Biography of General L. J. Blair, pages 843 / 844.  History of De Kalb 
County, Indiana.  Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885.

General L. J. Blair, one of the most prominent attorneys of De Kalb County, 
is a native of Franklin County, Ohio, and was born Dec. 29, 1829.  When he 
was six years of age his parents moved to De Kalb County, and here he was 
reared on a farm, and in his early manhood was engaged in rafting.  His 
early education was limited to the country schools, but having an insatiable 
thirst for knowledge, he bade defiance to all difficulties, and in his youth 
determined to make the profession of law his life-work.  He devoted his 
leisure hours to such books a he could procure, and when nineteen years of 
age was given the use of Reuben J. Dawson’s law library.  He then became 
more diligent in his study, and in 1855 was admitted to the bar, and from 
that time till after the breaking out of the civil war practiced in De 
Kalb County.  In July, 1862, he recruited a company, which was assigned as 
Company H, to the Eighty-eighth Indiana Infantry, and was commissioned its 
Captain.  The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland under 
the command of General Thomas and subsequently General Rosecarns.   He 
participated in many of the more important battles; at Chickamauga had 
command of the regiment.  After the battles of Lookout Mountain and 
Mission Ridge, in which battles he was engaged, he was promoted to 
Lieutenant-Colonel.  He participated in all the engagements of the Atlanta 
campaign, and marched with Sherman to the sea.  After the battle at 
Savannah was promoted to Brigadier-General.  He was present when General 
Johnston surrendered, and at the grand review of Sherman’s army.  After 
the close of the war he returned to De Kalb County, where he has since 
pursued his profession.  



He is one of the most eloquent orators and most powerful advocates before the bar in the State of Indiana, holding his audience spellbound from the commencement to the close of his argument.  He is purely a self-made man, and has won his place at the head of the fraternity by his indomitable will, which allowed no obstacle to stand between him and success.  The General was 
married March 10, 1853, to Mary, daughter of Manly Bruce, of Geauga County, Ohio. They have two daughters and one son.

Submitted by:
Arlene Goodwin
Auburn, Indiana
Agoodwin@ctlnet.com