for Walton Furnace Store, Wythe County, Va., 16 May 1892 - 15 May 1893, p. 496-506.
Unpaged index in front, p. 333-436 are missing.
Day account book, 1 January 1857 - 3 November 1862, 510 p. Day account book, 6 December 1862 - 3 January 1868, p. 511-512, heading on these pages reads Wythe County, Va., exact location unknown. Day account book for Walton Furnace Store, Wythe County, Va., 13 May 1892 - 28 September 1893, p. 513-666.
Inside front cover: Jerome Blair, Samuel P. Hall.
Unpaged index in front.
Unpaged index at front.
May be one volume; covers dates in 1869; unbound.
Day account book, 23 March 1870 - 24 September 1870, 40 p. Last entry on p. 40, 30 November 1870, and entry on p. 41, 6 December 1870, are for Brown Hill Furnace Store in Wythe County, Va. Pages 42-123 are blank; pages 124 and 128 contain entries.
UNpaged index at front.
Unpaged index at front.
Unpaged index at front.