J. and J. Blair

From the Pacific Coast Commercial Record -- San Francisco -- May 20, 1889
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Placerville Enterprises -- And a short sketch of some of El Dorado County's most prominent citizens,

J. and J. Blair

The names of James and John Blair, who constitute the house of J. and J. Blair are as "familiar as household words" to the residents of Placerville and the neighboring district, throughout which they are universally respected. An edition devoted to the interests of Placerville and El Dorado County -- their history, advancement, and affairs in general -- would be wholly incomplete without due reference to the part taken by these gentlemen in their past development and present condition.

John and James Blair are of Scotch nativity, and were born in the "land o'cakes" in 1828 and 1830, respectively. The town of their birth was Paisley, where the celebrated shawls of that name were manufactured, and there, by following his trade as a weaver of these expensive garments, their father supported a family of wife and six children -- two girls and four boys.

(Picture of James Blair.)

The boys were not reared in the lap of luxury. They were taught to work, and those principles of industry and economy which have since stood them in such good stead were instilled into their youthful minds. The boys were bright, energetic and ambitious. The courage and determination characteristic of the sturdy Scotch stock were strong within them, and they were not of a caliber to remain quietly at home earning a bare living while fortunes were being made in the busy world around them. The United States offered superior opportunities for young men of ambition to rise in the world. John was the first to ruffle the serenity of the peaceful home life of the Blair family by starting out in the world to sue for fickle fortune's favors. He sailed to America, and proceeded at once to Indiana, where he soon obtained employment and started to learn the cooper's trade. With the same spirit of self reliance, James, two years later followed his brothers example, and in 1850, he, in company with Matthew, another of the four boys, likewise embarked for the new world. Their voyage, however, proved more eventful than that of their brother John. The ship in which they sailed was disabled in a hurricane off the west coast of Ireland, and for four weeks drifted helplessly on the ocean. They were then overhauled and towed back to Greenock. Starting once more, however, they reached their destination in safety, and James secured employment in a gas house in Ohio, only a short distance [from] where his brother John was employed across the state line, in Indiana. Here they lived economically until 1852. The fame of California had reached their ears, and their venturesome and ambitious natures rendered them highly susceptible to an attack of the California fever. They forwith (sic) decided to change their base of operations to the new El Dorado. They found, after comparing notes, that they did not possess sufficient funds to purchase a mule team, supplies and other incidentals necessary for crossing the plains; so rather than abandon the idea, it was decided that John should take the entire capital of both, purchase a half interest in an outfit with some other emigrants and proceed on the journey, leaving James behind to continue his work at the gas house.

Picture of John Blair

It was further agreed that whatever business John engaged in in California was to be in the name of J. and J. Blair, and that the profits and losses should be equally divided. The agreement has ever since been followed to the letter. James remained at this old job in Ohio for eighteen months. He had during that time received but one letter from his brother, by which he learned that John had arrived in California and had located himself in Placerville. In the meantime James had raised enough money out of his wages to make the trip himself., which he did via New Orleans and the Nicaragua route. Landing in California, he proceeded at once to El Dorado County. John was running a tavern known as Sportsman's Hall, twelve miles from Placerville and also trading with the imigrants.

Sportsman's Hall

The partnership business of J. and J. Blair then and there took more definite shape. The tavern business was continued, and during the Washoe excitement, the travel past their place was something enormous. Thousands of teams and persons daily stopped at their hotel, enroute from California to the Comstock mines in Nevada. Four stage lines stopped there and were fed and stalled every night at Blair's. In the meantime, having plenty of timber land, they entered into a partnership with a party who desired to start a saw mill. They acquired a large interest in the mill, and having all the necessary paraphernalia for running a saw mill, they continued it themselves. John attended to the milling business, while James continued for twenty one years to run the hotel. Shortly after opening the first mill, they started another near Placerville. The lumber was sold to the ranchers and farmers in exchange for grain, and the grain was supplied to the stage companies and teamsters traveling over the rod, They have at different times established a number of mills in El Dorado County, and working together and attending strictly to business they made money rapidly. In 1857 they started a lumber yard at Placerville, which place during that year was made the county seat. In 1876, the C.P. Railroad having been built, and other wagon roads having been opened up, the travel past Blair's hotel was very much reduced, and they withdrew from the business. James then took charge of the sawmills, and John looked after the lumber yard in Placerville. In 1876 James met with an accident, and he was obliged to give up the conduct of the mills. Six years ago (sic) , a partnership was formed by J. and J. Blair with Knight & Co. of Sacramento, dealers in hides, pelts, tallow, etc and this has grown to extensive proportions. It is the largest hide establishment on the coast.

This firm have (sic) stores and offices on Front Street, San Francisco, and on Front and L. Streets in Sacramento. During the past year, the business of Knight & Co. alone aggregate nearly half a million. In addition to the hide business, they conduct a heavily stocked lumber yard in Placerville, a planing mill, the largest in the county, a circular saw-mill, and own 2400 acres of fine timber land, 1200 of which are covered with sugar pine, 300 acres of pasture land in Sacramento County, all fenced and improved and devoted to wintering and raising feed for their stock; thirty five head of cattle used to haul timber to the mill, and from thence, in the form of lumber, to the yard; and all the necessary appliances for conducting a business of this magnitude. The lumber-yard is stocked with upwards of 500,000 feet of lumber of different varieties, all of which is the product of their own timber lands, and is cut at their own mill. Their planing-mill is fully equipped with all the machinery necessary for turning out all descriptions of building materials, while large quantities of fruit boxes are also manufactured. In addition to these properties, the Messrs. Blair own considerable other real estate in Placerville, and have each built themselves a handsome residence in the town.

In 1861 James returned to his native heath, and brought out the balance of the Blair family to share the blessings of the home in California to which the two adventurous, ambitious, and plucky young Highlanders had first paved the way. The father had died in the meantime and the family then consisted of the mother, two sisters and one brother. The brother who had accompanied James to America was at that time living in Ohio, and he, with his family proceeded to New York, and, joining the balance of the family, returned with them by water to California. Thus, the whole family was once more happily united under the sunny skies of the Golden State, and with the exception of the last named brother, Matthew, who was afterwards (sic) killed by an accident, they are still living in this locality.

In 1860 John Blair espoused Miss Jane Robertson, and six children, three of whom are now living, were the result of their union. James married Miss Amanda Schooley in 1867, and is the proud father of a fine family of six children, three boys and three girls.

Amanda Schooley Blair

The Blair Brothers are patriotic American citizens, and take a lively interest in the success of their party, but have never allowed their names to be used in connection with any political office. They are looked up to in all public matters, and the endorsement of the Blairs of any project affecting the interests of the community is a guarantee of its consumation (sic).