from The History of Hendricks County (Indianapolis: B.F. Bowen & Co., 1914)----pages 278-279
Specific mention is made of many of the worthy citizens of Hendricks County within the pages of this volume, citizens who have figured in the growth and development of this favored locality and whose interests have been identified with every phase of progress, each contributing in his sphere of action to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the advancement of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number is E.E. Blair, who, as a private citizen and public official in his home township, has won the esteem of his fellow citizens because of his blameless private life and his efficient public service. Some men in each community are the natural leaders in public affairs and among this number is Mr. Blair, whose training has rendered him peculiarly adapted to public service.
E.E. Blair, ex-trustee of Washington Township and successful farmer, was born October 13, 1865, in the township where he has lived the most of his life. His parents were Clark and Marium Blair, who were highly respected citizens of the community in which they lived.
Mr. Blair received his common school education in his home schools and then entered Purdue University at Lafayette, Indiana where he took an agricultural course of one year, then returning to his father's farm, remained there and assisted his father until he moved on to his present farm in 1895. He purchased it from the Walter Ross heirs and has improved this tract in many ways by erecting new buildings and draining and fencing it in a way to increase its value materially. While he raises all of the crops peculiar to this section of the state, he has made a specialty of hog raising and has been uniformly successful along this line. In his farming methods he has kept abreast of the times and keeps well informed upon the latest agricultural methods so that he may keep his farm to the highest state of efficiency. He is interested in all of the farmers' institutes and special short courses for farmers, feeling that these are things in which the farmer cannot make a mistake.
Mr. Blair was married, in 1887, to Jennie Barker, the daughter of William and Louisa Barker, of Avon, this county. Mrs. Blair was born June 7, 1868, in Avon and received her education in the schools of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Blair are the parents of seven children: Nola, born July 10, 1888; Earl H., born July 21, 1891; Bessie, born December 29, 1892; Eddie E., born December 29, 1894; Everett C., born July 10, 1896; Russell B., born March 21, 1898, and Helen G., born January 23, 1900. All these children are still under the parental roof and are being given the best educational advantages by their parents.
Mr. Blair has always taken an active interest in Republican politics and in 1895 was selected by his party to make the race for township trustee and that he was elected to that important office shows the esteem in which he is held by the citizens of his township. He responded to their confidence in him by rendering to them and to the township faithful and efficient service while in the capacity of a trustee. He interested himself in the township schools, roads and everything which came within his jurisdiction.
Mr. Blair has spent his whole life in the township of his nativity with the exception of a short time in the West, when he spent about a year on a ranch in Indian Territory and another year with a contracting firm in Kansas City, Missouri.
Fraternally, Mr. Blair is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons at Bridgeport, Indiana, and is actively interested in the affairs of his local lodge. In every avenue of life's activities he has performed his full part and because of his genuine worth and high character he has enjoyed to a large degree the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens.