from Biographical Sketches of the Members of the Forty-First General Assembly of the State of Indiana by James Sutherland (Indianapolis: Indianapolis Journal Co., 1861)
Mr. Blair was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, in March 1829. He is a lawyer by profession and graduated at Union Law College, Cleveland, Ohio. He was elected to the Senate of Indiana from Hendricks county in October, 1856, by 161 majority over George Kreigh, the Democratic candidate. In 1860 he was re-elected to the Senate from the counties of Hendricks and Boone by a majority of 724 votes over the Hon. James M. Gregg. Mr. Blair has always belonged to the same political party. Unlike many Republicans he was not, in the “good old times,” an “old fashioned Whig,” because when that party existed Mr. Blair was too young to be identified with political organizations. He is an ardent member of his party, and worked industriously for the advancement of its principles and the election of its leaders. Aside from his political predilections he is a gentleman in a peculiar manner. He is not afflicted with the self-sufficiency and premature importance of many quasi-flegged statesmen who, possessed of not quite a mediocrity of natural capacity, and not a tithe of the influence they assume, bluster so much and legislate so little. Mr. Blair is conservative in everything touching State or national politics, and is one of the safest and most practical men in the body of which he is a member. Post office address—Plainfield, Hendricks county, Indiana.